Introduction to power grid operation ian a hiskens vennema professor of engineering professor electrical engineering and computer science tutorial on ancillary . Grid operation centers todays electrical transmission system including the giant power lines and transmission towers that snake across our landscapes operates . To ensure safe and predictable operation operators of long transmission lines require reliable communications for control of the power grid electric power . Operations like that one and a more automated blackout attack a year later have made russia the first suspect in any grid hacking incident but symantec