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Newton-Evans Research Company plans to revisit the topic of Distribution Automation

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Newton-Evans Research Company plans to revisit the topic of Distribution Automation (DA) by researching the market for DA field devices, communications methods, engineering service and Distribution Management Systems (DMS) applications software used in the control center, the substation, and on lines and poles. We will invite hundreds of North American electric transmission & distribution utilities to participate in a survey of Distribution Automation hardware, software and communications infrastructure.

The results of this survey will be combined with Newton-Evans’ discussions with DA vendors and manufacturers and published in a report titled “Distribution Automation 2015-2020: North American Utility Perspectives, Market Outlook and Analysis.” This report – available in January of 2015 – will be a comprehensive market overview of the automation aspects of electric distribution networks and supporting infrastructure. The scope of this research project will also include estimates of growth in the communications infrastructure needed to support this increased deployment of DA hardware and software.

Research Methodology
The study will include several weeks of survey-based research with major and mid-size utilities, requesting their insights regarding DA plans through 2020. This study will also include secondary research to learn about documented plans for DA among North American utilities.

The final report, “Distribution Automation 2015-2020: North American Utility Perspectives, Market Outlook and Analysis” will measure current market sizes, provide estimates and outlooks of demand for distribution automation equipment through 2020, and showcase a selection of major product vendors and service providers in the DA marketplace.

(Download a .pdf brochure here)

Scope of Work
A sample of topics to be addressed on the survey will likely include:

  • Feeder Automation – number of feeders in use, levels of feeder automation, types of automation in place (volt/var, FLISR), location of feeder automation controls (in the substation vs. in the field)
  • Distribution Automation Applications in use and planned for use in the future
  • Communications Infrastructure strategies to support DA applications – type of networks used and planned for use (WiMAX, Fiber/SONET, 900MHz, PLC etc.)
  • Feeder Automation Communications Network – Does it support IP enabled radio, WiMAX, and high-bandwidth applications? Are utilities preparing to upgrade their communications infrastructure?

A detailed market analysis will be provided in this report, and it will address such questions as:

  • What are the factors driving utilities to automate at the distribution network level?
  • What product ranges constitute the DA marketplace?
  • Who are the major participants in the DA marketplace?
  • What are the market sizes and trends for DA field equipment shipments?
  • What are the market sizes and trends for the distribution management systems (both DMS and D-SCADA) that support the DA field equipment?

Distribution Automation is a wide-ranging system of multiple communications-centric applications that bring the information infrastructure more directly in contact or overlay on the utility’s operational distribution network infrastructure. Market estimates and forecasts will be presented for the following main categories:

  • Control Center Based DA Software and Platforms
  • Substation Based DA Software and Platforms
  • DA Controllers (switch controllers, cap bank controllers, voltage regulator controllers)
    Telecommunication Infrastructure for DA
  • Field-Based DA Equipment (RTUs, line monitors, switches, cap banks, line reclosers, voltage regulators)

Price
This report, Distribution Automation 2015-2020: North American Utility Perspectives, Market Outlook and Analysis will be available in January 2015 for the price of $3,250. Pre-order the report with a credit card before October 31 for $2,750 and save $500 – in addition, pre-subscribers may preview the questionnaire and submit topics for consideration in the field survey. Call us at 1 800 222 2856 for more details.