Hearings Confirm Grid Must Be Protected

An unfenced swimming pool is known in the law as “an attractive nuisance” – an accessible, irresistible and possibly fatal temptation.

The same might be said of the vulnerability of America’s electric grid.

Two congressional panels this week served notice: Enemies of this country know our grid lacks resiliency – and they are tempted to exploit that vulnerability by denying electricity to large parts of this country for protracted periods. The consequences could be catastrophic, even nation-ending.

Fortunately, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin convened vitally needed oversight hearings in the House and Senate, respectively. They established that, while our grid is vulnerable to attacks and to Mother Nature’s periodic powerful solar storms, we can protect it.

They deserve our thanks – and bipartisan support in transforming a grid that’s an attractive nuisance into a critical infrastructure that’s resilient.