Turning a Utility’s Aging Substations into Smart Data Sources
Transformed a monitoring blind spot into a high-resolution, data-rich grid segment using PQube 3e and PQView for centralized system visibility
Shifted from reactive maintenance to proactive asset management with real-time alerts, feeder-level monitoring, and early fault detection
Extended substation lifespan and accelerated grid modernization by integrating multi-feeder PQube 3e devices into existing DNP3 systems with minimal configuration
A leading utility serving over 4 million customers across Western Canada found itself in a bind: two aging power substations still played a crucial role in grid operations, but were well past their prime. Although full replacements would eventually take place, for now the utility needed the substations to stay online.
In the meantime, the utility desperately needed power quality visibility into the substations. Without it, the utility had no way to:
Evaluate asset performance
Detect early signs or rate of failure
Make informed decisions about asset health and lifespan
Upgrading the power substations was not in the budget. But shutting them down for rewiring and redesign wasn’t, either.
What they needed was a smart, plug-and-play solution—something that could deliver real-time power quality monitoring into these legacy sites without re-engineering the existing architecture.
That’s where Powerside stepped in.
The Solution
Powerside recommended PQube® 3e, a compact, high-capacity power analyzer designed for multi-load monitoring.
Each PQube 3e is compact enough to simply plug into existing architecture, no rewiring or redesigns required. Plus, the meters support up to fourteen current channels (Fig. 1), allowing a single unit to monitor as many as four distribution substation feeders at once. The feeders—or the circuits carrying electricity from the substation out to the grid—are essential for reliable service delivery. Without monitoring at the feeder level, the utility would effectively be flying blind when trying to detect early signs of stress, overload or degradation.
Figure 1 | The reference wiring diagram between PQube 3e and legacy substations. The PQube 3e has fourteen available current channels, used to monitor up to four distribution substation feeders at one time.
Powerside deployed a fleet of the PQube 3e meters to track critical metrics like harmonics, voltage sags and transients at the very points where power enters the distribution network. At the same time, PQView®, Powerside’s device-agnostic, on-premise platform for collecting and analyzing power quality, would serve as the central hub for monitoring performance.
The meters were set up to:
Send DNP3 data to the utility’s control center and energy management system (EMS)
Archive the data
Export PQDIF data to PQView for analysis and fleetwide visibility
Installation was tailored to each of the two substations:
Substation One had panels containing hazardous particle board, so Powerside engineered custom brackets to mount the PQube 3e meters and modems safely behind the enclosures.
Substation Two allowed internal panel installs, but space was tight. Fortunately, PQube 3e’s small size made integration as simple as plugging in and getting started (Fig. 2).
Figure 2 | Inside the substation control house. The compact nature of the PQube 3e made integration easy—avoiding complex rewiring and re-engineering.
In total, ten PQube 3e meters were installed across the sites, enabling monitoring of thirty-nine feeders. All without rewiring or extended outages.
The Results
With PQube 3e, and PQView, the utility now has high-resolution visibility into some of their most at-risk, yet still-critical infrastructure. What was once a monitoring blind spot is now a data-rich segment of the grid.
Instead of relying on reactive maintenance or manual inspections, the utility now leverages real-time, remote monitoring, automatic notifications and advanced diagnostics to:
Track asset performance trends
Detect early warning signs
Respond to issues before they escalate
Best of all, because each PQube 3e device monitors multiple feeders with built-in support for DNP3, the utility was able to plug into its existing systems with minimal configuration. Data is now centralized through PQView analysis software, providing clear, at-a-glance views of their system health.
By retrofitting with PQube 3e, the utility has extended the lifespans of their aging power substations—all while moving closer to their long-term goals for grid modernization.
Modernize legacy assets without the risk of equipment downtime. Start a conversation with us about smart power monitoring solutions today.
