Electricity Forum Intelligent Power Today Magazine Arc Flash Clothing

Big Data


Enhance Data Center Security

How utilities can protect operations from penetration BY MICHAEL STUBER, Itron For utilities deploying Smart Grid solutions, the major security concern is often the field devices. Utilities and vendors have long understood that field devices such as meters, switches, routers, and concentrators...

Software


White Paper: Convergence of IT & OT to Build a Successful Smart Grid

Build a successful Smart Grid with IT and OT technologies Utilities have found that the newest technological advancements can help achieve significant progress towards the requirements of those three drivers. These advancements appear most visible in the areas of communications, sensors, control...

Grid Modernization


How Distributed Generation is Changing Grid Design

Distributed generation resources takes a giant step forward BY KEN GEISLER, Siemens For the majority of its existence, the electrical grid has been powered with large, remote “centralized” generation. Centralized power plants often need to reach substations serving load centers that...

Grid Communications


Writing Smart Grid Requirements

Managing change with positive thinking to make the most of investments BY JOHN MCDONALD, IEEE Senior Member, GE Energy Management - Digital Energy The process of writing requirements for Smart Grid-related technology purchases may appear simple and straightforward. It is not. As the technology...

Utility Automation & Monitoring


Cloud Computing for Electric Utilities

Need-to-know info for electric utilities BY LEN WHITTEN, SunGard Availability Services The electric power industry has often been a first-mover in adopting new technologies before other industries move forward with implementation. For example, electric utilities were among the first companies to...

Renewable Energy Connections


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...

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