Today’s power grids can’t run without reliable, resilient, flexible, and secure telecommunications (or telecoms) networks. The intelligent devices that monitor and control the flow of electricity on high- and low-voltage grids require real- and near-real-time data transport capabilities. While advanced grids can provide increased situational awareness to their operators, they require granular network management capabilities, like those provided by telecommunications, to then modulate data traffic priorities based on dynamic conditions.
And just as telecom network expectations and demands are increasing, the old standbys for utility network telecommunications—such as copper phone lines—are disappearing. The result is the need for two equally sophisticated infrastructure investments—one focused on the transport of electrons for the delivery of electricity, and the other focused on the transport of data about the delivery of electricity.
Over the next two years, the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI’s) Telecommunications Initiative will address a number of questions utilities have about these dynamic telecoms networks, including:
- What tools will we need to manage complex, heterogeneous, and mission-critical telecom networks?
- How do we migrate from today’s networks and legacy equipment to telecom networks that support often ambiguous future data transport needs?
- What are the best approaches for migrating from serial- to packet-based telecommunications infrastructure?
- What are the options for the most cost-effective and efficient use of different categories of spectrum (licensed, unlicensed, and shared)?
- What broadband services can be leveraged at the grid’s edge?
To tackle this research, we collaborated with our member utilities to establish six subgroups within the initiative, each focused on a specific topic. The ultimate goal is to aid utilities in planning their future telecom networks by developing a “Telecommunication Strategic Architecture and Roadmap Decision Tree” and a “Telecom Planning Framework” document. The goals, while ambitious, are achievable because there’s significant truth to that old saying, “two heads are better than one”.
All research tasks and results will be shared through a series of workshops and webcasts, and through reports. The next workshop is scheduled for early October. Hosted by Ameren Corporation, the agenda will focus on task progress and results in development of a communication architecture framework, teleprotection pros and cons using MPLS and carrier Ethernet, a taxonomy of wireless options, and other initiative topics.
EPRI will provide periodic updates on the progress of the Telecommunications Initiative through a series of articles between now and the end of 2017. We invite utilities interested in this mission to join us in this collaborative effort.
About the Authors
Tim Godfrey is a technical executive with the Electric Power Research Institute, specializing in telecommunications. He manages the Telecommunications Initiative, a research project addressing the key challenges utilities face related to the telecommunications infrastructure supporting the smart grid. He holds a BSEE from the University of Kansas and has worked in the area of wireless networking and communications for 20 years. He has 23 granted patents. Mr. Godfrey has participated in IEEE standards development since 1994. He is the chair of the IEEE 802.24 Smart Grid Technical Advisory Group, and the IEEE 802.16 GRIDMAN Task Group.
Christine Hertzog is a technical advisor for ICT and Cyber Security at the Electric Power Research Institute. She was previously the founder of a consulting firm focused on smart grid ecosystems and has an extensive telecommunications background. She authored the Smart Grid Dictionary, and co-authored Data Privacy for the Smart Grid. She has also served in an advisory capacity to innovators, industry associations, and publications. She has an MS in telecommunications from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
