Trends in smart power grid communication and networking

Smart grid is capable to produce, distribute, and consume power in the most efficient way. This will allow more power at home and industries at low cost. To achieve above the best communication infrastructure is required to deliver reliable and economical services throughout the grid system. Smart grid can also accommodate power generation from local solar power and power generated through wind turbines. The smart grid also manages to collect data from home appliances using smart meters. It also provides intelligent controls giving more choice to consumers to how to use optimally electricity to save money and to operate electricity network efficiently and reliably. This paper attempts to review the communication and networking of smart grid which includes investigation of network architecture and communication technologies.