Agenda

Day 1Day 2

DAY ONE, MARCH 27

Chairman’s Welcome and Introduction

Bob Gohn, VP, Pike Research

The business case for a smart integrated communications network

• Discuss the benefits of having a smart communications network
• Understand where, when and how benefits occur

John McDonald, Director Technical Strategy and Policy Development, GE

NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK

Design a network by starting out with the desired outcome first

• Understand how to design a network with "beginning with the end in mind."
• Hear how to ensure device/network capabilities are in line with desired current and future applications
• Focus on planning for the unexpected, including the need for certain parameters such as temperature and a centralized location to analyze and visualize data

Nelson Abreu, AMI Solutions & Field Engineering, CE Power

Understand the possible network solutions and how to make the difficult trade-offs

• Comprehend the challenges of designing and buying a network on a fixed budget
• Discuss the FCC's role in private solutions and how to effectively work with the them
• Evaluate the three key considerations - Cost, Coverage, Capacity
• Costs vs. Functionality: understand what the requirements are
• Learn how to break down the telecommunication system to design a holistic network
• Discuss the differences between a network centric system and a device centric system
• Discover how to build an intelligent network that can perform important activities not possible today

Karen O’Connor, Manager Distribution Engineering East, Alliant Energy
Kim Halverson, Project Manager, Alliant Energy

Creating a truly holistic network  

• Discuss what capabilities need to be included to have a holistic communications network
• Debate how to integrate mobile computing, devices/M2M, asset management and inventory control and work Force management into one network

John Cooper, President, Ecomergence

NETWORKING LUNCH

Key considerations required when deploying a communications strategy for a Smart Grid network

• Every situation is unique - learn how to identify specific application requirements for your utility
• Identify the importance of factoring key considerations into your investigation in order to avoid costly mistakes
• Understand how the right modelling and simulation tools can help you simplify the investigation process and ensure a cost-effective, robust and timely implementation of your communications strategy

Amar Patel, Principal Consultant, Siemens

Remember your blue print is only that...

• Recognize how to not be overoptimistic with pilot projects that look familiar
• Be aware of the integration complexities that are essential with the other departments
• Comprehend the communication issues with wireless communication; integration with different software and data bases; working with vendors; DOE and NRECA requirements and timing of data collection

Kathy Nelson, Principal Telecommunications Engineer, Great River Energy

AFTERNOON TEA

Communications: Learn how to deploy an effective communications infrastructure

• Differentiate between the "definitely coming soon" and the "to be announced" technologies
• Understand how to break down and prioritize requirements: speed; security; advanced diagnostics; reliability; longevity
• Debate the best options for communicating with scattered field devices and substations
• Learn how to connect field devices → distribution SCADA systems  → metering systems
• Discuss how to connect meters back into the FAN to reach the centralized system
• Decide what part of the old communication network needs to stay in place as backup
• Understand how to create a deployment schedule and manage the project tightly

Tim Figura, Project Manager Smart Grid, PPL

Panel: Discuss the technical intricacies of a communications network

• How much capacity is enough?
• Do the communications tiers need to be deployed in order?
• Debate how to leverage the technologies available and create value for customers

Tim Figura, Project Manager Smart Grid, PPL
Kathy Nelson, Principal Telecommunications Engineer, Great River Energy
Karen O’Connor, Manager Distribution Engineering East, Alliant Energy

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DAY 2

Trends and Outlook for Smart Grid and Supporting Telecommunications Infrastructure

• Interdependencies between Electricity and Telecommunications
• Findings and Observations from New Studies on Smart Grid Communications Plans
• Relevancy of Technology Transfer in Development of Smart Grid Communications Networks

Charles Newton, President, Newton Evans Research Company

Data: How to effectively manage data flow

• Find out how data is really control in future smart grid systems
• Evaluate services in SCADA vs distributed data management
• Understand the criticality of data by service type
• Explore the integration of data and physical signals in operational real-time decision making
• Discuss how to create interoperable systems for integrated data management and analysis

Bruce McMillin, Distributed Grid Intelligence Subthrust leader, FREEDM; Director of Center for Information Assurance, Missouri University of Science and Technology 

Data management and data storage challenges

• Who should operate the computing and communications infrastructure?
• Should IT, OT or a 3rd party operate the data?
• Foresee how data storage will become a challenge, and find out how to prepare for it
• Debate the big gap between IT and OT and what can be done minimize the issues

Cyber-security: Establishing a properly secured communications network 

• Learn how to make security an integral part of the solution life cycle to enable a secure network
• Hear how to report communication security issues and what metrics to use to evaluate them
• Discover how to design a secure network that includes encryption, passwords and firewall safeties  
• Understand the importance of vetting devices before deploying them
• Hear how to overcome the lack of maturity, lack of standards and lack security with field area devices
• How much security is enough?

Jay Holcomb, Control Systems Security Program, National Cyber Security Division, Department of Homeland Security

Communication Technologies: Building a business case for communications application while

• Performing a Due Diligence: Exploring Costs; Security; Obsolescence; Lifetime; Standards
• Exploring the features and benefits of 4G; Wired vs. Wireless; WiMax; PLC: Power line carrier; Radio spectrum; Licensed vs. Unlicensed AND
• Ensuring a network capable of both most and extreme communication device requirements.

Roger Bryant, Georgia Power
Michael Wiebe, Principal, MW Consulting Corporation

WiMax solution for Embedded Generation Communication

• Discuss the impact of increasing penetration of embedded generation on distribution systems.
• Identify the remote monitoring and control requirements for effective management of embedded generators.
• Explore the strengths and weaknesses of the various communications technologies available for monitoring and control of embedded generators.
• Describe a WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) technology that offers a cost effective solution for remote monitoring and control of embedded generators

Dr. Glenn Allen, Manager Stations Design & Construction, Power Stream

NETWORKING  LUNCH

Field Technologies: Understand the communication requirements for field devices 

• Understand how to decipher the communication device requirements
• Discuss how often should your requirements be revised and updated
• Learn how to foresee which technologies will remain vital
• Debate how to best communicate the field device requirements to engineers
• Hear what regulators are willing to let you recoup on service charges

Tobin Richardson, Director Smart Energy, Zigbee Alliance

Hear how to leverage a legacy infrastructure

• Learn how to embed communication technologies onto archaic utility assets
• Discover how to design a network that can accommodate legacy systems and support new technologies
• Understand how to make full use of existing technologies and how to take advantage of new technologies as they become available
• Find out how to leverage existing communication non-utility devices
• Hear how other industries tackled the communications challenge

Brad Baucom, Support Manager, Demand Response, TVA
Karlton Fredebeil, Program Manager, AMI, TVA

AFTERNOON TEA

Workforce: Understand the ongoing challenges with an aging workforce

• Understand the importance of educating your workforce
• Discover how to keep your engineers excited and proactive
• Discuss why it's essential to get employees to help with the design of your system
• Ensure you are getting enough resources
• Lean how the GPS can pinpoint where your devices are on the field

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