Data communications in a deregulated environment

The trend toward electric utility deregulation is moving full speed ahead throughout the world. As a result, the integration, consolidation, and dissemination of information both inter- and intra-utility has become desired by many players. The general trend in the industry has been toward the use of the Internet for the transfer of data. Beyond data sharing, new mandates are being placed on transmission and distribution utilities to minimize outage times, provide rate alternatives, maintain operating data archives, and, in general, push more power through existing power lines.