Munich City Utilities Demand Enhanced Protection for Critical Infrastructure
Munich, Bavaria, Germany, September 7, 2026 – Florian Bieberbach, CEO of Stadtwerke München (Munich City Utilities), is calling for a more practical approach to protecting critical infrastructure in Germany. His demand comes in the wake of recent attacks on substations in Jänschwalde and Bergheim, highlighting vulnerabilities in the current security framework.
In a guest commentary for the German business newspaper “Handelsblatt,” Bieberbach stressed the need for a shift in focus from extensive documentation requirements to the implementation of tangible security measures. “Security is not created on paper, but by people who are capable of acting, and by a regulatory framework that enables concrete actions and does not slow them down,” Bieberbach stated.
Call for Practical Security Measures and Regulatory Adjustments
Bieberbach’s critique targets the existing regulatory environment, which he believes places too much emphasis on bureaucratic processes rather than effective, real-world security protocols. He argues that operators of critical infrastructure should be empowered to deploy surveillance systems without constantly fearing violations of data protection or artificial intelligence regulations.
“For example, it would be sensible to be allowed to film intruders as they approach a facility or climb over protective fences – and not only when they are already on the premises,” he wrote in his commentary. This suggestion points to a desire for proactive surveillance capabilities that can deter or detect threats earlier.
Investment in Security and Crisis Preparedness
The CEO also emphasized the necessity of incorporating investments in physical security, cyber defense, and crisis preparedness into the regulatory framework. This would ensure that utility companies have the financial and legal backing to implement robust security measures, thereby enhancing the resilience of vital infrastructure against potential attacks.
The recent incidents at the Jänschwalde and Bergheim substations have brought the issue of critical infrastructure protection to the forefront, prompting a broader discussion among policymakers and industry leaders about the adequacy of current security protocols. Bieberbach’s intervention from one of Germany’s largest municipal utility providers underscores the urgency of these concerns.
His call for action is expected to resonate within political and regulatory circles, potentially leading to a re-evaluation of existing guidelines and a push for more pragmatic and effective security strategies for critical infrastructure across Germany.
Source: https://www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de/nachrichten/muenchner-stadtwerke-wollen-besseren-schutz-kritischer-infrastruktur-232034.html
