Overview of IEC 61850 and Benefits

R. E. Mackiewicz, Member, IEEE

collect measurement data from the substations. Since

Abstract--Legacy substation automation protocols and bandwidth was limited, DAS communication protocols were
architectures typically provided basic functionality for power optimized to operate over low-bandwidth communication
system automation and were designed to accommodate the channels. The “cost” of this optimization was the time it took
technical limitations of the networking technology available for
implementation. There has recently been a vast improvement in
to configure, map, and document the location of the various
networking technology that has changed dramatically what is data bits received by the protocol.
now feasible for power system automation in the substation.
Technologies such as switched Ethernet, TCP/IP, high-speed As we move into the digital age, literally thousands of
wide area networks, and high-performance low-cost computers analog and digital data points are available in a single
are providing capabilities that could barely be imagined when Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) and communication
most legacy substation automation protocols were designed. In
bandwidth is no longer a limiting factor. Substation to master
order to take advantage of modern technology to deliver
additional new benefits to users of substation automation, the communication data paths operating at 64,000 bits per second
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has developed are becoming commonplace with an obvious migration path to
and released a new global standard for substation automation: much high rates. With this migration in technology, the
IEC 61850. The paper will provide a basic technical overview of “cost” component of a data acquisition system has now
IEC 61850 and will discuss the benefits of each major aspect of become the configuration and documentation component.
the standard. The concept of a virtual model comprising both
Consequently, a key component of a communication system is
physical and logical device models that includes a set of
standardized communications services will be described along the ability to describe themselves from both a data and
with explanations of how these standardized models, object services (communication functions that an IED performs)
naming conventions, and communication services bring perspective. Other “key” requirements include:
significant benefits to the substation automation user. New
services to support self-describing devices and object-orient peer- · High-speed IED to IED communication
to-peer data exchange will be explained with an emphasis on how
· Networkable throughout the utility enterprise
these services can be applied to reduce costs for substation
automation. The substation configuration language (SCL) of IEC · High-availability
61850 will be presented with information on how the · Guaranteed delivery times
standardization of substation configuration will impact the future · Standards based
of substation automation. The paper will conclude with a brief · Multi-vendor interoperability
introduction to the UCA International Users Group as a forum · Support for Voltage and Current samples data
where users and suppliers cooperate in improving substation
· Support for File Transfer
automation with testing, education, and demonstrations of IEC
61850 and other IEC standards technology. · Auto-configurable / configuration support
· Support for security
Index Terms—IEC 61850, standards, benefits,
communications, networking, substation automation, protection Given these requirements, work on a “next generation”
relay. communication architecture began with the development of
the Utility Communication Architecture (UCA) in 1988. The
I. COMMUNICATION SYSTEM NEEDS result of this work was a profile of “recommended” protocols

C ommunication has always played a critical role in the

real-time operation of the power system. In the
beginning, the telephone was used to communicate line
for the various layers of the International Standards
Organization (ISO) Open System Interconnect (OSI)
communication system model. This architecture resulted in
loadings back to the control center as well as to dispatch the definition of a “profile” of protocols, data models, and
operators to perform switching operations at substations. abstract service definitions that became known as UCA. The
Telephone-switching based remote control units were concepts and fundamental work done in UCA became the
available as early as the 1930’s and were able to provide foundation for the work done in the IEC Technical Committee
status and control for a few points. As digital Number 57 (TC57) Working Group 10 (WG10) which
communications became a viable option in the 1960’s, data resulted in the International Standard – IEC 61850 –
acquisition systems (DAS) were installed to automatically Communication Networks and Systems in Substations[1].


Ralph Mackiewicz is with SISCO, Inc. of Sterling Heights, MI 48314
USA (e-mail: ralph@sisconet.com)

1­4244­0178­X/06/$20.00 ©2006 IEEE 623 PSCE 2006

 II. SCOPE AND OUTLINE OF IEC 61850 are defined in part 7.3.
The stated scope of IEC 61850 was communications within
the substation. The document defines the various aspects of Given the data and services abstract definitions, the final
the substation communication network in 10 major sections as step was one of “mapping” the abstract services into an actual
shown in Table 1 below. protocol. Section 8.1 defines the mapping of the abstract data
TABLE I object and services onto the Manufacturing Messaging
STRUCTURE OF THE IEC 61850 STANDARD Specification – MMS[2] and sections 9.1 and 9.2 define the
Part # Title mapping of the Sample Measured Values (unidirectional
1 Introduction and Overview point-to-point and bi-directional multipoint accordingly) onto
2 Glossary of terms an Ethernet data frame. The 9.2 document defines what has
3 General Requirements become known as the Process Bus.
4 System and Project Management
5 Communication Requirements for Functions and From a system perspective, there is a significant amount of
Device Models configuration that is required in order to put all the pieces
6 Configuration Description Language for together and have them work. In order to facilitate this
Communication in Electrical Substations Related to process and to eliminate much of the human error component,
IEDs an XML based Substation Configuration Language (SCL) was
7 Basic Communication Structure for Substation and defined in part 6. It allows the formal description of the
Feeder Equipment relations between the substation automation system and the
7.1 - Principles and Models substation (switchyard). At the application level, the
7.2 - Abstract Communication Service Interface switchyard topology itself and the relation of the switchyard
(ACSI) structure to the SAS functions (logical nodes) configured on
7.3 - Common Data Classes (CDC) the IEDs can be described. Each device must provide an SCL
7.4 - Compatible logical node classes and data classes file that describes the configuration of itself.
8 Specific Communication Service Mapping (SCSM)
8.1 - Mappings to MMS(ISO/IEC 9506 – Part 1 and Although the scope of 61850 was originally focused
Part 2) and to ISO/IEC 8802-3 “inside” the substation, discussions are underway to look at
9 Specific Communication Service Mapping (SCSM) defining 61850 for the Substation to Master communication
9.1 - Sampled Values over Serial Unidirectional protocol (already in service in several installations). In
Multidrop Point-to-Point Link addition, applications are in service that uses various
9.2 - Sampled Values over ISO/IEC 8802-3 components of 61850 for wide area substation-to-substation
10 Conformance Testing communication.

Parts 3, 4, and 5 of the standard start by identifying the Finally, part 10 of the document defines a testing
general and specific functional requirements for methodology in order to determine “conformance” with the
communications in a substation (key requirements stated numerous protocol definitions and constraints defined in the
above). These requirements are then used as forcing functions document.
to aid in the identification of the services and data models
needed, application protocol required, and the underlying The rest of this paper goes into some focused details of the
transport, network, data link, and physical layers that will various parts of the IEC 61850 standard.
meet the overall requirements.
III. MODELING APPROACH
The major architectural construct that 61850 adopts is that Legacy protocols have typically defined how bytes are
of “abstracting” the definition of the data items and the transmitted on the wire. However, they did not specify how
services, that is, creating data items/objects and services that data should be organized in devices in terms of the
are independent of any underlying protocols. The abstract application. This approach requires power system engineers to
definitions then allow “mapping” of the data objects and manually configure objects and map them to power system
services to any other protocol that can meet the data and variables and low-level register numbers, index numbers, I/O
service requirements. The definition of the abstract services is modules, etc. IEC 61850 is unique. In addition to the
found in part 7.2 of the standard and the abstraction of the specification of the protocol elements (how bytes are
data objects (referred to as Logical Nodes) is found in part transmitted on the wire), IEC 61850 provides a
7.4. In as much as many of the data objects are made up of comprehensive model for how power system devices should
common pieces (such as Status, Control, Measurement, organize data in a manner that is consistent across all types
Substitution), the concept of “Common Data Classes” or and brands of devices. This eliminates much of the tedious
“CDC” was developed which defined common building non-power system configuration effort because the devices
blocks for creating the larger data objects. The CDC elements can configure themselves. For instance, if you put a CT/VT

