IEC 61850-5:2013 applies to power utility automation systems with the core part of substation automation systems (SAS), it standardizes the communication between intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and defines the related system requirements to be supported. The major technical changes with regard to the previous edition are as follows:
- extension from substation automation systems to utility automation systems,
- inclusion of interfaces for communication between substations,
- requirements from communication beyond the boundary of the substation.