1. List the following:
a) number of electric-transmission substations in the U.S.
b) number of separate electric (power) systems in the U.S.

2. a) What is FERC?
b) According to the FERC study, how many of the key substations would have to be knocked out to cause a long-term power outage in the U.S.?
c) For how long does FERC estimate a power outage caused by terrorists could last?

3. a) Who owns the utility companies (electric companies, gas companies) in the U.S.?
b) Currently, there are no federal rules requiring utilities to protect electric substations (except at nuclear power plants). Do you think there should be?

4. a) How many critical high voltage substations on the country's electric grid need to be protected from a physical attack, according to former FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff?
b) How does Mr. Wellinghoff view the task of protecting the vulnerable substations?

5. Why would an outage caused by sabotoge take so long to repair?

6. Why are existing large substations so crucial to the electric grid? (see para. 17)

7. What security is currently in place for many substation sites, especially those not near cities?

8. Why doesn't the power grid have extensive security measures in place, according to Paul Stockton, former assistant secretary of defense?

9. Re-read para. 11 and para. 14. If you were an executive at a large utility company and you were told some of your substations would be attacked within a month, is it realistic to assume you could put security measures in place to prevent such attacks from taking down your power grid?
Explain your answer.

10. What was your initial reaction to this article: disbelief, concern, amusement, incredulity, anger…? Explain your answer.