Strengthening Drone Security for the Electric Grid: Utility Associations Weigh In on FAA Proposal

The nation’s leading electric utility trade associations—including the Large Public Power Council (LPPC), American Public Power Association (APPA), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and NRECA—have filed joint comments urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to strengthen its proposed rule implementing Section 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act. While the associations support the FAA’s effort to restrict unauthorized drone activity around critical infrastructure, they argue the proposal needs significant improvements to better protect the electric grid.

The filing highlights the growing risks posed by drones, including physical attacks, surveillance, cyber threats, and operational disruptions that could impact not only electric utilities but also hospitals, water systems, emergency services, and other critical infrastructure that depend on reliable electricity. The associations emphasize that today's interconnected grid requires a broader, more risk-based approach than the FAA's current proposal provides.  

Among the key recommendations are:

• Expand the definition of protected electric facilities to include critical substations and networked infrastructure beyond the proposed voltage and generation thresholds.
• Replace burdensome application requirements with a self-attestation process that leverages existing FERC and NERC security frameworks.
• Eliminate public notice requirements that could inadvertently expose facility vulnerabilities.
• Give facility owners greater control over restricted airspace while ensuring utilities can continue using drones for inspections, maintenance, emergency response, and grid restoration.  

The filing underscores a central message: effective drone restrictions should enhance security without creating unnecessary administrative burdens or hindering the utility industry's own use of drones for critical operational and public safety functions. By adopting a more flexible, risk-based framework, the FAA can better safeguard the electric grid while supporting the safe and efficient use of unmanned aircraft systems.

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