Electricity Forum Intelligent Power Today Magazine Arc Flash Clothing

Utility Automation & Monitoring T&D


Power Grid Congestion

Unclogging the arteries of North America’s power grid BY DAVE BRYANT, CTC Global Corporation Without access to affordable and reliable electricity, no society in today’s world can possibly flourish. Canada and the U.S. rely heavily on electricity to pump water to grow crops,...

The Rise of the First National Green Bank in the U.S.

The recent launch of the Coalition for Green Capital's (CGC) first national green bank marks a significant milestone in the United States' climate strategy. This development, announced in a Utility Dive article, underscores a pivotal shift towards streamlined, scalable financing for green...

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...

Utility Automation & Monitoring T&D

Trends in SCADA Security

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, natural gas, water, waste treatment, wind farms, transportation) to consumers. As such, they are part of America’s critical infrastructure and require protection from a variety of threats that exist in cyber space and even more commonly today, the mentality that “if it isn’t broken then don’t fix it”.

To optimize the collection and analysis of the data and control of equipment such as pumps and valves from remote locations, SCADA networks provide great efficiency and are widely used but many have been set up roughly 15 years ago and left to run without any further concern for product updates or enhancements.

MITIGATE RISK
These legacy SCADAs present a tremendous security risk. SCADAs were initially designed to maximize functionality and automate processes, product updates and new revisions. However, SCADA companies merged, ceased to exist or evolved more into manufacturing execution systems (MES). Also, tremendous changes have occurred in the automation industry that have left multitudes of outdated SCADAs in the field. As a result,...

Related Articles


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...

Distribution Grid Monitoring Technologies

How to improve situational awareness of grid operations BY MARK FEDERLE, QinetiQ North America The adoption of Smart Grid technology in recent years has accelerated the modernization of the electric utility grid. This is a positive development given that the grid infrastructure in North America is,...

FERC Complaint Targets Duke, PJM Transmission Planning

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...


FERC Complaint Targets Duke, PJM Transmission Planning

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...

magazine_sep_oct_2023_article_2

FERC Approves Interconnection for Talen Energy, Amazon Data Center

In a significant move that underscores the growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy to power the expanding digital infrastructure, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved an interconnection agreement between Talen Energy, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Exelon. This...

Smart Transformers: Enhancing Grid Efficiency and Reliability

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...

The Rise of the First National Green Bank in the U.S.

The recent launch of the Coalition for Green Capital's (CGC) first national green bank marks a significant milestone in the United States' climate strategy. This development, announced in a Utility Dive article, underscores a pivotal shift towards streamlined, scalable financing for green...

Louisiana Industries Push for Faster Renewable Energy Transition

Louisiana, known for its robust oil and gas industry, is experiencing a significant shift as some of its largest industries express frustration over delays in the state’s renewable energy transition. These major players are pushing for accelerated development and implementation of renewable...

The AI Solar Installation Robot

In a significant leap forward for the solar energy industry, Maximo, an advanced AI-enabled robot, is transforming the landscape of utility-scale solar installations. This innovative technology is set to revolutionize how solar panels are installed, offering increased efficiency, precision, and...

Page 1 of 11