Communication Technologies in Smart Grids — MCQs – EE

1. The communication system in a smart grid is used to:
(A) Exchange real-time information between grid components
(B) Increase transmission losses
(C) Eliminate control automation
(D) Reduce generation efficiency

2. Smart grid communication enables:
(A) Two-way communication between utilities and consumers
(B) One-way data flow from utility to consumer
(C) Manual meter reading
(D) Power-only transmission

3. The main goal of smart grid communication technologies is to:
(A) Improve reliability, efficiency, and security of power systems
(B) Increase manual intervention
(C) Disconnect distributed generation
(D) Reduce automation

4. Which of the following is a wired communication technology used in smart grids?
(A) Power Line Communication (PLC)
(B) Wi-Fi
(C) ZigBee
(D) Cellular LTE

5. Which of the following is a wireless communication technology in smart grids?
(A) ZigBee
(B) Ethernet
(C) Optical Fiber
(D) Coaxial cable

6. The communication network connecting smart meters to utilities is known as:
(A) Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
(B) Supervisory Control System
(C) Distributed Generation Network
(D) Transmission Control Protocol

7. Power Line Communication (PLC) transmits data through:
(A) Existing electrical power lines
(B) Optical fiber cables
(C) Radio frequency waves only
(D) Microwave antennas

8. One limitation of PLC technology is:
(A) Signal attenuation and noise interference
(B) High data transmission rate
(C) Fiber-based connectivity
(D) Short communication distance

9. ZigBee is mainly used in smart grids for:
(A) Home Area Networks (HAN) communication
(B) Long-distance transmission
(C) Generator control
(D) High-voltage monitoring

10. The communication network connecting substations and control centers is called:
(A) Wide Area Network (WAN)
(B) Local Area Network (LAN)
(C) Home Area Network (HAN)
(D) Personal Area Network (PAN)

11. SCADA systems in smart grids are primarily used for:
(A) Supervisory control and data acquisition
(B) Power factor correction
(C) Voltage step-up operation
(D) Motor speed control

12. The main function of SCADA communication is to:
(A) Monitor, control, and collect data from remote equipment
(B) Increase power losses
(C) Replace physical relays
(D) Eliminate protection systems

13. In smart grid communication, optical fiber is used because it offers:
(A) High bandwidth and immunity to electromagnetic interference
(B) High power losses
(C) