Use of Wirelless Data Communiicatiions in Power System Operations

Wireless data communications are becoming widespread in many industries, since they offer significant benefits over wired communications, including low cost installations, rapid deployment, easy user access, and mobility. At the same time, the use of wireless technologies in power system environments presents a number of security and reliability concerns. These concerns include the impact of noisy electrical environments on the wireless media, the reliability of the currently available commercial wireless equipment, the overloading of the available bandwidth (particularly during emergency conditions), and the security of communications. Utilities are therefore wisely skeptical and cautious about introducing wireless communications in their substations. Nonetheless, the potential advantages of wireless technologies cannot be ignored. The possible uses of wireless technologies in power system operations therefore should be analyzed to determine where wireless could be a viable and attractive alternative to wired solutions, and what additional development of wireless technologies are needed