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input into an IEC 61850 relay, the relay can detect this module are determined by the standard and are functionally related to
and automatically assign it to a measurement unit without user the power system purpose. For instance, a circuit breaker is
interaction. Some devices use an SCL file to configure the modeled as an XCBR logical node. It contains a variety of
objects and the engineer need only import the SCL file into Data including Loc for determining if operation is remote or
the device to configure it. Then, the IEC 61850 client local, OpCnt for an operations count, Pos for the position,
application can extract the object definitions from the device BlkOpn block breaker open commands, BlkCls block breaker
over the network. The result is a very large savings in the cost close commands, and CBOpCap for the circuit breaker
and effort to configure an IEC 61850 device. operating capability.

The IEC 61850 device model begins with a physical Each element of data within the logical node conforms to
device. A physical device is the device that connects to the the specification of a common data class (CDC) per IEC
network. The physical device is typically defined by its 61850-7-3. Each CDC describes the type and structure of the
network address. Within each physical device, there may be data within the logical node. For instance, there are CDCs for
one or more logical devices. The IEC 61850 logical device status information, measured information, controllable status
model allows a single physical device to act as a proxy or information, controllable analog set point information, status
gateway for multiple devices thus providing a standard settings, and analog settings. Each CDC has a defined name
representation of a data concentrator. and a set of CDC attributes each with a defined name, defined
type, and specific purpose. Each individual attribute of a CDC
belongs to a set of functional constraints (FC) that groups the
attributes into categories. For instance, in the Single Point
Status (SPS) CDC described in Figure 2, there are functional
constraints for status (ST) attributes, substituted value (SV)
attributes, description (DC) attributes, and extended definition
(EX) attributes. In this example the status attributes of the SPS
class consists of a status value (stVal), a quality flag (q), and a
time stamp (t).

D a ta N a m e C o m m o n D a t a C la s s M a n d a to r y /O p tio n a l

Fig. 1. Anatomy of Circuit Breaker (XCBR) Logical Node in IEC 61850-7-4

Each logical device contains one or more logical nodes. A

logical node (see figure 1) is a named grouping of data and
associated services that is logically related to some power
system function. There are logical nodes for automatic control
the names of which all begin with the letter “A”. There are
logical nodes for metering and measurement the names of
which all begin with the letter “M”. Likewise there are logical
Functional Mandatory/
nodes for Supervisory Control (C), Generic Functions (G), Constraint Optional
Interfacing/Archiving (I), System logical nodes (L), Protection
(P), Protection Related (R), Sensors (S), Instrument Fig. 2. Anatomy of the Single Point Status (SPS) Common Data Class in IEC
61850-7-3
Transformers (T), Switchgear (X), Power Transformers (Y),
and Other Equipment (Z). Each logical node has an LN-
The IEC 61850 model of a device is a virtualized model
Instance-ID as a suffix to the logical node name. For instance,
that begins with an abstract view of the device and its objects
suppose there were two measurement inputs in a device to
and is defined in IEC 61850 part 7. Then, this abstract model
measure two 3-phase feeders. The standard name of the
is mapped to a specific protocol stack in section IEC 61850-8-
logical node for a Measurement Unit for 3-phase power is
1 based on MMS (ISO9506), TCP/IP, and Ethernet. In the
MMXU. To delineate between the measurements for these 2
process of mapping the IEC 61850 objects to MMS, IEC
feeders the IEC 61850 logical node names of MMXU1 and
61850-8-1 specifies a method of transforming the model
MMXU2 would be used. Each logical node may also use an
information into a named MMS variable object that results in
optional application specific LN-prefix to provide further
a unique and unambiguous reference for each element of data
identification of the purpose of a logical node.
in the model. For instance, suppose that you have a logical
device named “Relay1” consisting of a single circuit breaker
Each logical node contains one or more elements of Data.
logical node XCBR1 for which you want to determine if the
Each element of data has a unique name. These Data Names
breaker is in the remote or local mode of operation. To

