Executive Summary

Electric utilities face unprecedented cybersecurity challenges as attacks grow more frequent, complex, and targeted. Once considered an IT issue, cybersecurity is now central to maintaining grid reliability, customer trust, and regulatory compliance. This white paper examines the critical vulnerabilities within meter data management systems and the operational, financial, and reputational risks utilities face if those systems are compromised.

Fragmented and outdated data management practices—such as spreadsheets, manual logs, and siloed databases—create openings for unauthorized access and manipulation. Modern Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) adds further risk with Remote Connect/Disconnect (RCDC) capabilities, which, if compromised, could enable mass service disruptions or data tampering. Research from the U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Illinois underscores the danger: even limited coordinated attacks could destabilize portions of the grid.

The consequences of such breaches are significant. Utilities could face financial losses from unbilled usage and ransomware demands, regulatory penalties for noncompliance, operational disruptions affecting outage management and billing accuracy, and long-term damage to public confidence.

However, utilities can significantly reduce these risks through secure, centralized, and auditable data management platforms. TESCO’s Meter Manager Software provides utilities with a trusted foundation for cybersecurity resilience—centralizing meter data, enforcing role-based access controls, encrypting data in motion and at rest, and supporting audit-ready reporting aligned with NERC CIP standards.

Beyond technology, the paper stresses the importance of employee training, secure workflows, and best practices for RCDC protection, such as multi-factor authentication, command logging, and network segmentation. These strategies align with DOE-recommended AMI security protocols.

A case example highlights the transformation achieved by a regional utility that replaced manual data tracking with a secure, centralized platform—reducing audit preparation time, eliminating unauthorized access, and increasing executive confidence in data integrity.

Ultimately, the paper concludes that cybersecurity in metering is not merely about compliance—it’s about resilience. With TESCO’s Meter Manager Software, utilities can strengthen their defenses, maintain operational continuity, and preserve public trust in an increasingly digital and interconnected energy landscape.