Resilient Communication for an Electric Power Delivery System

A first automation control device for monitoring an electric power delivery system, the device comprising:

• a processor;
• a communication interface coupleable to a second automation control device and first and second radios;
• and
• a memory comprising a data gathering module for gathering monitored system data from a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) using a first communication path, the data gathering module configured to:
• detect a communicative coupling to the second automation control device, wherein the second automation control device is communicatively coupled to the plurality of IEDs by a second communication path independent from the first,
• transmit a request for information to at least one of the plurality of IEDs using at least one of the first and second radios,
• determine that no response was received to the request for information, and
• request the information from the second automation control device.

A method for providing resilient communication among monitoring devices for an electric power delivery system, the method comprising:

• communicatively coupling each of a first and a second client radio with a client control system;
• communicatively coupling each of a plurality of server radio pairs to a corresponding server intelligent electronic device (IED);
• and
• communicatively coupling each server radio in each server radio pair to at least one other radio, wherein communicatively coupling each server radio comprises communicatively coupling the plurality of server radio pairs in a loop topology;
• wherein the plurality of server radio pairs provide a plurality of communications paths between each server IED and the client control system.