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determine this you would read the object shown in figure 3. the ACSI mapping to MMS.
TABLE II
IEC 61850 TO MMS OBJECT MAPPING

IEC 61850 Objects MMS Object

SERVER class Virtual Manufacturing
Relay1/XCBR1$ST$Loc$stVal Device (VMD)
LOGICAL DEVICE class Domain
Attribute
LOGICAL NODE class Named Variable
Data
Functional Constraint DATA class Named Variable
Logical Node DATA-SET class Named Variable List
Logical Device SETTING-GROUP-CONTROL- Named Variable
BLOCK class
REPORT-CONTROL-BLOCK class Named Variable
Fig. 3. Anatomy of an IEC 61850-8-1 Object Name
LOG class Journal
LOG-CONTROL-BLOCK class Named Variable
IV. MAPPING TO REAL PROTOCOLS GOOSE-CONTROL-BLOCK class Named Variable
GSSE-CONTROL-BLOCK class Named Variable
The abstract data and object models of IEC 61850 define a
CONTROL class Named Variable
standardized method of describing power system devices that
Files Files
enables all IEDs to present data using identical structures that
are directly related to their power system function. The
TABLE III
Abstract Communication Service Interface (ACSI) models of IEC 61850 PARTIAL SERVICE MAPPING
IEC 61850 define a set of services and the responses to those IEC 61850 Services MMS Services
services that enables all IEDs to behave in an identical manner LogicalDeviceDirectory GetNameList
from the network behavior perspective. While the abstract GetAllDataValues Read
model is critical to achieving this level of interoperability, GetDataValues Read
these models need to be operated over a real set of protocols SetDataValues Write
that are practical to implement and that can operate within the GetDataDirectory GetNameList
computing environments commonly found in the power GetDataDefinition GetVariableAccessAttributes
industry. IEC 61850-8-1 maps the abstract objects and GetDataSetValues Read
services to the Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS) SetDataSetValues Write
protocols of ISO9506. Why was a protocol originally CreateDataSet CreateNamedVariableList
designed for manufacturing used? Because MMS is the only DeleteDataSet DeleteNamedVariableList
public (ISO standard) protocol that has a proven GetDataSetDirectory GetNameList
implementation track record that can easily support the Report (Buffered and Unbuffered) InformationReport
complex naming and service models of IEC 61850. While you GetBRCBValues/GetURCBValues Read
can theoretically map IEC 61850 to any protocol, this SetBRCBValues/SetURCBValues Write
mapping can get very complex and cumbersome when trying GetLCBValues Read
to map IEC 61850 objects and services to a protocol that only SetLCBValues Write
provides read/write/report services for simple variables that QueryLogByTime ReadJournal
are accessed by register numbers or index numbers. This was QueryLogAfter ReadJournal
the reason that MMS was chosen for UCA in 1991 and is the GetLogStatusValues GetJournalStatus
reason that it was kept for IEC 61850. MMS is a very good Select Read/Write
choice because it supports complex named objects and a rich SelectWithValue Read/Write
set of flexible services that supports the mapping to IEC Cancel Write
61850 in a straightforward manner. Operate Write
Command-Termination Write
The mapping of IEC 61850 object and service models to TimeActivated-Operate Write
MMS is based on a service mapping where a specific MMS GetFile FileOpen/FileRead/FileClose
service/services are chosen as the means to implement the SetFile ObtainFile
various services of ACSI. For instance, the control model of DeleteFile FileDelete
ACSI is mapped to MMS read and write services. Then the GetFileAttributeValues FileDirectory
various object models of IEC 61850 are mapped to specific
MMS objects. For instance, the IEC 61850 logical device In addition to the mapping to the application layer, Part 8.1
object is mapped to an MMS domain. Table 2 below defines profiles for the “other” layers of the communication
summarizes the mapping of IEC 61850 objects and Table 3 stack that are dependent on the service provided (as shown in

