China and “one or two” other countries are capable of mounting cyber attacks to shut down the electric grid in parts of the United States. That’s according to Admiral Michael Rogers, the director of the National Security Agency and commander of the U.S. Cyber Command.

The possibility of such cyberattacks by U.S. adversaries has been widely known, but never confirmed publicly by the nation’s top cyber official.

At a House hearing, Rogers says U.S. adversaries are performing electronic “reconnaissance,” on a regular basis so that they can be in a position to attack the industrial control systems that run everything from chemical facilities to water treatment plants.

Outside experts say the U.S. Cyber Command also has that capability, which in theory should amount to mutual deterrence.

(AP)