Electric Utility Scada

SCADA for electrical utilities refers to the use of supervisory control and data acquisition systems to monitor, manage, and control electrical infrastructure such as substations, distribution networks, and renewable energy sites. Applications can range from localized HMI systems in substations to centralized control rooms overseeing entire transmission or distribution networks.

Proficy iPower is a SCADA/HMI software solution from GE Vernova, purpose-built for electric utilities. It provides real-time data collection, secure supervisory control, and intuitive graphical interfaces for monitoring and managing substations and distribution networks. Designed for both small utilities and large control rooms, iPower supports flexible deployment—from individual substations to enterprise-wide operations centers—enabling safe, efficient, and scalable grid management.

In power grids, SCADA systems provide centralized monitoring and control of substations, breakers, transformers, and other field equipment. They collect real-time data from remote devices, helping utilities detect faults, assess impact, and isolate issues to minimize outages and maintain grid reliability.

These systems are critical for ensuring the continuous, safe delivery of electricity. They help operators respond quickly to disturbances, optimize load balancing, and manage increasingly complex grid infrastructures that often include distributed energy resources like solar and wind.

SCADA systems monitor the transmission and distribution of electricity by connecting to field devices such as breakers, switchgear, and transformers, providing real-time data through a Human-Machine Interface (HMI). Operators can view single-line diagrams, interact with equipment remotely, acknowledge alarms, and respond to abnormal conditions as they arise.

These systems allow electric utilities to manage grid performance, detect anomalies, and quickly isolate faults. By enabling centralized or remote control, SCADA plays a key role in maintaining uptime, ensuring safe switching operations, and supporting coordinated maintenance efforts across the grid.

A SCADA system in electric utilities typically includes several core components:

- SCADA Server: Maintains the current state of electrical equipment and facilitates communication with field devices.

- Communication Interfaces: Standards such as DNP3, Modbus, and IEC 61850 allow connectivity to breakers, relays, transformers, and other devices.

- HMI (Human-Machine Interface): Presents the system's operational status, often through single-line diagrams that show energized lines, breaker positions, and alarms.

- Historian: Collects and stores operational data for audits, reports, and performance analysis.

- Security and Interlocks: Ensure only authorized personnel can issue commands and that critical actions follow safe operational procedures.

Proficy iPower combines these components in a flexible, scalable platform built specifically for electricity distribution operations.

SCADA systems often work alongside GIS and OMS platforms to enhance situational awareness and support coordinated operations. GIS integration allows operators to associate equipment data with geographic locations, enabling map-based visualization of substations, feeders, and infrastructure. OMS integration helps track and manage service interruptions, restoration efforts, and customer impact.

Proficy iPower supports integration through open communication standards like OPC, IEC 61850, and APIs, making it easier to connect with GIS, OMS, and other enterprise systems. Combined with tools like Proficy Operations Hub, utilities can build integrated dashboards that merge electrical status, spatial data, and outage information into a unified view—enabling faster situational awareness, better coordination, and more informed operational decisions.

SCADA systems continuously collect and update operational data from across the grid—such as voltages, breaker status, alarms, and load levels. This stream of current data helps operators monitor system health, detect abnormalities, and respond quickly to emerging issues.

Having up-to-date information enables better decisions during switching operations, load adjustments, or fault isolation. It also supports more efficient asset use, faster outage response, improved service continuity, and informed coordination across control rooms, engineering teams, and field crews.

SCADA systems play a supporting role in grid stability by providing utilities with up-to-date information about the operational status of electrical infrastructure. While centralized systems like Energy Management Systems (EMS) are responsible for grid-wide load balancing, SCADA provides the foundational data—such as breaker status, voltage levels, and load measurements—that EMS relies on to maintain system balance.

In this way, SCADA helps operators monitor grid performance in substations and along feeders, detect abnormal conditions, and support the operational decisions that contribute to overall grid stability. It provides the visibility needed to respond to equipment issues or system changes and supports coordination with higher-level systems like EMS or DMS for broader grid management.

SCADA systems help utilities detect and respond to faults by continuously monitoring field devices like breakers, reclosers, and transformers. When a fault occurs—such as a line trip or voltage drop—the SCADA system can immediately flag the anomaly, update system status, and trigger alarms.

This visibility allows operators to quickly identify the fault location, isolate the issue by opening or closing switches remotely, and coordinate field crews for faster restoration. SCADA is also often integrated with Outage Management Systems (OMS) to support more automated and efficient response workflows.

SCADA supports renewable energy integration by providing operational insight into distributed energy resources such as solar farms, wind turbines, and battery storage systems. While higher-level systems manage dispatch and forecasting, SCADA systems track generation output, inverter status, and interconnection points, helping operators maintain visibility and ensure safe coordination with the broader grid.

By monitoring the behavior of renewables at the substation or feeder level, SCADA helps utilities detect variability, respond to abnormal conditions, and maintain control over grid-connected assets that affect voltage or power quality. It gives operators the visibility needed to verify performance, manage alarms, and ensure that renewable sources operate safely alongside the broader grid.