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figure 4 below). Of note on the various profiles: the Sampled
Values and GOOSE applications map directly into the
Ethernet data frame thereby eliminating processing of any
middle layers; the MMS Connection Oriented layer can
operate over TCP/IP or ISO; the Generic Substation Status
Event (GSSE) is the identical implementation as the UCA
GOOSE and operates over connectionless ISO services; all
data maps onto an Ethernet data frame using either the data
type “Ethertype” in the case of Sampled Values, GOOSE,
TimeSync, and TCP/IP or “802.3” data type for the ISO and
GSSE messages.

Fig. 5. Sample Measured Value Concept

Figure 5, above, shows the basic concept of the Process

Bus. Signals from voltage and current sources (low or high
energy) as well as status information are input into a “Merging
Unit”(MU). The Merging Units in a station sample the signals
at an agreed, synchronized rate. In this manner, any IED can
input data from multiple MUs and automatically align and
process the data. At this time, there is an implementation
agreement that defines a base sample rate of 80 samples per
Fig. 4. Overview of IEC 61850 Functionality and power system cycle for basic protection and monitoring and a
Associated Communication Profiles
“high” rate of 256 samples per power system cycle for high-
frequency applications such as power quality and high-
resolution oscillography.
V. PROCESS BUS
As technology migrates to “next generation” low-energy Part 9.1 specifies a pre-configured or “universal” dataset as
voltage and current sensors, the ability to digitize the base defined in IEC60044-8. This dataset includes 3-phase
quantities at the source and transmit the resulting sample voltage, bus voltage, neutral voltage, 3-phase currents for
values back to the substation becomes a need. In addition to protection, 3-phase currents for measurement and two 16-bit
Sampled Values, the ability to remotely acquire status status words. Note that the analog data values are mapped
information as well as set output controls is very desirable. into 16 bit registers in this mapping.
IEC 61850 addresses this need through the definition of
Sampled Measured Values services and the implementation of Part 9.2 is a more generalized implementation of Sampled
a Process Bus. The Process layer of the substation is related to Measured Values (SMV) data transfer. In 9.2, the dataset or
gathering information, such as Voltage, Current, and status “payload” is user-defined using the SCL. As a dataset, data
information, from the transformers and transducers connected values of various sizes and types can be integrated together.
to the primary power system process – the transmission of Note that the existing implementation agreement proposed a
electricity. IEC 61850 defines the collection of this data via data value size of 32 bits with a scale factor of 1 count = 1ma.
two different protocol definitions, namely, Part 9.1 which
defines a Unidirectional Multidrop Point-to-Point fixed link Both 9.1 and 9.2 specify mapping directly onto an Ethernet
carrying a fixed dataset and Part 9.2 which defines a transport (see figure 4 above). Depending on the sample data
“configurable” dataset that can be transmitted on a multi-cast rate, anywhere from 1 to 5 devices can be mapped onto a
basis from one publisher to multiple subscribers. single 100MB Ethernet link. Multiple 100MB Ethernet data
streams can then be combined into a single Ethernet switch
with a 1GB backbone. In this configuration, 50 or more
datasets can be published to multiple subscribers.

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 redundant 100MB fiber optic Ethernet connections. The
VI. SUBSTATION CONFIGURATION LANGUAGE collection points will be redundant Ethernet switches with
IEC 61850-6-1 specifies a Substation Configuration 1GB internal data buses and 1GB uplinks that support
Language (SCL) that is based on the eXtensible Markup Ethernet priority and Ethernet Virtual LAN (VLAN). VLAN
Language (XML) to describe the configuration of IEC 61850 allows the
Station Bus - 10/100/1000 MB Ethernet
based systems. SCL specifies a hierarchy of configuration
files that enable multiple levels of the system to be described
in unambiguous and standardized XML files. The various Relay(s) Relay Relay Relay Remote
Subscribe to Access
SCL files include system specification description (SSD), IED Datasets

capability description (ICD), substation configuration Process Bus

MU Publishes Network
description (SCD), and configured IED description (CID) V/I/Status .1/1/10GB
Datasets
files. All these files are constructed in the same methods and Ethernet
format but have different scopes depending on the need.
Clk1 MU MU MU Clk2

