(Washington, DC) As smart grid technologies take hold, two key technical challenges, maintaining consumer privacy and network security, will require constant diligence by utilities, experts told attendees today at UTC's Smart Grid Policy Summit. "I've told people to focus on what is unique to the smart grid," National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Senior Cyber Security Strategist Annabelle Lee said. NIST is charged with developing cyber security requirements that will be adopted as industry requirements by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
"The difference with the smart grid is the granularity of the information," she said. "The functionality will not change with the smart grid. We'll still get electricity and a bill every month."