Utilities have been deploying large numbers of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) to implement advanced automation systems. However, they are discovering the high cost of maintaining these devices. Originally considered especially capital intensive, projects in the electrical sector have seen increasing operational costs as utilities are faced with devices that require complex commissioning as well as regular firmware, configuration settings, and password updates. They must now look for automated solutions to manage their IED fleets to tackle the ever-increasing operational expenses.  
 
Louisville Gas & Electric – Kentucky Utilities (LG&E-KU) recognized the need to implement a single, centralized management solution with their growing fleet of IP-connected IEDs and use it to design a workflow that would ensure safe and secure remote updates for firmware, relay settings, and device passwords. 
 
Key Takeaways:

• How LG&E-KU transitioned from serial to IP connections for most of its substation devices
• Architecture decisions supporting that transition and the impacts on patching, operational savings, and human performance
• Challenges and key elements behind the process allowing safe remote relay setting updates in transmission substations
• LG&E-KU next steps for improving and expanding remote changes to more devices