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Wireless Field Area Communications

Networks for Smart Grids

Bert Williams

While “smart grid” has become an overused catch phrase, shown in Figure 1. When provided by a broadband
the term does convey an important concept. Increasingly, network, two-way communication enables intelligent
utilities are deploying intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) devices in the field to provide data to applications running
and other smart apparatus in substations and along on computers in substations and data centers. These
distribution feeders as well as equipping field workers applications can, in turn, monitor and control devices
with laptop, tablet and handheld computers. They are, in the field to automatically optimize distribution system
also, installing specialized computers and software in operation and respond to faults and failures. Further, by
substations plus enterprise-class software applications to supporting mobile workforce automation applications,
automate various facets of utility operations in their data two-way communication enhances field crew efficiency
centers. and safety by enabling remote access to manuals and
schematics, downloading of work orders, report filing and
An additional component is required to make this voice over IP (VoIP) service in areas without cell phone
intelligence productive – two-way communication, as coverage.

Figure 1 – Two-way Communication

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