October 26, 2006 -- The IEEE Standards Association announced that it has begun work on a new standard to create functional, performance, security, and on-site testing practices for wireless technologies in power system operations.
Sponsored by the IEEE Power Engineering Society, the standard, titled IEEE P1777, "Using Wireless Data Communications in Power System Operations," will focus on "newer" technologies, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiMax, and cellular phones.
IEEE P1777 will evaluate the potential of wireless technologies in power systems to determine where they are viable alternatives to wired systems and what further development they need in order to meet robustness, security and reliability and other requirements.
The standard will also explore the potential uses of wireless technologies at many levels of power system operations, including substations, underground vaults, transmission and distribution circuits, generation and distributed generation plants, and customer electrical and metering equipment.
In addition to the practical aspects of wireless use, the IEEE says the standard will also address the dissemination of information on the uses, benefits, and concerns of wireless technologies in the industry.