Digital relays, synchrophasors and wide-area measurement networks have changed the way utilities plan, protect and operate the grid. Long before “smart grid” became a buzzword, Communication And Control In Electric Power Systems: Applications of Parallel and Distributed Processing laid out the architecture and algorithms that still anchor today’s control centers. Written by Mohammad Shahidehpour and Yaoyu Wang and published by Wiley-IEEE Press in 2003, this reference remains a cornerstone text for graduate students and grid engineers alike.
Table of Contents
Book at a Glance
| Full Title | Communication And Control In Electric Power Systems: Applications of Parallel and Distributed Processing |
| Authors | Mohammad Shahidehpour & Yaoyu Wang |
| Publisher / Year | Wiley-IEEE Press / 2003 |
| Print Length | ≈ 550 pages (hardcover) |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0471453251 |
| Typical eBook Price | US $254 (Google Play) |
| Primary Audience | Graduate power-engineering students, utility SCADA/EMS engineers, researchers |
| Focus Themes | SCADA & EMS design, real-time control, parallel computing for OPF, communication protocols |
Why Communication And Control In Electric Power Systems Still Matters
- Bridges IT and power engineering. Few books explain both the signal-level communication stack and the power-flow math that rides on top of it.
- Foundational algorithms. Security-constrained optimal power flow (SC-OPF), state estimation and contingency analysis are walked through with system diagrams and pseudocode.
- Parallel-processing mindset. The authors detail how clustering, message passing and shared-memory computing slash execution times—concepts reborn today in cloud-based EMS.
- Ahead of its time. Chapters on synchronized phasor measurement and distributed decision making foreshadow today’s PMU and wide-area control deployments.
Chapter Highlights
| Part | Key Topics | Take-Away Skills |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Communication Infrastructure | Hierarchical SCADA layouts, telemetering standards, error control | Design reliable RTU–master links, evaluate bandwidth vs. latency |
| 2. Computer-Aided Control Centers | EMS functions, HMI design, historian databases | Map data paths from breaker to dispatcher screen |
| 3. State Estimation & Bad-Data Detection | Weighted least squares, robustness tests | Build or tune a state-estimator and spot gross meter errors |
| 4. Optimal Power Flow (OPF) | Decoupled, Newton, and linear OPF; security constraints | Formulate OPF for N-1 contingency and renewable curtailment |
| 5. Parallel & Distributed Processing | Task partitioning, pipeline vs. farm models, MPI basics | Cut simulation runtimes for unit commitment and dynamic security |
| 6. Real-Time Control & Stability | AGC, load-frequency control, emergency remedial schemes | Implement closed-loop AGC and under-frequency load shedding |
| 7. Wide-Area Measurement & Protection | Phasor Data Concentrators, synchronized sampling, WAMS | Specify PMU placement, latency budgets, and control logic |
Strengths
- Hands-on numerical examples—complete with matrices—help readers code their own estimators and OPF solvers.
- Standards-aware prose cites IEEE C37, IEC 60870-5-104 and legacy DNP3, bridging vintage RTUs and modern Ethernet.
- Future-proof vision—the text anticipates cyber-security, wide-area situational awareness and renewable intermittency challenges long before they were mainstream.
Limitations
| Limitation | Impact | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 timestamp | No IEC 61850, CIM, or cloud-native microservices | Supplement with recent IEEE PES tutorials on IEC 61850 & CIM |
| MATLAB® listings only | No Python/Pandapower code | Port algorithms to open-source libraries (Pandas, PYPOWER) |
| Limited DER & microgrid coverage | Emerging inverter-rich feeders absent | Pair with Smart Grid Control texts for inverter droop & VVC |
How It Compares
| Criterion | This Book | Power System SCADA and Smart Grids (McGraw-Hill, 2012) | Wide-Area Monitoring, Protection and Control (Springer, 2018) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth of OPF math | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| PMU/WAMS detail | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Communication-protocol coverage | Legacy + early IP | Modern IEC 61850 intro | Focus on synchrophasor streams |
| Best for | Control-center design & algorithms | SCADA field devices | Research on WAMPAC |
FAQ
Is Communication And Control In Electric Power Systems beginner-friendly?
It assumes a solid grounding in power-flow and linear algebra; early-stage undergrads may struggle without a power-system fundamentals text.
Does the book discuss PMUs and synchrophasor data?
Yes—an entire chapter introduces synchronized phasor measurement and its role in wide-area control, although it predates today’s IEEE C37.118 streaming profiles.
Is there Python code in the book?
No, examples are MATLAB®-based. However, the algorithms translate cleanly to open-source tools like Pandapower or PSAT.
Where can I buy the book?
The eBook lists for about US $254 on Google Play and Wiley’s site Used hardcovers occasionally appear on Amazon or AbeBooks.
