[GOPJ]

Would it be that difficult to built a containment structure around these substations?

Oh, and thanks for the information...

[DB]

We live in an open society that was never planned for an enemy within. Our electrical infrastructure isn't the only thing open for attack. Water, gas, oil and communications all have critical infrastructure that is unprotected and out in the open.

There isn't much you can do to protect critical power lines and pipe lines that pass through vast open spaces. If someone went after the primary feeds to a particular city you could pretty easily take it out for an extended period of time. Most equipment/networks are planned based a single point failure that can be bypassed. Take out the backup and the primary and its going down.