The integration of advanced technologies into the energy sector has led to the emergence of smart grids, which promise enhanced efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in electricity distribution.

Cybersecurity has grabbed the lion’s share of grid security attention, but last year’s attack on a substation in California served as a reminder that physical attacks are still a significant threat.

Physical threats against the grid have seen a sharp uptick in recent years, according to a POLITICO analysis of DOE data. Rising incidents of domestic terrorism and a surge in state-sponsored cyber ...