IEEE 1615-2019

IEEE 1615-2019 is the recommended practice for network communication in electric power substations, defining how communication should support reliable substation operations. It addresses the technical needs of connected protection, control, and monitoring equipment where communication performance can affect system coordination. For engineers, integrators, and procurement teams, this standard helps provide a common basis for specifying, designing, and evaluating substation networking arrangements in environments that demand consistency and dependable data exchange.

IEEE 1615-2019 overview

This technical document focuses on communication methods used within electric power substations, where networking must support time-sensitive and operationally important functions. IEEE 1615-2019 is relevant to systems that combine electrical equipment, communication interfaces, and control functions across a substation network. By setting out a recommended practice, it helps align design expectations for interoperability, signaling behavior, and communication planning. The standard is especially useful where networked devices must work together in a structured, safety-conscious power environment.

Typical use cases

IEEE 1615-2019 is commonly used when planning communication networks for substations that include protective relays, bay controllers, remote terminal interfaces, and supervisory monitoring systems. It is also relevant during the specification of substation automation architectures, equipment integration, and system acceptance activities. In practice, the standard may support projects involving utility transmission and distribution substations, retrofit communications upgrades, and coordinated data exchange between field devices and control systems within electrically demanding installations.

Why this standard matters

For substation projects, clear communication requirements can reduce integration risk and improve consistency across equipment from different suppliers. IEEE 1615-2019 helps provide a shared technical reference for network communication expectations, which can support design control, procurement comparisons, and testing plans. In power applications, that matters because communication issues may affect operational visibility, coordination, and response timing. Using a recognized practice can also help teams document assumptions more clearly and evaluate whether a substation network is suitable for its intended use.

• Substation network communication
• Protection and control systems
• Automation and monitoring integration
• Interoperability and design consistency