[CincyRichieRich]

“violent” trial balloon to see how officials would react. Likely more to come.

[11th Commandment]

I doubt the trail balloon theory. This was a successful attack. If these guys wanted to take down the grid it looks like they could have done it. Why tip-off authorities to future attacks.

My suspicion is eco-terrorist.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

CincyRichieRich:" “violent” trial balloon to see how officials would react.
Likely more to come."

I agree that there is more attacks likely to occur.
The article states that there were small piles of rocks to demonsrate ideal locations where to shoot from
suggests that there was an expierienced shooter marking ideal locations for maximum effectiveness at knocking out the station.
This was not a 'hastey' act of domestic terrorism, actually it demonsrates a plan and calculation.
Additionally , since transformers are no longer made in the USA , the plant was knocked offline for a month until replacments could be ordered and delivered.
What if next time two or three substations were knocked out simultaneously ?
I beleive that it was a practice to determine vulnerability of the electrical system , and to evaluate the power company response .

[Steely Tom]

“violent” trial balloon to see how officials would react. Likely more to come.

Yup.

Expect lots more video cameras in the neighborhood of utility substations, high-capacity power lines, etc.

[skinkinthegrass]

yeah, R.O.P. Muslims or Marxists.. even criminals
..shoot tranformer/disable security meas./rob facility/
get $$$$/even terrorists need $$$$
and besides who'll admit to the robbery, given rotten security measures.