Cornice Engineering

SCADA Feasibility Studies

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems can significantly improve a utility’s ability to effectively monitor and control the operation of distribution substations, especially when the SCADA is properly integrated with demand response capabilities, outage management systems, AMR/AMI systems, engineering analysis software and other distribution automation applications.

For many years, SCADA systems have been applied by utilities as stand-alone systems, both due to security concerns and because of the difficulty in integrating such real-time systems with other information technology or automation systems. Utilities are beginning to appreciate the potential for significant added value from SCADA systems when such systems can be implemented in an integrated fashion. Recent developments, such as the ubiquity of IP-based communications and the availability of web services integration between SCADA and other technologies using such standards as MultiSpeak, are adding to the value to be gained from properly applied SCADA systems.

Furthermore, as excess generation capacity becomes more scare, and hence more expensive, there will be additional incentive to look at all options that will permit the utility to manage demand in near real time. The ability of SCADA, load management/demand response, and AMR/AMI systems to work together will permit the forward-looking utility to better hold the line on system demand costs or generation resource requirements.

Cornice can provide the following services related to SCADA systems:

Assistance in choosing an appropriate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to meet the needs of the specific utility.
Assistance in integration of the SCADA system with other distribution operations applications operating in the utility, such as GIS, demand response, and OMS.

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