The Southeastern, Southwestern, and Western Area Power Administrations provide
electrical power to customers in 29 states. To support this critical function, the Power
Marketing Administrations (PMAs) utilize infornlation systems to conduct various
activities, including financial management, marketing, and transferring wholesale
electrical power across the Nation's electrical grids. In particular, Southwestern and
Western operate supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems - systems
critical to controlling the flow of electricity to the power grid. The power grids are part
of the U.S. critical infrastructure. Interruptions in these control systems for an extended
period could adversely impact the PMAs' customers.
