A new poll of 382 chief security officers (CSOs) and senior security executives conducted by IDG's CSO magazine reveals 59% of respondents blame the U.S. electric industry, not the U.S. government, for last week's blackout. Fifty-five percent of the CSO respondents, all hailing from organizations in the U.S. critical infrastructure, are asking the federal government to expand its oversight of the electric industry.

“Regulations are often regarded as the necessary evil in securing the nation's infrastructure,” says Lew McCreary, editor in chief of CSO magazine. “It's interesting that CSOs, who are traditionally anti-regulation, are calling for increased government control in this industry, having now been faced with a glaring example of so-called market forces at work.”

CSOs lack confidence in the electric industry and power grid capabilities, with 59% saying it's likely another major U.S. blackout will happen in the next 12 months. Further, 76% lack confidence the electric industry will be modernized and not subject to its present vulnerabilities in five years.

Respondents also lack trust in the electric industry, as 75% believe the blackout incident should be reviewed by an independent investigator without ties to the energy industry. Almost half (47%) even ask that results of such an investigation be classified to prevent terrorists from learning more about U.S. vulnerabilities.