Cyberattack could knock out huge swath of US electric grid, lawmakers say

The U.S. government is not prepared for a cyberattack on the electrical grid that takes out power over a large area for weeks, or even months.

A widespread, long-lasting power outage caused by a cyberattack may be unlikely, but the U.S. government needs to better plan for the possibility, Representative Lou Barletta, a Pennsylvania Republican, said Thursday.

With some experts worried that a coordinated cyberattack could lead to widespread power outages lasting for several months, the federal government should offer more help to state and local governments planning to deal with the aftermath, Barletta said during a hearing before a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Transformation and Infrastructure Committee.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here