Even though an IEC 61850 client can extract an IED’s

configuration from the IED when it is connected to that IED PT1 I/O Optical PT2 I/O CT2 Optical I/O Optical
CT PT CT
over a network, there are several scenarios where the MU = Merging Unit

availability of a formal off-line description language can bring Fig. 6. IEC 61850 Substation Architecture
very large benefits to users outside of configuring IEC 61850
client applications. These benefits include: Ethernet switch to deliver datasets to only those switch
ports/IEDs that have subscribed to the data. In migrating to
x SCL enables off-line system development tools to Process Bus implementations, manufacturers will need to
generate the files needed for IED configuration provide the ability to integrate data from existing CTs and PTs
automatically from the power system design with the data from the newer Optical/Electronic sensors. A
significantly reducing the cost and effort of IED redundant synchronization clock architecture will also have to
configuration by eliminating most, if not all, be addressed. In this architecture, upon detection of failure of
manual configuration tasks. Clock 1, Clock 2 will have to automatically come on line and
continue providing sampling synchronization.
x SCL enables the sharing of IED configuration
among users and suppliers to reduce or eliminate At the substation level, a Station Bus will exist. Again, this
inconsistencies and misunderstandings in system bus will be based today on 10MB Ethernet with a clear
configuration and system requirements. Users can migration path to 100MB Ethernet. The Station Bus will
provide their own SCL files to ensure that IEDs provide primary communications between the various Logical
are delivered to them properly configured. Nodes, which provide the various station protection, control,
monitoring, and logging functions. Communications will
x SCL allows IEC 61850 applications to be operate on either a connection oriented basis (e.g. – request of
configured off-line without requiring a network information, configuration, etc.) or a connection-less basis
connection to the IED for client configuration. (IEC Generic Object Oriented Substation Event - GOOSE).
Again, a redundant communication architecture is
SCL can be used as best fits each user’s requirements. A
recommended as application of IED to IED data transmission
user can decide to use CID files to provide help in IED
puts the communication system on the critical path in case of a
configuration using its existing system design processes. Or
failure.
SCL can be used to restructure the entire power system design
process to eliminate manual configuration, eliminate manual
Finally, this architecture supports remote network access
data entry errors, reduce misunderstanding between system
for all types of data reads and writes. As all communication is
capabilities and requirements, enhance the interoperability of
network enabled, multiple remote “clients” will desire access
the end system, and greatly increase the productivity and
the wide variety of available information. Typical clients
effectiveness of power system engineers.
would include local HMI, operations, maintenance,
VII. IEC 61850 SUBSTATION MODEL engineering, and planning. The remote access point is one
logical location to implement security functions such as
Putting the pieces together results in the substation encryption and authentication. This implementation un-
architecture shown in figure 6. burdens the individual IEDs from performing encryption on
At the “process” layer, data from Optical/Electronic internal data transfers but still provide security on all external
Voltage and Current sensors as well as status information will transactions.
be collected and digitized by the Merging Units (MUs). MUs
could be physically located either in the field or in the control
house. Data from the MUs will be collected through

