Applicability of Wireless Mesh Networks for Sending Power Quality Monitoring Data in Smart Grids

This paper investigates the feasibility of utilizing wireless mesh networks (WMNs) for the reliable transmission of power quality (PQ) monitoring data in smart grid networks. Continuous PQ measurements are critical for detecting voltage fluctuations, harmonics, and other disturbances, enabling timely corrective actions. Conventional deployments primarily utilize cellular networks to transfer PQ data from smart meters to backend systems. However, smart grid networks are often located in remote or rural areas where cellular coverage is limited or unavailable, and even well-served regions can experience congestion due to high user density. To address these limitations, a series of end-to-end experiments was conducted. PQ data generated by commercial smart meters were transmitted through WMNs configured with both single and multi-hop topologies. The primary performance indicators - end-to-end latency and jitter - were analyzed to evaluate network suitability for time-critical monitoring. Experimental results demonstrate that PQ data can be delivered to the backend system (in a four-hop configuration) with a mean end-to-end latency of 171 ms and a standard deviation of 13 ms. The network maintained a mean jitter of 12 ms, indicating stable and predictable packet delivery. These findings confirm that WMNs provide a robust, low-latency, and congestion-resilient communication backbone for smart grid monitoring, offering a practical alternative in scenarios where cellular connectivity is unavailable or unreliable.