Using public mobile phone networks for distribution automation

Several SCADA projects were taken up by distribution utilities in India in the past decade. These mainly addressed the primary distribution network and included remote monitoring and control of the primary substations (33/22/11 kV level) including the 11 kV outgoing feeder circuit breaker. Benefits realized from the primary network automation prompted utilities to increase the reach of automation to include the feeders that go out of the substation. Increasing the "automation intensity level" of the network is seen as one of the key elements for efficient management of the power distribution networks, especially in rapidly growing metros and other bigger cities in India. The complex nature and size of urban distribution networks coupled with the issues related to urban growth, wireless communication becomes an attractive option for secondary network automation. This paper discusses the use of mobile phone networks as an option for communication in distribution automation.