Utilities

Building the connected grid of the future.

Environment: Substation, grid edge & control center
Uptime demand: 24/7 grid operations
Oversight: NERC CIP audit review
Documentation: Asset inventory & configuration baselines

Overview

The grid is becoming a network — wire it like one, prove it like one

Every substation added to a utility's communications backbone is another asset a NERC CIP auditor will eventually ask about. Uniqcli sources and integrates substation and grid-edge networking, control-center infrastructure and segmentation for utilities modernizing the grid — built to hold up under operational demand and to produce the documentation compliance teams need without a scramble.

Where we fit

From the substation fence line to the control-center wall

Substation and grid-edge networking has to survive an electrically noisy environment and outlive a normal IT refresh cycle. We spec hardened switches, DC-powered gear and environmental monitoring to the substation's actual conditions, then build the segmentation and access-control layer NERC CIP requires around it.

In the control center, we integrate the compute and video-wall infrastructure operators watch the grid through, with the redundant DC power that keeps a control room running through the same event the grid is responding to.

Substation and grid-edge networking, hardened for the environment
NERC CIP-aware segmentation and electronic access control
Control-center compute, video walls and operator consoles
Resilient DC power and environmental monitoring at substations

Scope a grid modernization project

From the substation fence line to the control-center wall

Fielded in this sector

Hardware we field here.

Representative platforms from the live Uniqcli catalog — sourced through authorized distribution and TAA-screened per line before they ship.

Browse the catalog

Black BoxBlack Box Fiber Network Switch

LantronixLantronix Managed Hardened Gigabit Ethernet PoE+ Switch

FlukeFluke 1630-2 FC Earth Ground Clamp

APC by Schneider ElectricAPC Smart-UPS Ultra On-Line 5000VA Lithium-Ion, Rack/Tower 2U

Digi InternationalDigi IX30 2 SIM Ethernet, Cellular Modem/Wireless Router

EatonEaton Tripp Lite 8-Port Managed Industrial Gigabit Ethernet Switch

Trademarks belong to their respective owners. Availability through authorized distribution.

Where we help

Purpose-built for the sector

Substation and grid-edge networking built for electrical environments
NERC CIP-aware segmentation and electronic access control logging
Control-center compute, video walls and redundant operator systems
Resilient DC power and environmental monitoring for substations
Asset inventory and configuration documentation formatted for CIP audit
Staged rollouts that preserve grid-operations visibility during cutover

At a glance

Documentation formatted for NERC audit review: CIP
Control-center infrastructure, built for continuous uptime: 24/7

Capabilities

Capabilities we scope alongside

The mission lanes most often paired with programs in this sector — sourced, integrated and delivered by one accountable partner.

Telecom

Carrier-grade routing, optical transport, switching and secure communications infrastructure.

Electronics

Component sourcing, board-level supply, power systems and ruggedized computing for harsh environments.

Access Control & Physical Security

Credentialing, door hardware, video surveillance and integrated facility security systems.

What utility teams buy

The buy list behind a substation modernization

IEC 61850-3 / IEEE 1613 hardened substation Ethernet switches
DC-input networking gear for station-battery power
GNSS time servers with IRIG-B and PTP (IEEE 1588) outputs
Serial device servers for legacy relay and RTU integration
Firewalls for electronic security perimeter (ESP) boundaries
Badge readers and door controllers for CIP-006 physical access points
NDAA Section 889-screened perimeter cameras for substations
Private LTE field-area network routers for AMI and distribution automation backhaul
TAA-compliant rugged tablets and laptops for line crews

Sector posture

What travels with the quote.

The posture is the same in every sector — assembled while the quote is built, not reconstructed once an order is placed. What was sourced, where it came from, who touched it and when it shipped.

TAA-compliant sourcing under FAR 52.225-5, verified by country of origin
NDAA §889 covered-equipment screening on every line item
Chain-of-custody and asset-tag documentation on delivery
US-based integration, staging and white-glove logistics through our distribution and partner network
Documentation formatted for NERC CIP audit review

Questions

Frequently asked

Can you document a substation networking project for NERC CIP audit?

Yes. We format asset inventories, configuration baselines and access logs to match what your CIP compliance team presents to auditors.

Will substation hardware handle the electrical environment out there?

We spec hardened, DC-powered networking gear rated for the electrical noise and temperature range of an operating substation, not standard office equipment.

Can control-center upgrades happen without losing grid visibility?

Yes. We stage compute and video-wall replacement in phases so operators retain a working view of the grid throughout the upgrade.

How do you support NERC CIP-013 supply-chain risk management?

CIP-013 is the utility's obligation — a documented supply-chain cyber-security risk-management plan for BES Cyber Systems. As a supplier, Uniqcli provides the inputs that plan typically requires: line-item provenance showing the distribution channel each unit came through, chain-of-custody records to your dock, and completed supplier questionnaires where your process uses them. We don't certify your compliance — your plan defines the controls; we document our part of the chain.

What standards should substation network switches meet?

Substation-rated switches are built to IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613, which cover the electromagnetic interference, surge and temperature environment of a control house — a different bar from commercial gear. Most take station-battery DC input and run fanless. Uniqcli sources switches specified to those ratings, plus GNSS time servers with IRIG-B and PTP (IEEE 1588) outputs where protective relaying and disturbance recording need synchronized clocks.

We're a municipal utility — can we buy through our existing purchasing process?

Yes. Municipals and cooperatives usually buy through board-approved processes, state contracts or cooperative purchasing programs the utility already participates in. Uniqcli works inside the path you hold: itemized quotes formatted the way your purchasing system needs them, competitive quotes for the board packet where required, and delivery aligned to fiscal-year and outage schedules. If a specific vehicle is mandatory, name it and we'll confirm how to route the order.

Does NDAA Section 889 apply to substation cameras and radios?

Section 889 directly binds federal contracts and federally funded purchases, so it reaches utilities through federal grants or contract clauses. Several covered manufacturers are widespread in low-cost surveillance, which is why many utilities apply the covered list fleet-wide as internal policy even where no clause requires it. Uniqcli screens camera, radio and networking lines against the list before quoting and documents the result either way.

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