IEEE 487-1980

487-1980 is a technical standard for line communication facilities serving electric power stations, addressing how communication links should support station operations and related power-system coordination. It is relevant to planning and specifying communications that must work reliably alongside electrical infrastructure, where dependable signaling and operational continuity matter. As a superseded standard, 487-1980 is often used for legacy reference, historical comparison, or evaluating older facilities that were designed around its requirements.

About 487-1980

487-1980 focuses on communication facilities associated with electric power stations, with an emphasis on line-based communication in an industrial power setting. The standard would typically guide technical expectations for system arrangement, compatibility, and performance in environments where station communications support control, monitoring, or coordination tasks. For engineers and buyers reviewing legacy documentation, 487-1980 helps define the design intent behind these communication facilities and provides a basis for understanding how the system was meant to function.

Where is 487-1980 used?

487-1980 is most relevant in electric power stations and related utility communication networks where line communication facilities are part of operational infrastructure. It may be consulted for station-to-station or station-to-control communication arrangements, especially in older power installations, retrofit projects, or maintenance of inherited systems. The standard can also be useful when reviewing equipment specifications for communication channels that support power engineering workflows, coordination, and facility-level signaling within utility operations.

Importance in practice

In practice, 487-1980 matters because communication facilities in power stations must be dependable, clearly specified, and suitable for the operating environment. Using a defined standard helps reduce ambiguity during design, procurement, and maintenance, which can improve consistency across installations and lower integration risk. For legacy systems, it also supports compliance review and technical assessment by giving a reference point for expected communication performance and facility arrangement within electric power applications.

• Line communication facilities for power stations
• Legacy utility communication reference
• Station coordination and signaling context
• Superseded technical specification