IEEE P2939/D2, Apr 2023

IEEE P2939/D2, Apr 2023 is an IEEE draft guide focused on the joint use of electric power transmission and distribution facilities and equipment. It is relevant where utility infrastructure must support both power delivery and related communications, sensing, or electro-optic functions. By addressing shared use across fields, waves, electromagnetics, and power systems, the document helps define a more coordinated engineering approach for facilities that need to operate safely and consistently in mixed-use environments.

Overview of IEEE P2939/D2, Apr 2023

IEEE P2939/D2, Apr 2023 provides draft guidance for planning and applying transmission and distribution assets in ways that allow multiple functions to coexist on the same infrastructure. In this context, the standard is useful for technical teams working at the intersection of power, communications, and electromagnetic considerations. It may help frame design expectations, equipment interfaces, and operating constraints where joint use is being evaluated, particularly when performance and compatibility need to be balanced across different utility applications.

Typical use cases

This draft guide is most relevant for utility environments where existing T&D structures, conductors, or support equipment may be shared with communication, networking, or sensing systems. It can be used in design reviews, field planning, and engineering studies for facilities that must carry electric power while accommodating additional functions. Typical applications may include corridor planning, equipment placement, compatibility checks, and coordination between power-system teams and communications engineers working on mixed-use infrastructure.

Why it matters

Joint-use projects often involve technical tradeoffs that affect safety, reliability, and long-term maintainability. IEEE P2939/D2, Apr 2023 matters because it supports more consistent decisions when multiple technologies are installed on the same transmission or distribution assets. That can reduce integration risk, improve procurement and design clarity, and help teams evaluate electromagnetic effects, equipment performance, and operational constraints before implementation. For organizations managing shared infrastructure, such guidance can be valuable for compliance-oriented engineering and controlled deployment.

• Transmission and distribution joint-use planning
• Power and communications compatibility
• Electromagnetic and equipment coordination
• Utility infrastructure design review
• Shared-asset performance and risk checks