QoS of a SCADA system versus QoS of a power distribution grid

The main objective of a SCADA system of a Power distribution grid is to assist utility companies in supplying power to customers, according to Quality of Service (QoS) indicators established by a National Electric Authority. SCADA performs real time measurements and commands to improve operations on its Power grid by means of Remote Terminal Units that are connected to a SCADA control Centre throughout a dedicated or even a public Telco network. In the paper, indicators of QoS of Fault Isolation and System Restoration (FISR) service, delivered by SCADA system are computed, discussed and correlated to quality indicators of power supplied to customers. In delivering FISR service (and many other services), SCADA system, Telco network and Power grid act as a whole heterogeneous network. While SCADA system and Telco network can be well represented by means of discrete event simulators, to represent a Power grid a continuous simulator is typically required. Here, limited to FISR service, SCADA system, Telco network and power grid have been represented by using a unique discrete event simulator.