European Commission Names EPRI's Lee to Cyber Security Panel

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annabelle Lee, senior technical executive and cyber security expert at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), has been named an advisor to the European Commission's Energy Expert Cyber Security Platform-Expert Group (EECSP–Expert Group), a panel that has been formed to assess and provide cyber security guidance to the energy supply system of European Union (EU) countries.

Lee, who manages EPRI's research on cyber strategy risk management and leads two U.S. Department of Energy-funded cyber security research projects, is the only non-European on the 15-member panel, which includes technical experts from utilities, research organizations, universities, and suppliers.

The primary goal of the EECSP–Expert Group is to provide guidance to ensure resilience of the energy supply system. As information and two-way communication technologies are increasingly embedded in utilities' operating systems, they introduce a larger platform for potential cyber intrusions and possible disruptions. The EECSP–Expert Group will address this issue and other cyber security requirements as they apply to infrastructure, security of supply, smart grid technologies, and nuclear generation operations.

The European Commission is the European Union's executive body, and it represents the interests of the EU as a whole. The commission proposes legislation to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and it ensures that EU law is correctly applied by the 28 member countries.

"Annabelle Lee's appointment by the European Commission is an acknowledgment of her highly respected status in the global cyber security community and specifically in the energy sector," said EPRI President & Chief Executive Officer Mike Howard.

The EECSP–Expert Group will hold its first meeting in Brussels on December 16.

About EPRI

The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. As an independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 30 countries. EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.Car.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.