A Unified management system for Smart Grid

Smart Grid is seeing one of the largest implementation of Communication infrastructure in the power utilities. The basic component that makes the Smart Grid work is this underlying robust information & communication technologies (ICT), which enables shared understanding between each of the complex systems in the grid. Traditionally utilities have implemented operations technology (OT) independently of information technology (IT). However in smart grid you see diverse communication networks and advanced IT systems coalesced into the traditional electrical grid, for a huge implementation of intelligent infrastructure. Therefore the greater challenge is to efficiently maintain and manage this mountain of infrastructure across diverse technologies, with multiple protocols and from different vendors in a coordinated manner. This paper therefore brings out the critical need of a Unified management system for a complex Smart Grid and proposes a system which is a combination of the Telecom Network Management System (NMS) and Utility Infrastructure Management System. This management system is built on the industry accepted and proven model of FCAPS (viz. Fault Management, Configuration Management, Accounting Management, Performance Management, Security Management) along with the set of best practices for IT Service Management (ITIL). This blend of concepts in a single pane view would provide a better platform to manage the complex Smart Grid infrastructure.