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Smart Metering


Climate Change Strains Global Electricity Networks: A Wake-Up Call

The increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters are placing unprecedented strain on the world's electricity networks, with severe implications for global energy security. According to a recent Bloomberg report, the effects of climate change are pushing many electricity grids to...

Customer Billing

Customer Billing Service Options

As competition among electric utilities heats up and additional retailers enter the market with electricity offerings, a noticeable trend has emerged: a heightened focus on the customer experience. Larger conglomerates and smaller providers alike have made service and communication objectives a top...

AMI & AMR

Neighborhood Area Networks

Standardizing communication to achieve plug-and-play interoperability BY RYAN MALEY, ZigBee Alliance All over the world, there is increasing demand for standardizing communication in the Smart Grid. Electric utilities and their regulators are increasingly concerned with upgrading all aspects of the...

Smart Grid


Grid Modernization

Improving Grid Cyber Security

Addressing the impacts and the drawbacks BY ELIZAVETA MALASHENKO, CHRIS VILLARREAL, & J. DAVID ERICKSON, California Public Utilities Commission With grid modernization or “Smart Grid” efforts underway, cyber security is being recognized as an increasingly important factor in ensuring...

Renewable Energy Connections

Pennsylvania’s Yaw Bill

In a significant move for Pennsylvania’s energy sector, State Senator Gene Yaw has introduced a transformative piece of legislation aimed at modernizing the state's approach to power plant development and capacity management. The bill, which has been the subject of considerable discussion,...

Automation

Smart Grid, Smart Metering, T&D Automation

Internet of Things Phenomenon

The introduction of wearable smart watches was a major
step forward for Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the consumer electronics arena, and the next major step for computing. The Guardian News, a U.K.-based national newspaper, calls this next era a “programmable world” where multiple objects, such as watches and sunglasses, will be connected to the Internet to serve the user automatically. Smart watches and other wearables fit well into this definition.

Besides consumer use, IoT has caught the eye of the power
industry. In fact, electric utilities are already purchasing—and using—existing technologies from various manufacturers and vendors to enable IoT deployments. Industry organizations such as the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) are in the process of implementing new standards for use as well.

Currently, an IEEE Working Group is developing the IEEE P2413: “Standard for an Architectural Framework for the Internet of Things”. This standard defines an architectural framework for the Internet of Things, including descriptions of various IoT domains as well as domain abstractions. Additionally, the standard identifies commonalities among the different IoT domains.

T&D Automation Articles