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Security program receives national award

Chelan County PUD
News Release
4/14/2008

Chelan County PUD was honored Monday at the annual conference of the National Hydropower Association for the comprehensive security program developed by the PUD to protect people and infrastructure following 9/11.

Security Director Dick Robert and PUD Commissioner Werner Janssen attended a luncheon at the Capital Hilton where NHA recognized the outstanding practices of five organizations and presented the hydropower industry’s Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters (OSAW) awards for 2008. Chelan County PUD was one of the five honorees, marking the fourth time since 2000 that the PUD has won an NHA award.

In receiving the award, Robert said he was pleased for the honor to the PUD and to the security program.

“What would make me happiest,” he added, “is if this award were not necessary at all, because that would indicate the world had become a better place.”

Chelan County PUD embarked on an extensive program of security upgrades following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, investing more than $3.8 million (salaries, contracts and capital) to create a comprehensive network that protects dams, transmission and distribution infrastructure, water/ wastewater systems, fiber-optics, buildings, computers and people.

Achievements include:

• A network of 80 video and thermal-imaging cameras to scan facilities day and night and feed a high-quality image-monitoring network.

• Cyber-security, badging and 24-hour guards to deter intruders.

• Collaboration with law enforcement that allows camera images to be shared real-time with the regional emergency dispatch center and with other state and local government agencies.

• Self-sufficient maintenance, operations and training that provides in-house expertise for continuous operating capability of the security network.

The District is recognized as a model for other utilities and has been asked to share its best practices with Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and others.

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For further information, contact:
Steve Lachowicz
509 661-4639, office
509 679- 0148, mobile