The international IEC 61850 standard defines a framework for substation

communications networks and systems. The standard consists of several parts

ranging from the requirements on substation automation systems to the details of a

communication protocol.

One major difference between the other communication protocols applied in

substation automation and IEC 61850 is that the latter is not only a communication

protocol, but a whole framework for specifying, engineering and operating

substation automation systems. The communication part covers the connection

between the IEDs and the substation clients, for example, SCADA and gateways.

The IEC 61850 standard specifies an expandable data model and services for

substation automation (standard parts 7-x). The standard does not specify any

protection or control functions, but specifies how the functions expose their

information to a communication network.