Communciations issue for electric utilities

(C) 2009 New Signals (C) 2009 New Signals Engineering CorporationEngineering Corporation

Telecommunications PlanningTelecommunications PlanningIssues facing Electric UtilitiesIssues facing Electric Utilities

July 2009Technology Review and Discussion


Overview AgendaOverview Agenda

Review of Systems used todayReview of Systems used today– Microwave radios, towersMicrowave radios, towers

What is current mix of systems, bandwidth, interfaces?What is current mix of systems, bandwidth, interfaces?

– Fiber Optic Broadband systemsFiber Optic Broadband systems OPGW deployed? Dark Fiber, electronics and interfaces used?OPGW deployed? Dark Fiber, electronics and interfaces used?

– Multiple Address Radio – SCADA polling systemMultiple Address Radio – SCADA polling system Alligator, GE MDS, others? Licensed or Unlicensed?Alligator, GE MDS, others? Licensed or Unlicensed?

– VHF/ UHF/800/900 MHz Voice Radio SystemsVHF/ UHF/800/900 MHz Voice Radio Systems– Mobile workforce, wireless systemsMobile workforce, wireless systems


Issues to ConsiderIssues to Consider

BandwidthBandwidth– 20 years ago, 1200 bps was plenty20 years ago, 1200 bps was plenty– 10 years ago, going 4800 bps was high speed10 years ago, going 4800 bps was high speed– Now : “legacy” systems are RS232 and “slow” like 9600 bpsNow : “legacy” systems are RS232 and “slow” like 9600 bps– Future : Looks to be IP based interface and transport for at least Future : Looks to be IP based interface and transport for at least

the next 5 years, currently tipping from IPv4 to IPv6.the next 5 years, currently tipping from IPv4 to IPv6. IP is in the substation and metering and switching stations now, at least IP is in the substation and metering and switching stations now, at least

in the equipmentin the equipment Broadband is becoming a need or requirement.Broadband is becoming a need or requirement.

– Bandwidth: Increasing needs and applications, updates to Bandwidth: Increasing needs and applications, updates to hardware can be 10 to 100 mbytes, tech support is increasingly hardware can be 10 to 100 mbytes, tech support is increasingly web based chat boxes instead of telephone.web based chat boxes instead of telephone.


Issues…Issues… BandwidthBandwidth

– WirelessWireless MicrowaveMicrowave

– Most are now 10 MHz or 50 Mbps (28 DS1’s) capable?Most are now 10 MHz or 50 Mbps (28 DS1’s) capable? Can be licensed for up to 155 Mbps or 20 to 30 MHz (L6 GHz)Can be licensed for up to 155 Mbps or 20 to 30 MHz (L6 GHz) Or 3 DS3’s or 3 x 28 DS1sOr 3 DS3’s or 3 x 28 DS1s Other narrowband systems (GE MDS or 4RF)?Other narrowband systems (GE MDS or 4RF)?

Alligator / GE MDS Licensed SCADA Radios – any use?Alligator / GE MDS Licensed SCADA Radios – any use?– These are 12.5 KHz bandwidth and can operate up to 9600 bps rate, the equipment These are 12.5 KHz bandwidth and can operate up to 9600 bps rate, the equipment

is limited to 9600 bps maximum rate. is limited to 9600 bps maximum rate. VHF/UHF SystemsVHF/UHF Systems

– By and after 2013, maximum bandwidth allowed is 12.5 KHz , 6.25 may be coming, By and after 2013, maximum bandwidth allowed is 12.5 KHz , 6.25 may be coming, not announced by FCC yet.not announced by FCC yet.

– This may impact the current system depending on what licensing options are This may impact the current system depending on what licensing options are available or can be crafted.available or can be crafted.

John E Hargrove

All stations must operate on channels with a bandwidth of 12.5 kHz or less beginning January 1, 2013, unless the operations meet the efficiency standard of §90.203(j)(3).


Issues to ConsiderIssues to Consider

Future Wireless optionsFuture Wireless options– Licensed – Licensed – – Wimax type licensing and equipmentWimax type licensing and equipment

2.5 GHZ – have to purchase/lease license from someone2.5 GHZ – have to purchase/lease license from someone

– MAS SCADA 1.4 GHz – only equipment found so far is MAS SCADA 1.4 GHz – only equipment found so far is Alligator and is limited to 19200 bps rate.Alligator and is limited to 19200 bps rate.

– Unlicensed Unlicensed 3 GHz, 4 GHZ, 5 GHz spectrum with orthogonal technology3 GHz, 4 GHZ, 5 GHz spectrum with orthogonal technology Point to Point and Point to MultipointPoint to Point and Point to Multipoint Bandwidth from 15 Mbps to 300 Mbps, path lengths to 30 miles.Bandwidth from 15 Mbps to 300 Mbps, path lengths to 30 miles. 920 MHz radios provide 512 kbps to 1 Mbps bandwidth.920 MHz radios provide 512 kbps to 1 Mbps bandwidth.


IssuesIssues

Reliability and AvailabilityReliability and Availability– During operation – storms, electrical EMCDuring operation – storms, electrical EMC– Severe Storms and Hurricanes will outage commercial wireless Severe Storms and Hurricanes will outage commercial wireless

(Verizon, ATT, Sprint, etc) for several days to weeks.(Verizon, ATT, Sprint, etc) for several days to weeks.– Make a Risk assessment of what level of outage is acceptable on Make a Risk assessment of what level of outage is acceptable on

which systems.which systems.– During Normal operations, equipment in substations or feeders During Normal operations, equipment in substations or feeders

should be rugged and EMC rated for surge protection, higher KV should be rugged and EMC rated for surge protection, higher KV ratings.ratings.

SurvivabilitySurvivability– Electrical surges, storms, EMC, EMP, Sunspots, heatElectrical surges, storms, EMC, EMP, Sunspots, heat– Towers – designed for wind load per EIA TIA RS222 stress Towers – designed for wind load per EIA TIA RS222 stress

calculations.calculations.– Utility owned systems either stayed on line after hurricanes or were Utility owned systems either stayed on line after hurricanes or were

restored within 24 to 48 hours.restored within 24 to 48 hours.


Microwave Radio SystemMicrowave Radio System

Existing System OverviewExisting System Overview Product SupportProduct Support

– What vendor support for existing equipment?What vendor support for existing equipment?– What IP/ethernet options are available?What IP/ethernet options are available?– System design review needed.System design review needed.


SCADA Radio SystemSCADA Radio System

GE MDS or Alligator Radio equipment is typicalGE MDS or Alligator Radio equipment is typical– May be another?May be another?

952/928 MHz frequency band licensed952/928 MHz frequency band licensed– Unlicensed? Frequency bands?Unlicensed? Frequency bands?

Analog FSK/ or 1200/4800/9600 bps serial RS232 Analog FSK/ or 1200/4800/9600 bps serial RS232 communications? What are the legacy systems?communications? What are the legacy systems?


Technology DirectionsTechnology Directions

New Technologies and Applications are New Technologies and Applications are driving higher speed data requirements driving higher speed data requirements further out into the electric utility operationsfurther out into the electric utility operations

IP based Video Security IP based Video Security Smart Grid Programs, whatever this ends up looking Smart Grid Programs, whatever this ends up looking

likelike Meter ReadingMeter Reading Intelligent Devices in reclosers, breakers, capacitors Intelligent Devices in reclosers, breakers, capacitors

are more likely IP Ethernet based today than notare more likely IP Ethernet based today than not Workforce Mobility applications (Dispatch, work Workforce Mobility applications (Dispatch, work

orders, email, etc)orders, email, etc)


Technology DirectionsTechnology Directions

““everything” is headed rapidly to IP based everything” is headed rapidly to IP based standards for communicating, or is already there. standards for communicating, or is already there. – It is here now with products and projects being It is here now with products and projects being

implemented.implemented.– Requires Ethernet and most of the time significantly Requires Ethernet and most of the time significantly

more bandwidth than previous generation equipment more bandwidth than previous generation equipment and applications. Bandwidth needs to be at least 1 and applications. Bandwidth needs to be at least 1 Mbps pipe now to substation.Mbps pipe now to substation.

– Requires a network mix of Wired, Wireless, FiberRequires a network mix of Wired, Wireless, Fiber– Smarter and more complex devices in the Substation or Smarter and more complex devices in the Substation or

on the poleon the pole


Going ForwardGoing Forward

Develop a Spectrum needs PlanDevelop a Spectrum needs Plan– For SCADA Radio direction, Needs for IP?For SCADA Radio direction, Needs for IP?– For Mobile Data, need broadbandFor Mobile Data, need broadband– For VHF Radio, or future voice radioFor VHF Radio, or future voice radio

Stay in VHF/UHF or look at other bands?Stay in VHF/UHF or look at other bands?

– Feeder Wireless communications?Feeder Wireless communications?– Service Center Wireless campus needs?Service Center Wireless campus needs?– Substation wireless?Substation wireless?

Need to look for broadband optionsNeed to look for broadband options


Going ForwardGoing Forward

Develop Coverage models and Preliminary Develop Coverage models and Preliminary DesignDesign– Based on selected spectrum plansBased on selected spectrum plans– Based on equipment available / selectedBased on equipment available / selected– This determines how many nodes are needed This determines how many nodes are needed

and spacing of wireless nodesand spacing of wireless nodes– How much wired / fiber will interconnect and How much wired / fiber will interconnect and

where?where?


Technologies to ConsiderTechnologies to Consider

Deploy new systems with Ethernet IP Deploy new systems with Ethernet IP communications in mindcommunications in mind– Develop minimum requirements for substationDevelop minimum requirements for substation– Need infrastructure to support “broadband” pipe.Need infrastructure to support “broadband” pipe.

Wireless has become easier and more cost Wireless has become easier and more cost effective to implementeffective to implement– 100 to 300 Mbps Ethernet wireless links are now 100 to 300 Mbps Ethernet wireless links are now

reliable out to 20+ mile path lengths. This is equivalent reliable out to 20+ mile path lengths. This is equivalent to 200 DS1 (T1s) or 60 DSL circuits.to 200 DS1 (T1s) or 60 DSL circuits.

Leverage AssetsLeverage Assets

Leverage towers and other infrastructure to Leverage towers and other infrastructure to reduce O&M costs (telephone lines, long reduce O&M costs (telephone lines, long distance, etc) required to support new distance, etc) required to support new applications.applications.



Substation and PoleSubstation and Pole

Hardened Ethernet devices in substation or Hardened Ethernet devices in substation or on poleon pole

ExamplesExamples– MOXA switches, Rugged Comm, terminal MOXA switches, Rugged Comm, terminal

servers, routers, etcservers, routers, etc– Encore Solutions, same product mixEncore Solutions, same product mix– SEL productsSEL products

Substation and PoleSubstation and Pole

Wireless modems for Ethernet connectivity.Wireless modems for Ethernet connectivity.– Point to Point.Point to Point.– Point to Multipoint.Point to Multipoint.

SEL, MOXA, GE MDS SEL, MOXA, GE MDS – Examples of suppliers with “EMC/EMI” Examples of suppliers with “EMC/EMI”

enhanced hardware.enhanced hardware.


Education

Communciations issue for electric utilities