Considerations in the Adoption of a Full Scale Distribution Automation System

The evolution of pilot distribution automation systems, justified for experimental purposes, into full scale installations, with operational justification, will involve considerations that do not appear to be receiving adequate attention. The concept of accommodating many functions on a single communication system requires compatibility of information rates and failure modes between the functions. Obtaining this compatibility is made more difficult by the widely different numbers of communication points involved for the various functions. The general lack of technical and economic standards together with inadequate protection by licensing add to the costs and risk of implementing full scale systems due to their inherent reliance on long-term justification.