David W Brown | University of Washington (original) (raw)

Papers by David W Brown

A reliable energy supply is critical to every aspect of modern society, and so the U.S. Departme... more A reliable energy supply is critical to every aspect of modern society, and so the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with the North American Energy Reliability Corporation and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has established emergency management and business continuity standards for the nation’s energy producers and distributors. Because of these compliance standards, and to conform to accepted business practices, Seattle City Light instituted an information technology business continuity program as part of their strategic planning. As with most industries, energy production and distribution is heavily reliant on information technology for both the core functions as well as for the associated daily business. It is of particular importance for the monitoring of the power grid; remote sensing and control of production and distribution facilities; sale of excess power and purchase of power during high demand; operation and maintenance of the consumer power system; dispatching and safety of power crews; and for sundry business operations, such as human resources, billing, communications, etc. These operational and business information technology functions may be interrupted by damage to communications systems from winter ii
storms or earthquakes, vandalism, terrorism, hacking or, ironically, loss of power. This case study examines the Seattle City Light Information Technology Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Program and describes the historical narratives of the decision-making process for, and design and implementation of, the program. The study utilizes qualitative description of the process, as well as lessons learned and best practices, and will quantitatively analyze the costs of the program implementation vs. the costs of non-compliance and interruption of supply. The program will be compared to available literature, with discussion, conclusions, and suggestions for the industry as a whole and for other industries facing similar compliance and business requirements.

Central Asian oil and gas fields, the transaction cost economics of those investments, and the su... more Central Asian oil and gas fields, the transaction cost economics of those investments, and the supporting United State's military intervention and spending necessary to secure those oil and gas supplies for national security purposes. Those costs and military interventions are shown to be absent for a regionally-implemented, inter-tied "smart-grid" and domestic fuel infrastructure hypothetically-situated in the US Pacific Northwest.

A reliable energy supply is critical to every aspect of modern society, and so the U.S. Departme... more A reliable energy supply is critical to every aspect of modern society, and so the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with the North American Energy Reliability Corporation and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has established emergency management and business continuity standards for the nation’s energy producers and distributors. Because of these compliance standards, and to conform to accepted business practices, Seattle City Light instituted an information technology business continuity program as part of their strategic planning. As with most industries, energy production and distribution is heavily reliant on information technology for both the core functions as well as for the associated daily business. It is of particular importance for the monitoring of the power grid; remote sensing and control of production and distribution facilities; sale of excess power and purchase of power during high demand; operation and maintenance of the consumer power system; dispatching and safety of power crews; and for sundry business operations, such as human resources, billing, communications, etc. These operational and business information technology functions may be interrupted by damage to communications systems from winter ii
storms or earthquakes, vandalism, terrorism, hacking or, ironically, loss of power. This case study examines the Seattle City Light Information Technology Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Program and describes the historical narratives of the decision-making process for, and design and implementation of, the program. The study utilizes qualitative description of the process, as well as lessons learned and best practices, and will quantitatively analyze the costs of the program implementation vs. the costs of non-compliance and interruption of supply. The program will be compared to available literature, with discussion, conclusions, and suggestions for the industry as a whole and for other industries facing similar compliance and business requirements.

Central Asian oil and gas fields, the transaction cost economics of those investments, and the su... more Central Asian oil and gas fields, the transaction cost economics of those investments, and the supporting United State's military intervention and spending necessary to secure those oil and gas supplies for national security purposes. Those costs and military interventions are shown to be absent for a regionally-implemented, inter-tied "smart-grid" and domestic fuel infrastructure hypothetically-situated in the US Pacific Northwest.