Energy Synergy

Nov 1, 2005 12:00 PM

PROVIDERS OF THE NATION'S ENERGY SECTOR (ELECTRICITY AND GAS) ARE ON ALERT. Laptop computers captured from Al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan had maps of the country's electric grid and plans for possible disruptions of the system. The federal government also regularly learns of threats from fringe domestic groups and computer hackers to upset power delivery.

A number of U.S. companies, especially those that are part of the country's critical infrastructure, are taking steps to protect themselves from threats that could harm their operations. One example — Aquila Inc., Kansas City, Mo. — operates scores of power generation and distribution and related operational facilities in seven Midwestern states and delivers electricity and natural gas to more than one million customers in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota.

“Some of the nation's most critical military installations are located within our service area,” says John Breckenridge, director of corporate security.

Company officials have spent several years preparing a comprehensive plan to secure its facilities. The plan was developed in cooperation with Corporate Risk Solutions, a Lenexa, Kan. — based international security consulting firm specializing in critical infrastructure protection.

“Aquila recognized that in addition to the threat posed by terrorism, there were many diverse and growing regulatory and legal drivers (Sarbanes-Oxley, FERC and DOT-OPS) affecting the entire energy sector”, says Scott Roe, president of Corporate Risk Solutions.

Aquila needed an integrated, holistic approach to security that created synergies and efficiencies in both operations and costs. It was critical to Aquila that this project be completed on their schedule and within the budgets established.

Aquila's plan included four-steps: identifying the company's most critical sites; conducting a risk assessment on each; developing a detailed security plan for each site; and then implementing the plan.

One of the first steps in implementing the plan was the selection of systems integrators to oversee installation of electronic security components. Aquila officials contracted two members of SecurityNet to handle work in five states. Founded in 1993, SecurityNet is a network of 17 independent system integrators.

Cam-Dex Security Corp., Kansas City, Mo., was hired to improve security at 15 Aquila sites in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The sites included administrative, power generation plants, service centers, substations and data centers.

The access control portion of the security plan consists of a NexWatch ProWatch System from Honeywell Access Systems with Indala card readers. Electronic locks, building and perimeter intrusion detection and duress buttons were also installed.

A critical component of effective security is ensuring that all employees wear photo identification badges at all times. Contract security officers greet visitors at the corporate headquarters, power stations and service centers. Trusted, validated vendors receive cards that self-expire; and visitors are identified and registered.

Should there be a security event; a security officer at Aquila's Security Control Center can immediately assess and respond to the incident, dispatching security and/or local law enforcement as needed. Corporate Risk Solutions established both the response protocols and training programs to support the security system.

Beyond electronic access control and intrusion detection systems, Cam-Dex also supported the installation of Code Blue panic alarms in the seven-story Kansas City parking garage for headquarters employees. The Code Blue stations are tied directly into the access control system.

In support of this security platform, hundreds of Pelco dome and fixed color cameras were installed by Cam-Dex in its three-state area. These cameras were managed and supported by Honeywell DVRs that enabled video to be transmitted across Aquila's corporate IT network.

One of Cam-Dex's SecurityNet partners, VTI Security Integrators of Minneapolis, was also chosen to provide similar security updates for a variety of locations. The company's Golden, Colo. office was responsible for projects at Aquila's Colorado power plants and substations, and the Minneapolis office was responsible for several regional service centers. VTI's work at 12 separate operational facilities began last summer and was completed in May.

---

ABOUT THE COMPANIES

For information, circle the Reader Service number (listed below) or visit securitysolutions.com

Cam-Dex Security Corp.	12
Code Blue	13
Corporate Risk Solutions	14
Honeywell Access Systems	15
Indala	16
Pelco	17
SecurityNet	18
VTI Security Integrators	19

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue