Thoughts on "SmartGrid" Implementation

[tlrols]

Ok, we are doing some "SmartGrid" work...reconductoring, switch installations, communications and control. We have federal funds to spend...

I have been asked to give my thoughts on using a wireless 802.11 network to communicate the control signals to the associated switches, etc. Not surprisingly this project is run by an IT person (long sigh...).

I feel that the use of a unlicencsed network such as this is a bad idea. Keep in mind that this system will allow load to be tripped or transferred, or possible paralleling of the 13.8 kV with the 115 kV.

Does anyone else think this is a bad idea?

It isn't so much the security issue I am concerned about (passwords and encryption would be used) but rather the lack of reliablity associated with using a non utility owned comms system (it is regular old Wi-Fi communications at this point).

Thoughts anyone?

 

[amptramp]

The following article briefly discusses smart grid security and mentions a NIST document that is highly relevant to the security discussion.

The article:

http://electronicdesign.com/article...rom_the_meter_to_the_mercantile_exchange.aspx

The NIST document (IR-7628 DRAFT Smart Grid Cyber Security Strategy and Requirements) is here:

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsDrafts.html#NIST-IR-7628