Classification of power systems communications needs and requirements: experiences from case studies at Swedish national grid

Broadband data communications capabilities are introduced to a great extent among electric utilities. Installation of fiber-optic systems makes it possible to provide high-speed communication capacity links, and to replace vintage, low-rate equipment. However, the ways of how the new possibilities should be most effectively utilized have not been fully investigated. Communication needs and requirements must be further analyzed. This kind of work has been started at Svenska Kraftnat (Swedish National Grid). In this paper, an approach of classifying various requirements is presented. Typical needs and requirements are ordered into three different classes reflecting the degree of importance of various communication needs. The classification has a functional standpoint rather than a traditional technical focus. Even though the classification is coarse, it has proved to be a proper basis for data- and telecommunication-strategic considerations.