Using GPRS to connect outlying distribution substations

Process monitoring and control up until now has been available only at the transmission and highest level distribution substations — for lack of communications lines. Now the wireless communications technology GPRS permits low cost connectivity to even the lowest levels of the distribution grid. This provides the grid operator far deeper control over the grid, shortened reaction times in case of a failure and the efficient use of sophisticated network calculation programs. This paper shows how to use GPRS as a communications medium for power distribution and also displays a project realized this way.