Communication Solutions for the Last Mile of Smart Grid: Neighborhood Area Networks in Smart Grid Communications: Standards and Challenges

Neighborhood area networks (NANs), which connect all communication devices between substations and smart meters, constitute the fundamental last-mile infrastructure for controlling electricity distribution networks. In the absence of a mature NAN infrastructure, selecting communication technologies to meet scaling smart grid application requirements becomes challenging. This article presents a mapping of smart grid functionalities to the data communication models, followed by a survey on smart grid communication standards relevant to NANs. It clarifies the standards in use and the associated protocols suitable for NAN implementation. Furthermore, it identifies some challenges worthy of future investigation.