The Energy secretary will have the power to issue emergency orders for imminent cybersecurity threats to the electric grid according to legislation passed unanimously by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Amending the GRID Act (H.R. 5026) that was passed by the House two months ago, the Senate Committee approved the bill to give authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for risks that are not as imminent. It also gives FERC the authority to order, without notice or hearing, and circumvent the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) process and directly order generation, transmission and select distribution utilities to address cyber vulnerabilities pertaining to programmable electronic devices or communications networks. FERC is directed to establish a cost recovery mechanism for utilities for prudently incurred compliance costs. A spokesperson for the Senate Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) told CongressDaily that these provisions will give  the bill a better chance passing the Senate this year. 

FCC Chairman Julis Genachowski is scheduled to testify before the the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today as it reviews the National Broadband Plan. The hearing will take place at  2:30 pm in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building, and will also be webcast online.

Edit 4pm: Washington Post's Post Tech reports that today's Senate hearing was postponed. Meanwhile, Broadcasting and Cable  reported that the FCC Chair's prepared remarks for today called for 'restrained' government role in the Plan's roll-out.