Large Western U.S. Utility Replaces RTUs with EnergyLine Controls.

A large Western US utility has been using S&C’s Distribution Automation (DA) products for years. They have installed hundreds of units, including Remote Supervisory Pad-Mounted Gear, Remote Supervisory Vista® Underground Distribution Switchgear, and Scada-Mate® Switching Systems. A particular RTU was chosen to accompany the S&C DA equipment. These RTUs utilized a proprietary protocol that allowed the utility to customize many of the settings.

However, this type of protocol can put constraints on DA program expansion, since not all DA devices may be able to support the protocol. In addition, devices may require translation from another protocol into the RTU’s proprietary protocol. Translation devices can be costly, and the translation may reduce the speed of communications. These limitations could hinder future expansion of the existing utility system.

So the utility adapted their Scada Master Station to accommodate a different, more widely used protocol: DNP 3.0. With this change, the utility was able to consider other RTUs, along with other controls and associated devices.

After considering many criteria, the utility elected to use EnergyLine 5800 Series controls. These controls have many innovative features including sophisticated RTU functionality; faceplate with LCD for viewing real-time data, settings, and events; high-output temperature-compensated constant-voltage battery charger; and rechargeable sealed-lead starved-electrolyte battery packs. Additional features include automatic sectionalizing, overcurrent fault detection, and selectable shots-to-lockout. And the controls can be supplied with the IntelliTEAM® Automatic Restoration System.

The utility recently completed the installation of the 5800 Series Controls on all of their Scada-Mate Switches with good results. Now the utility is beginning the process of upgrading all of their Remote Supervisory Pad-Mounted Gear. The utility also plans to specify the 5800 Series Control with any new DA equipment.