Smart grids will be a target for hackers

Smart grids planned for Europe are almost certain to be "a target for hackers worldwide", warned a senior figure in the German firm Tüv Informationstechnik.

“A smart grid, or even smart meter infrastructure, is an important target for highly professional attackers,” said smart metering devices product manager Nils Tekampe. Wrong-doers have shown a willingness to deploy a lot of money and resources in other attacks, he told a smart grids meeting held by the Tüv Nord group.

Tekampe told UW that few are willing to discuss security: “In very many countries it is not questioned because they do not have an answer.”

He said that, although network operators do not use smart grids now for load control, hacking risks would grow as they invested heavily in smart metering and grids to improve system balance and security of supply, to integrate more renewable energy sources and to allow better demand response by consumers.

Tekampe said that the European Commission should develop anti-hacking guidelines for smart meters, citing as good practice Germany’s clear requirements and mandatory meter security standards.

He also raised concerns about smart meter data protection and privacy and usage of data for unrelated business.

The European Union (EU) energy commissioner Günther Oettinger said that infrastructure is one of the best areas for investments for growth, adding: “We need a pan-Europe transmission grid.” The industry expects to spend euro 104 billion by 2020 refurbishing and building 52,000km of high voltage lines, although the financing is unclear, said Dimitrios Chaniotis, system development manager of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity.

Oettinger welcomed the EU’s development of smart grid expertise and standards: “We will be able to export to the world.”