FERC vs NERC: A grid control showdown over cyber security

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WWW.INTELLIGENTUTILITY.COM /// JULY/AUGUST 2011
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systems with the field-collected backbone is currently under way; this consolidation,
together with completion of remaining feeders to be field collected, is
scheduled and on target for completion by end of this year.
In addition, Hydro One has nearly completed deployment of approximately
1.2 million smart meters across the province. Each of these meters is also
GPS-located, as are collectors and repeaters, and will be fully integrated into
the distribution GIS in 2012.
Driven by value
While Hydro One has had a mature GIS for transmission
assets for a number of years, until recently the expected
return on the significant investment cost for distribution
GIS was found to be less compelling. Hydro One is a valuedriven
organization that continually reassesses the technology
landscape to gain new efficiencies through innovation.
With increased emphasis on the distribution business in line
with smart grid initiatives, the strategic road map for GIS
now comprises development of a spatially accurate distribution
power system model and development of geospatially
enabled enterprise asset management for distribution assets
to form a core for emerging smart grid applications.
In 2010, Hydro One initiated the Advanced Distribution
System (ADS) project, an initiative in support of Ontario’s
forward leading Green Energy Act. The ADS project builds
on top of the successful smart meter deployment that is
nearing completion, and seeks to implement a distribution
management system and substation automation to enable
the connection of distributed generation sources, including
renewables. In 2010, business case development and RFP selection was undertaken,
and Hydro One is currently engaged in
designing and building the first project release.
There has been a
More data needed
Many utilities are now finding that the data
renaissance of field
collected 20 years ago is not sufficient for smart
grid, and there has been a renaissance of field collection to improve
collection to improve the quality of geospatial assets
represented in the GIS. Often, only basic attribution the quality of geoon
assets deployed in the field has historically been
collected—in some cases, only what was required spatial assets repre-
to drive automated mapping and facilities management
programs.
sented in the GIS.
GPS accuracy has also significantly improved with
higher precision collectors at lower price points.
Because Hydro One deferred its investment in distribution GIS, significant investment
cost savings have been realized by only doing it once. In addition, evaluation
of required data completed by the selected distribution management system
(DMS) vendor found that “Hydro One’s initial data availability, accuracy (for DMS
data model validation) and completeness is well above the industry average.”
Populating distribution data
DMS data will initially be populated by five key systems: network topology from
the GIS, selected customer and load information, power system equipment
characteristics, protection and control
settings, and connectivity to the transmission
system. While each of these
data elements is critical, accuracy of
the power systems model represented
in the GIS directly determines the ability
of the DMS to produce accurate
results from power utilization and
power quality applications.
To ensure data currency, completeness
and accuracy, Hydro One is also
completing as part of the ADS initiative
an assessment of distribution data
change control processes to ensure
that all data sources are maintained,
and updated proactively according to
business triggers rather than reactively
when problems occur. These recommendations
will lead ultimately to
implementation to protect Hydro
One’s significant investment in source
data for the DMS.
Hydro One’s investment in geospatial
technology directly supports
and is a key dependency for the success
of the ADS project as well as a
number of other strategic initiatives.
The approach currently being taken
to perform full field inventory, to
consolidate legacy tacti-
cal GIS systems, and to
formalize and optimize
distribution data change
control policies and
procedures will ultimately
support Hydro
One’s strategic goals as
a geospatially enabled
intelligent utility.
Nargis Ladha is manager
of geospatial systems
and technology projects
at Hydro One, and is
responsible for setting strategic direction
for GIS and coordinating corporatewise
initiatives.
Erik Shepard, of Waterbridge Consulting,
is supporting Hydro One’s Advanced
Distribution System (ADS) project as the
project lead for the GIS data consolidation
project and as the lead for the DMS Data
Change Control workstream within the
ADS project.