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Software


The Smart Grid Prophecy

For years, industry publications have touted Smart Grid cost-benefit study results that show Smart Grid investments paying for themselves with reduced utility costs. The widely quoted report published by the Electric Power Research Institute, “Estimating the Costs and Benefits of the Smart...

Grid Communications


Communications, Data Hardening, and the Smart Grid

The SmartGrid continues to expand and gather new functions as needs evolve. Automated metering, relay operation, RTU operation, electric management systems, remedial action schemes, SCADA, field reclosers, Synchrophasors, remote access, weather, and earthquake monitoring and future needs still yet...

DMS & SCADA


Distribution Management Ecosystems

How utilities can yield significant operational benefits BY JEFF WALZ, Siemens Smart Grid As North American electric utilities continue to transform their existing electric delivery assets into a smarter grid, strong emphasis is placed on systems, products, and services that provide value in...

Renewable Energy Connections


Grid Modernization Strategies

Moving utilities toward a modern energy system BY RONNY SANDOVAL, Environmental Defense Fund The need to build a smarter energy infrastructure has never been greater. Storms and other extreme weather events such as Hurricane Sandy continue to test the limits of the existing, century-old electric...

Grid Modernization


Microgrids: Moving Away From Central Power

Asset management evolves as microgrids play various roles BY MASSOUD AMIN, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Microgrids, as many readers are aware, are small power systems of several megawatts (MW) or less in scale that possess three primary characteristics: distributed...

Cybersecurity & Privacy


Cyber Security Strategy is a Must-Have for AMI/MDMS and DA Systems

Over the past decade, utilities around the world have taken advantage of the many clear benefits that Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and subsequently Distribution Automation (DA) can afford. In addition to the proven cost savings of automated and remote meter reading, utilities have been...

Smart Grid

Protecting SCADA Systems with Defense-in-Depth Strategies

How utilities can utilize multi-layered security approaches

BY RICHARD CLARK, InduSoft

Defense-in-depth is a security strategy first developed by military leaders in which multiple layers of safeguards are placed throughout a system. The concept behind the strategy is that it is more difficult to penetrate a complex and multi-layered defense than to breach a single security measure. The defense-in-depth approach does not simply strive to prevent attacks; it expects them and counters them with coordinated...

Smart Grid Articles