pg and e responded by promising to upgrade security at the metcalf facility and other critical substations throughout the state. do you think pg and e has done enough now to prevent another attack? >> we are working every day to make sure it never happens again, tony. >> reporter: but there was a clear difference between what pg and e was saying and what an nbc bay area investigation discovered last summer at substations in northern and central california. you were out of metcalf. is it still vulnerable to an attack today? it is vulnerable to the same kinds of attack from a different angle. would it take a little more time? probably. >> reporter: he has asked us to protect his identity because he has two decades of military experience. >> i'm looking for people. >> reporter: he visited and annized security at many of pg and e's substations including metcalf. >> reporter: guys trained like you, how long would it take. >> less than 15 minutes. >> reporter: and that vulnerability became even more apparent last august. 16 months after the original attack vandals executed a second security brea

that's why you can now see crews working at the metcalf substation.ncrete walls are going up, there's also increased on-site security, improved lighting and an enhanced network of security cameras. they're tangible security upgrades that also follow our investigation last year that criticized the security network, more than a year after that attack. with the nbc bay area investigative unit, i'm tony kovaleski. >> thank you very much. >>> it is 5:56, we've been talking about rain this morning. meteorologist christina loren, continuing to fall today? >> yes, a little bit. the heavy stuff rolled through and a lot of that came down while you were sleeping, mostly waking up with the 50s on our way to the upper 50s, low 60s. by lunch time we'll round out the day with temperatures around average for this time of year, cool, cloudy conditions and a little sunshine later today. here's mike and your drive. >> we're looking to oakland where the volume is building a tad bit. no big dra in. damp roadways. we'll look to the map toward oakland through san leandro, r

he analyzed securitial many of pg&e's substations including metcalf.e trained like you, what could be done, how long would it take? >> metcalf could be repeated across all the sites that you showed me in less than 15 minutes. >> reporter: that vulnerability became even more apparent last august. 16 months after the original attack, vandals executed a second security breach at the metcalf substation, cutting their way through perimeter fencing and stealing thousands of dollars in construction equipment. all undetected by what pg&e described as high level security. now seven months later construction crews and heavy equipment are proof that pg&e is spending money to increase the security at the metcalf substation. pg&e deserve some credit here? >> absolutely no question. they receive credit from moving on this. >> reporter: a move that includes increased on-site security, more security cameras, better lighting and concrete perimeter fencing that better protects the critical transformers, transformers required for powering much of silicon valley. they're

he visited and analyzed security at many of pg&e's critical electric substations, including metcalf.are trained like you, how long could it take? >> it could be repeated across the sites you showed me in less than 15 minutes. >> reporter: and that vulnerability became even more apparent last august. 16 months after the original attack vandals executed a second security breach at the metcalf substation cutting their way through perimeter fencing and stealing thousands of dollars in construction equipment, all undetected by what pg&e described as high-level security. now seven months later construction crews can and heavy equipment are proof that pg&e is spending money to increase the security at the metcalf substation. pg&e deserve some credit here? >> absolutely no question. they deserve some credit from moving on this. >> reporter: a move that includes increased on-site security, more security cameras, better lighting and concrete perimeter fencing that better protects the critical transformers. transformers responsible for powering much of silicon valley. they're all upgrades that

. >>> the metcalf substation's security is almost complete.er station in 2013. last year, thieves broke in. pg&e pg&e's work on a massive upgrade started in 2013. a stone wall will enclose the entire security. and security guards will monitor the wall 24/7. >> i'm hoping that they will do what they say they were going to do. and they will complete security. with pg&e, it's been challenging to expect them to do the right thing. >> pg&e promises to spend $100 million securing the substations by 2016. >>> 5:44. there's a handful of major leaguers who can say they played for the giants and the a's. >> and comedian will ferrell can say he played for both clubs and eight others all in the same day. >> is it possible to win a gold glove in spring training? >> absolutely not. >> ferrell's baseball odyssey took him to five different ballparks to play in five games. buster posey's job is probably safe when he put on the catcher's gear in the ninth for the giants. ferrell might be sore. he played all nine positions in the field and served as designated h

