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Planning for the Successful Integration of Substation Communication

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This article outlines many of the requirements of an integrated network and the tools available to plan and implement a successful integrated substation network.

There are many benefits to building an integrated network for substation communications including cost effectiveness and the ease of adding new systems to an established network. To achieve these benefits, planners must understand and define a long term strategic architecture. It must take into account the varied needs of different networking applications. These include control systems such as SCADA, measurement systems including metering, protection signaling among power systems, and other emerging requirements such as security video surveillance. Without an overall network plan, an established network may inhibit rather than help the implementation of future systems.