According to this article, there are problems with the pipes. Investigations into leaks and other risks may be why they don’t want anyone to know where the pipes are.
Although an unusual move for a public utility, I can certainly see that there might be concerns if the document contains information about the exact operation and/or location of critical systems that could lay the system vulnerable to attack. BUT, it also seems that such information could ne redacted from the document without rendering the facts about their plans useless to the USA Today investigation. On the other hand, the boiler-plate “proprietary processes” objection is hard to accept. After all, if a corporation has such crucial processes that give them a competitive advantage they are foolish for not having them patented to prevent others from using them. That, after all, is the only meaningful way to protect such things. While non-disclosure agreements with employees and contractors help, if they are breached you can only go after the employee/contractor–a recourse that is costly and, ultimately, will not prevent those to whom they were disclosed from using them or provide the compensation necessary to offset the expense and loss of the advantage.
Wonder what they have to hide?
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2014/09/23/judge-lifts-restraining-order-on-alagasco-document/16095547/
According to this article, there are problems with the pipes. Investigations into leaks and other risks may be why they don’t want anyone to know where the pipes are.
Although an unusual move for a public utility, I can certainly see that there might be concerns if the document contains information about the exact operation and/or location of critical systems that could lay the system vulnerable to attack. BUT, it also seems that such information could ne redacted from the document without rendering the facts about their plans useless to the USA Today investigation. On the other hand, the boiler-plate “proprietary processes” objection is hard to accept. After all, if a corporation has such crucial processes that give them a competitive advantage they are foolish for not having them patented to prevent others from using them. That, after all, is the only meaningful way to protect such things. While non-disclosure agreements with employees and contractors help, if they are breached you can only go after the employee/contractor–a recourse that is costly and, ultimately, will not prevent those to whom they were disclosed from using them or provide the compensation necessary to offset the expense and loss of the advantage.