Dive Summary:

• After a failed attempt to pass cybersecurity legislation through Congress last summer, President Barack Obama is expected to issue an executive order on Wednesday aimed at bolstering cybersecurity for the power grid.
• The proposed program would not mandate participation; utilities that opt in would follow a series of guidelines drafted to protect the smart grid from cyberattacks.
• As the energy grid increasingly becomes increasingly "smart," it simultaneously becomes more vulnerable to attacks due to the feasibility of hacking into the network through external ports.

From the article:

"President Obama is expected to issue an executive order Wednesday that would create a voluntary cybersecurity program for critical infrastructure networks, such as the electric grid.

The order would allow companies, such as electric utilities, to opt into an initiative that outlines best standards and practices for preventing attacks on networks. ..."