OCC Proactively Strengthens Protection of Oklahoma’s Critical Infrastructure

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) continues to take proactive steps to strengthen the security and resilience of Oklahoma’s critical infrastructure through ongoing coordination with federal, regional, state and private-sector partners.

As the state regulatory agency overseeing industries essential to Oklahoma’s economy and everyday life, the OCC plays an important role in helping safeguard critical infrastructure by providing industry expertise, strengthening communication and ensuring information can be shared quickly and effectively with the appropriate partners.

“The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has been actively working with our partners to strengthen communication, information sharing and preparedness surrounding Oklahoma’s critical infrastructure,” OCC Chairman Kim David said. “Because of the industries we regulate, the Commission has specialized expertise and established relationships that can be extremely valuable in identifying vulnerabilities, assessing potential threats and coordinating an effective response.”

The OCC regulates and oversees critical sectors including electric and natural gas utilities, oil and natural gas operations, pipelines and other infrastructure that Oklahomans rely on every day. The Commission’s subject matter experts provide an important connection between regulated industries and the government agencies responsible for public safety, emergency preparedness and infrastructure security.

As part of its ongoing preparedness efforts, the OCC works to:

• Strengthen communication and information sharing among federal, regional, state and private-sector partners.
• Provide regulatory and industry expertise to support threat assessment and preparedness efforts.
• Maintain relationships with regulated utilities and industries to facilitate rapid communication when potential threats or vulnerabilities are identified.
• Coordinate with appropriate partners regarding risks that could affect the reliability, safety or security of Oklahoma’s critical infrastructure.
• Support preparedness and response efforts designed to minimize disruptions to essential services.
• Continually evaluate emerging risks and opportunities to strengthen the resilience of Oklahoma’s critical infrastructure.

The Commission’s role is particularly important because OCC staff possess specialized knowledge of the infrastructure, operations and regulatory requirements of the industries under its jurisdiction. That expertise allows the OCC to serve as a resource to public- and private-sector partners when evaluating potential risks, including physical security threats, cyber threats, terrorism and other emerging concerns that could affect Oklahoma’s critical infrastructure.

“Protecting Oklahoma’s critical infrastructure requires strong relationships and communication long before an emergency occurs,” David said. “The partnerships and processes we build today strengthen our ability to identify concerns earlier, share information faster and respond more effectively when necessary. The OCC will continue working with our partners to help protect the infrastructure and essential services Oklahomans depend on every day.”

These efforts are part of the OCC’s ongoing commitment to preparedness, coordination and infrastructure resilience and are not in response to a specific threat against Oklahoma or the industries regulated by the Commission.

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About the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission regulates several industries essential to Oklahoma’s economy and quality of life, including public utilities, oil and natural gas, transportation, petroleum storage tanks and pipeline safety. The Commission works to ensure safe, reliable and responsible operations while protecting the interests of Oklahoma consumers and stakeholders.