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 VIII. BENEFITS OF IEC 61850 with other approaches. For the sake of brevity, we will list
One of the significant challenges that substation engineers here some of the more key features that provide significant
face is justifying substation automation investments. The benefits to users:
positive impacts that automation has on operating costs, x Use of a Virtualized Model. The virtualized model of
increased power quality, and reduced outage response are well logical devices, logical nodes, ACSI, and CDCs
known. But little attention is paid to how the use of a enables definition of the data, services, and behavior of
communication standard impacts the cost to build and operate devices to be defined in addition to the protocols that
the substation. Legacy communication protocols were are used to define how the data is transmitted over the
typically developed with the dual objective of providing the network.
necessary functions required by electric power systems while
minimizing the number of bytes that were used by the x Use of Names for All Data. Every element of IEC
protocol because of severe bandwidth limitations that were 61850 data is named using descriptive strings to describe
typical of the serial link technology available 10-15 years ago the data. Legacy protocols, on the other hand, tend to
when many of these protocols were initially developed. Later, identify data by storage location and use index numbers,
as Ethernet and modern networking protocols like TCP/IP register numbers and the like to describe data.
became widespread, these legacy protocols were adapted to
run over TCP/IP-Ethernet. This approach provided the same x All Object Names are Standardized and Defined in a
basic electric power system capabilities as the serial link Power System Context. The names of the data in the
version while bringing the advantages of modern networking IEC 61850 device are not dictated by the device vendor
technologies to the substation. But this approach has a or configured by the user. All names are defined in the
fundamental flaw: the protocols being used were still designed standard and provided in a power system context that
to minimize the bytes on the wire and do not take advantage enables the engineer to immediately identify the meaning
of the vast increase in bandwidth that modern networking of data without having to define mappings that relate
technologies deliver by providing a higher level of index numbers and register numbers to power system data
functionality that can significantly reduce the implementation like voltage and current.
and operational costs of substation automation.
x Devices are Self-Describing. Client applications that
IEC 61850 is unique. IEC 61850 is not a former serial link communicate with IEC 61850 devices are able to
protocol recast onto TCP/IP-Ethernet. IEC 61850 was download the description of all the data supported by the
designed from the ground up to operate over modern device from the device without any manual configuration
networking technologies and delivers an unprecedented of data objects or names.
amount of functionality that is simply not available from
legacy communications protocols. These unique x High-Level Services. ACSI supports a wide variety of
characteristics of IEC 61850 have a direct and positive impact services that far exceeds what is available in the typical
on the cost to design, build, install, commission, and operate legacy protocol. GOOSE, GSSE, SMV, and logs are just
power systems. While legacy protocols on Ethernet enable the a few of the unique capabilities of IEC 61850.
substation engineer to do exactly the same thing that was done
10-15 years ago using Ethernet, IEC 61850 enables
x Standardized Configuration Language. SCL enables
fundamental improvements in the substation automation
the configuration of a device and its role in the power
process that is simply not possible with a legacy approach,
system to be precisely defined using XML files.
with or without TCP/IP-Ethernet. To better understand the
specific benefits we will first examine some of the key B. Major Benefits
features and capabilities of IEC 61850 and then explain how
The features described above for IEC 61850 deliver
these result in significant benefits that cannot be achieved
substantial benefits to users that understand and take
with the legacy approach
advantage of them. Rather than simply approaching an IEC
61850 based system in the same way as any other system, a
A. Key Features user that understands and takes advantage of the unique
The features and characteristics of IEC 61850 that enable capabilities will realize significant benefits that are not
unique advantages are so numerous that they cannot available using legacy approaches.
practically be listed here. Some of these characteristics are
seemingly small but yet can have a tremendous impact on
x Eliminate Procurement Ambiguity. Not only can SCL
substation automation systems. For instance, the use of
be used to configure devices and power systems, SCL
VLANs and priority flags for GOOSE and SMV enable much
can also be used to precisely define user requirement for
more intelligent use of Ethernet switches that in and of itself
substations and devices. Using SCL a user can specify
can deliver significant benefits to users that aren’t available
exactly and unambiguously what is expected to be