and that's even in the attack at the metcalf substation in california, those suspects were never apprehendedsaw in that report. we don't know who they were or what they wanted and why they attacked that substation. >> let me push back on what some security analysts are saying regarding the scope of this. politico surveyed about half a dozen experts. they said look it's virtual low impossible for one of these online only or cyberattacks to cause a widespread power outage to our north american power grid. do you think that's an accurate assessment. >> what our experts are most concerned about is some kind of combination of an attack. either a physical attack at the same time or some type of physical attack combined with the cyberattack. some type of combination that would have the potential for a broader effect. >> and given this reporting, would you say that people should be more prepared at home for the eventuality of losing power for a long time? did it make you want to change any of your own practices? >> well it might. you can go on to fema's website. they have a list of what to do to pre

are upgrades are in the works nearly two years after a successful sniper attack on the metcalf electric substation in san jose. this video shows construction crews building fencing to make it more difficult for anyone to have a possible attack against metcalf. the ongoing security upgrades follow a series of critical reports last year by the nbc bay area investigative unit a series of unscheduled visits insights from experts and analysis from a former military special ops veteran, all raised questions about the level of security at the critical substations. >> guys are trained like you. what could be done how long would it take? >> metcalf could be repeated across all of the sites you showed me in less than 15 minutes. >> what kind of impact do you think that statement had? >> i think it had been a big impact in that it demonstrated that unless these kind of steps are taken, these facilities continue to be vulnerable. >> pg&e said it will have $100 million in security upgrades in place by 2016. tony takes a look at the security upgrades. the question has the public utility done enough? we'll have

guest: the attack on the metcalf substation in california.his believed to be a highly coordinated attack by multiple attackers. severed fiber-optic communication cables before firing more than 100 rounds of ammunition at a key transmission substation. they damaged the transformers there. more than $15 million in damages and escape into the night and have never been apprehended. no one knows exactly who these people were or what their motives were. it sparked a realization by officials in the industry of the vulnerability of some of these pieces of infrastructure. host: your piece points out recent incidents and how vulnerable we potentially are. in 2011, an intruder gaining access through a chain-link fence. in 2013, 4 bullets firing from a highway stretching a power station. guest: they illustrate the openness of some of these facilities. we have driven past them on the highway. they are often sitting pretty much in plain view. we have seen copper thieves able to breach the security of these facilities. obviously they are less sophisticated

pg&e says this new fence at that substation is part of a $100 million security improvement for all of their facilities. the metcalf facility is the first one where they're making improvements. the metcalf improvement should be finished by the end of the month. pg&e hoping to have all security improvements finished in the next three years. >>> newly released surveillance video has led to the suspension of two security guards at an oakland high school. there's a possible criminal investigation now. take a look at video shot at fremont high school back in january. in the top left corner you see a student confronted by two security guards in the doorway there. then they put him in a chokehold and drag him into the school's office. off camera one of the officers punches him several times. after the incident the student was suspended for five days. you see them dragging the student across. they take him off to the right side of your tv screen. the security officers received no disciplinary action at first. the student's family is now looking into legal action despite an apology from district leaders yesterday. >>> in bo

substations. without providing details, pg&e told us they're implementing other advanced detection and deterrent measures. no one lost power in the 2013 attack, but it was a wake-up call. >> i think the metcalfe incident was a significant turning point for us. that's the reality. >> reporter: last november, industry regulators put in place a new physical security standard requiring all companies to identify critical facilities, analyze threats and vulnerabilities, and enact new plans. as threats evolve attacks are frequent and one successful attack is too many. jacob rascon, nbc news, san jose california. >>> when we come back, are digital devices guilting you into leaving a bigger tip? >>> thrill seekers got a little more than they bargained for at new york's coney island today. the 88-year-old cyclone roller coaster got stuck on the first run of the season. passengers were forced to walk down the tracks from one of the highest points on the ride. no injuries were reported. >>> college basketball fans also taken for a wild ride this weekend. three teams have punch punched their tickets to the final four. louisville was slugged in overtime following michigan state 76-70. for the second year i