[who_would_fardels_bear]

My understanding is that before the internet and cell phones, the utility companies had to locate or send employees out to their facilities to manage and maintain them.

With the advent of the internet and cell phones they thought they could save money by monitoring their facilities remotely. They even were proud at one point to show off complete diagrams and blue prints of their facilities on the internet. They took them off quickly, but most likely not before the Russian and Chinese security agencies had made copies.

I guess they save a few bucks in salaries in exchange for making everything much more hackable.

[mabarker1]

before the internet and cell phones, the utility companies had to locate or send employees out to their facilities to manage and maintain them.

It's true, in the early years of being a Surface Water Treatment Plant Operator I was at one WTP and We had to decide what numbers We wanted/needed to have for our Log Sheets, so We would write it in and then 1of the Operators would get the right size circular rock, a hammer and chisel so the Numbers could be put in the Rock Gauge.

No security breaches at Our WTP.🤪

Seriously now it's fairly simple and relatively low cost to secure the SCADA System. First thing is NO Connection to the Internet wirelessly or wired -PERIOD !!! Second is to have all Remote Sights (storage tanks, pump stations, control valves, chemical storage, chemical control and feeding control equipment) via Radios ONLY and Radio at the SCADA System. I'll repeat ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET !!!

[Manuel OKelley]

they could go back to that and the price of electricity doubles at minimum as the connectivity isn’t just about saving salaries adding a lot of efficiency to distribution

Its goign to cost a fortune to properly secure it as well