Federal officials charged a Neo-Nazi leader and an associate with plotting to attack electric substations in Baltimore in hopes of triggering cascading outages.

Incidents of deliberate physical damage to bulk power system facilities rose by 77% last year, driving home the danger posed by malicious actors, DOE said.

Acting FERC Chairman Willie Phillips made his first comments since taking over the agency.

Two men were accused of damaging four electric substations in Washington — leaving thousands without power on Christmas — as a cover for a burglary plot.

Reacting to an attack on two substations, FERC ordered NERC to review the effectiveness of its physical security standards and recommend needed improvements.

Duke Energy has restored power to 45,000 customers in Moore County, N.C., where  two substations were damaged by unknown attackers with rifles last weekend.

More than 33,000 customers remain without power in Moore County, N.C., following apparent attacks on two of Duke Energy’s substations over the weekend.