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 provided in each device that is not subject to 61850 networks are capable of delivering data without
misinterpretation by suppliers. separate communications front-ends or reconfiguring
devices.
x Lower Installation Cost. IEC 61850 enables devices to
quickly exchange data and status using GOOSE and x Implement New Capabilities. The advanced services
GSSE over the station LAN without having to wire and unique features of IEC 61850 enables new
separate links for each relay. This significantly reduces capabilities that are simply not possible with most legacy
wiring costs by more fully utilizing the station LAN protocols. Wide area protection schemes that would
bandwidth for these signals and construction costs by normally be cost prohibitive become much more
reducing the need for trenching, ducts, conduit, etc. feasible. Because devices are already connected to the
substation LAN, the incremental cost for accessing or
x Lower Transducer Costs. Rather than requiring sharing more device data becomes insignificant enabling
separate transducers for each device needing a particular new and innovative applications that would be too costly
signal, a single merging unit supporting SMV can to produce otherwise.
deliver these signals to many devices using a single
transducer lowering transducer, wiring, calibration, and
IX. CONCLUSIONS
maintenance costs.
IEC 61850 is now released to the industry. Ten parts of the
x Lower Commissioning Costs. The cost to configure standard are now International Standards (part 10 is a draft
and commission devices is drastically reduced because international standard). This standard addresses most of the
IEC 61850 devices don’t require as much manual issues that migration to the digital world entails, especially,
configuration as legacy devices. Client applications no standardization of data names, creation of a comprehensive set
longer need to manually configured for each point they of services, implementation over standard protocols and
need to access because they can retrieve the points list hardware, and definition of a process bus. Multi-vendor
directly from the device or import it via an SCL file. interoperability has been demonstrated and compliance
Many applications require nothing more than setting up certification processes are being established. Discussions are
a network address in order to establish communications. underway to utilize IEC 61850 as the substation to control
Most manual configuration is eliminated drastically center communication protocol. IEC 61850 will become the
reducing errors and rework. protocol of choice as utilities migrate to network solutions for
the substations and beyond.
x Lower Equipment Migration Costs. Because IEC
61850 defines more of the externally visible aspects of X. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the devices besides just the encoding of data on the wire, The author gratefully acknowledges the contributions of M.
the cost for equipment migrations is minimized. Adamiak and D. Baigent of GE Multilin for their work on the
Behavioral differences from one brand of device to original version of this document.
another is minimized and, in some cases, completely
eliminated. All devices share the same naming XI. REFERENCES
conventions minimizing the reconfiguration of client [1] IEC 61850 - Communication Networks and Systems in Substations;
applications when those devices are changed. http://domino.iec.ch/webstore/webstore.nsf/searchview/?SearchView=&
SearchOrder=4&SearchWV=TRUE&SearchMax=1000&Query=61850
&submit=OK
x Lower Extension Costs. Because IEC 61850 devices [2] Manufacturing Messaging Specification; ISO 9506-1&2:2003; Part 1 –
don’t have to be configured to expose data, new Service Definition: Part 2 – Protocol Specification
extensions are easily added into the substation without
having to reconfigure devices to expose data that was XII. BIOGRAPHY
previously not accessed. Adding devices and Ralph Mackiewicz is Vice President of SISCO, Inc. a Sterling Heights,
Michigan developer of standards based real-time communications and
applications into an existing IEC 61850 system can be integration products. Ralph obtained a BSEE from Michigan Technological
done with only a minimal impact, if any, on any of the University in 1977 and worked at Westinghouse Electric's PLC division as
existing equipment. engineering manager prior to joining SISCO in 1985. Ralph has been an active
participant in MMS, UCA and ICCP-TASE.2 standards activities. Ralph has
authored chapters on PLCs and MMS for several well-respected industry
x Lower Integration Costs. By utilizing the same handbooks. Ralph has authored and presented papers on UCA2, MMS, IEC
networking technology that is being widely used across 61850, CIM, GID, and associated standards at technical conferences
the utility enterprise the cost to integrate substation data sponsored by IEEE, ISA, EPRI, and Pennwell. Ralph holds two patents and
was a Founding Member and Fellow of the Industrial Computing Society.
into the enterprise is substantially reduced. Rather than
installing costly RTUs that have to be manually
configured and maintained for each point of data needed
in control center and engineering office application, IEC

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