PAR Title: P1777: Recommended Practices for Using Wireless Data Communications in Power System Operations

These Recommended Practices describe and make recommendations on the functional, performance, security, and on-site testing issues related to using wireless data communication technologies in different aspects of power system operations, including within electric power substations, in underground vaults, along transmission and distribution circuits, within generation and distributed generation plants, for customer electrical and metering equipment, and other electric power environments.

Scope

The scope of this work is to develop the functional, performance, security, and on-site testing recommended practices for wireless data communication technologies to be used in different aspects of power system operations. These wireless data communication technologies include older technologies such as spread spectrum and MAS, as well as newer technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiMax, and cellular phone systems.

The locations for wireless include within electric power substations, in underground vaults, along transmission and distribution circuits, within generation and distributed generation plants, for customer electrical and metering equipment, and other electric power environments. The different types of communication functions will include high-speed, high reliability protective relaying, “real-time” monitoring within electric sites with high EMI, control within electric sites, non-operational monitoring and control (e.g. maintenance, archival data, physical plan monitoring, etc.), mobile functions, temporary functions, and emergency functions. 

Additional work within this scope will include the dissemination of information on uses, benefits, and concerns of wireless technologies in power system operations.

Purpose

Wireless data communications are becoming widespread in many industries, since they offer significant benefits over wired communications, including low cost installations, rapid deployment, easy user access, and mobility. At the same time, the use of wireless technologies in power system environments presents a number of security and reliability concerns. These concerns include the impact of noisy electrical environments on the wireless media, the reliability of the currently available commercial wireless equipment, the overloading of the available bandwidth (particularly during emergency conditions), and the security of communications.

Utilities are therefore wisely skeptical and cautious about introducing wireless communications in their substations. Nonetheless, the potential advantages of wireless technologies cannot be ignored. The possible uses of wireless technologies in power system operations therefore need to be analyzed to determine where wireless could provide viable and attractive alternatives to wired solutions, and what additional development of wireless technologies are needed.

Need for Recommended Practices

Although wireless technologies are becoming widespread in many industries, utilities are understandably cautious in using them in power system operations. Very little information or in depth assessments of wireless technologies have been made on where they could, should, or should not be used in power system operations. These Recommended Practices will provide recommendations to utilities on potential uses of wireless technologies in different areas of power system operations.

Stakeholders

Wireless technologies could apply to many different areas of power system operations, including electric power substations, underground vaults, transmission and distribution circuits, generation and distributed generation plants, customer electrical and metering equipment, and other electric power environments.

Methodology

The focus of the work will be to develop Use Cases in all of the relevant areas of power system operations. This will include asking key experts to fill out Use Case forms for different applications of wireless communications. The scope also includes assessing the results and developing guidelines for using wireless technologies in the electric power industry.

For this Wireless WG, we are looking for experts in power system operations, covering T&D substations equipment, distribution field equipment, protection, maintenance, large power plants, and distributed power plants, metering, and any other equipment used in power system operations. These experts will be asked to fill out the right-hand column of a “Use Case” (see example below) for existing or new applications for which wireless communications might be beneficial, covering:

• Brief description of the function or application of wireless

• Current status of any wireless implementations in these functions or applications

• Identification of new functions which might become feasible if wireless communications were available

• Possible benefits which they believe could be gained from wireless

• Possible concerns about using wireless

• Time-sensitivity, performance, configuration, mobility, time between servicing, and other quality of service requirements

• Types of security required: confidentiality, integrity, availability/reliability, non-repudiation/ accountability

Once the WG has collected a number of Use Cases, it will assess the common requirements and the unique requirements. The WG will then issue a Technical Report on these findings and on the capabilities, concerns, and possible issues for wireless technologies to meet these requirements.

Last updated on May 24, 2007