Electric and gas utility control via satellite

SaskPower, an electric and natural gas utility, recently enhanced its operational communication network with the addition of seven satellite Earth stations. The satellite network uses single channel per carrier (SCPC) technology over Telesat´s Anik C2 satellite, and carriers both voice and data channels. Satellite voice channels form the backbone of SaskPower´s operational voice system, which is used to operate the electric system during remote control failure or maintenance. With the exception of large thermal generating stations and large gas compressor stations, the bulk electric system and gas transmission system are controlled remotely from Regina. Approximately 42% of electric sites (21), and 39% of gas sites (24), are now being controlled via satellite data links. The remaining sites are controlled over power line carrier (PLC) or dedicated leased facilities. To date, the system has performed reliably, but the harshest conditions expected have not yet occurred