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State Power Grid Operator Says Tampering Suspect Nabbed by FBI

The company that operates California's power grid says a suspect has been arrested in connection with computer tampering at its Folsom headquarters. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has more.

State Power Grid Operator Says Tampering Suspect Nabbed by FBI

The company that operates California's power grid says a suspect has been arrested in connection with computer tampering at its Folsom headquarters. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has more.

Officials say the FBI arrested Lonnie Denison on federal charges of Destruction of an Energy Facility. Denison is employed by a firm on contract with the Independent System Operator. ISO Spokesman Gregg Fishman says despite the rapid response to the tampering, the ISO is reevaluating its security.

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Denison : It also means we're going to be taking a good hard look at all of our procedures: security, communications, other things to see if there's areas that we can improve.

An incident Sunday night cut off the internal power supply to several computer systems that handle ISO market data. Fishman says the disruption of power to the computers did not affect grid operations or electricity customers. The state's ISO is charged with managing the flow of electricity along California's wholesale power grid.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.