Modernizing the Grid with 5G

The first of its kind, SCE and Nokia launch 5G technology to make the power grid safer and more reliable.
Skip to content
Stories : The Grid
Stories : The Grid

Modernizing the Grid with 5G

The first of its kind, SCE and Nokia launch 5G technology to make the power grid safer and more reliable.
Contributors
Photo Credit: Carlos Carazo

In roughly five years, California will arrive at its first critical milestone on the journey toward a decarbonized economy — reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels.

It is just one stop along the road to reaching carbon neutrality by 2045. To get there, significant investments are needed in technology and equipment to prepare the electric grid for the changing needs of tomorrow — all while continuing to deliver safe and reliable power to customers today.

FAN technology lets equipment and devices communicate with power lines and substations, making the grid more integrated.

FAN technology lets equipment and devices communicate with power lines and substations, making the grid more integrated.

One of those investments is the electric industry’s first private 5G Field Area Network (FAN). Southern California Edison and Nokia partnered to launch the technology to improve the way the grid communicates.

“Realizing the clean energy future depends on high-performing, scalable and secure technology,” said Todd Inlander, SCE senior vice president and chief information officer. “Our grid modernization program includes upgrading the wireless communications network that helps our teams, and our systems, talk to each other.”

For those with a smartphone, 5G is nothing new, but for utilities, the technology is a recent innovation in grid management. Just as consumers depend on their wireless connection to operate their smart devices, SCE relies on high-capacity telecommunications to operate the electric grid.
Upgraded infrastructure and new technologies, such as the 5G FAN, are preparing the electric grid for a carbon-neutral future.

Upgraded infrastructure and new technologies, such as the 5G FAN, are preparing the electric grid for a carbon-neutral future.

FAN technology lets devices communicate with power lines, substations and other equipment that helps keep power flowing. With the 5G connection, crews can monitor sensors to quickly detect faults on power lines, enable remote connections to electric equipment in hard-to-reach areas and collect real-time smart meter data to improve the reliability of power delivery to customers.

“The 5G FAN is helping enhance our visibility into our system, which makes that system safer and more reliable,” said Carlos Carazo, SCE managing director of Digital Grid Services. “Instead of our team members physically responding when issues occur, they now have the ability to diagnose problems from handheld devices in near real time.”

The 5G FAN establishes a foundation that will help drive grid investments in new technologies and manage the integration of renewable energy sources, which, in turn, will help shape a resilient, adaptable grid necessary to power the clean energy future.

Crews can perform tasks more securely with a 5G connection, including collecting real-time smart meter data to improve the reliability of power delivery to customers.

Crews can perform tasks more securely with a 5G connection, including collecting real-time smart meter data to improve the reliability of power delivery to customers.

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with SCE to deliver a first-of-its-kind network in the electric utility industry,” said Jeff Pittman, head of North America Enterprise, Mobile Networks at Nokia. “This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to driving innovation in the energy sector. By harnessing the power of 5G, we are setting a new standard for grid efficiency, reliability and sustainability, and offering a model for utilities worldwide to follow.”

Over the next several years, SCE will expand the reach of the 5G FAN across its entire 50,000-square-mile service area, making sure all customers benefit from the reliability it offers.