The integration of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) in the substation presents many challenges to electric utilities. Today there is no standard local area network protocol for substation automation systems. Finding a network protocol to handle data acquisition as well as high speed protection requirements has been an on-going industry activity. The EPRI Utility Communications Architecture (UCA)/Substation Automation Project began over three years ago, to produce industry consensus regarding substation integrated control, protection and data acqisition, and to allow interoperability of substation devices from different vendors. There have been over 600 experts from the industry involved in the review process of the UCA 2 specification worldwide. UCA 2 has been published recently and will be applied in these projects.

About 25 utilities and 15 vendors are involved in some 10 funded pilot projects in North-America and Europe. Installations are planned for 1998 and 1999.