Title: Critical infrastructures at risk: securing electric power supply

Authors: Wolfgang Kroger

Addresses: Laboratory for Safety Analysis, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract: The proper functioning of large infrastructures and in particular, the continuity of the vital services they provide is largely taken for granted, both by direct users and by those responsible for other, dependent infrastructures and services. The current paper addresses in a methodical manner, methods to deal with issues related to the risk and risk governance of critical infrastructures, with due exemplification of the electric power sector. Based on |lessons learned| from recent blackouts, a number of relevant solutions are offered in order to increase the reliability of such systems which are currently under stress and subject to multiple threats, and continuously being asked to respond simultaneously to the market forces, and also to achieve and operate under severe requirements of security and economic performance.

Keywords: critical infrastructures; electric power supply; interdependencies; risk governance; next generation infrastructures; reliability; risk management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2006.009443

International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 2006 Vol.2 No.2/3, pp.273 - 293

Published online: 31 Mar 2006 *

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