Critical infrastructure security is in the national spotlight. In 2020, the power grid and energy sector was the third most targeted sector for cyber-attacks, up from ninth place in 2019, and the threats are growing more sophisticated. The Biden administration recently issued a national security memorandum which sets baseline cybersecurity goals and practices to protect the grid. The order also encourages the deployment of advanced technology for threat visibility, detection, monitoring, and response.
Power and...
Examining the foundational elements in architecture decision BY TOM WILSON, Itron In recent years, the utility industry has seen a diverse set of use cases for Smart Grid deployments emerge. North American electric utilities are carefully considering architecture decisions to ensure that the...
The importance of up-to-date critical system monitoring BY MARLEE ROSEN, Rosen Associates Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks contain computers and applications that perform critical capabilities in delivering essential services and commodities (for example, electricity,...
Examining the evolution of outage management systems BY GERALD GRAY & JOHN SIMMINS, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Once again, a major storm event, in this case Hurricane Sandy, has brought increased attention to a utility’s capability to respond to and mitigate damage to its...
Moving forward with distribution automation and intelligent electronic devices BY JOHN MCDONALD, GE Digital Energy The ongoing rollout of interval (aka “smart”) meters and the resulting deluge of data have rightly received much attention and triggered the initial impetus for electric utility...
The power industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by grid modernization, renewable integration, and increasing demands for resilience and efficiency. At the heart of this evolution lies the smart substation—a next-generation facility equipped with advanced sensors, digital...
As the global demand for renewable energy intensifies, wind farms are emerging as pivotal players in the transition to sustainable power sources. In 2023, the wind industry added a remarkable 117 gigawatts (GW) of global capacity, underscoring its growing significance in the energy landscape....
A coalition of large energy consumers and ratepayer advocates has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), urging the agency to prohibit transmission owners from independently planning "local" transmission projects exceeding 100 kilovolts (kV). The coalition argues...
In the evolving landscape of power grid management, integrating advanced sensor technologies in intelligent transformers and substations is revolutionizing monitoring and control. These sensors provide real-time data collection and analysis, significantly improving asset management and fault...
The evolving demands of modern power grids necessitate the adoption of advanced technologies that can provide enhanced efficiency, reliability, and flexibility. Smart transformers are at the forefront of this technological revolution, offering a range of capabilities that significantly improve the...
In a significant shift, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has decided to abandon its transmission incentives policy, particularly the construction work in progress (CWIP) incentives. This decision marks a pivotal change in how transmission projects are financed and regulated,...
