Littleton Electric recognized for cybersecurity leadership and community impact
Littleton Electric recognized for cybersecurity leadership and community impact
Publish Date: 2026-03-22 14:08:00
Source Domain: www.lowellsun.com
LITTLETON — The Littleton Electric Light and Water Departments has received a cybersecurity industry award for its leadership in raising awareness of the threats posed to municipal utilities by foreign adversaries. LELWD has demonstrated leadership in cybersecurity by presenting to its peers at industry events, building strategic public-private partnerships, and sharing hard-earned lessons.
On behalf of LELWD, General Manager Nick Lawler, P.E., accepted the Community Impact Award for “outstanding achievement in safeguarding civilization” from Dragos, a leading industrial cybersecurity firm, at a Feb. 12 event. The award recognizes LELWD’s exemplary efforts in protecting critical infrastructure and contributing to broader community resilience in the face of cyber threats.
“Cybersecurity stands as a paramount concern in our industry, escalating in significance with each passing day,” said Lawler, a past chairman of the American Public Power Association, a nationwide organization representing municipal power providers. “Public private partnerships, such as those with Dragos, support through APPA’s cybersecurity programs, and active participation in information-sharing forums have been instrumental in helping us navigate these challenges, share lessons learned, and protect our community.”
LELWD worked with Dragos, EvoLab Technology Solutions, and the APPA to boost its cybersecurity after being alerted in November 2023 by the FBI to an intrusion into its computer systems by foreign hackers. No customer data was compromised, and the intrusion posed no immediate threat to the utility’s operating systems.
LELWD was one of about 200 New England organizations similarly affected in 2023, according to information from federal investigators. By March 2025, LELWD was able to speak publicly about the incident with a goal of educating other utilities of the risk and the available solutions.
Recently, Lawler presented at a conference on cybersecurity lessons…
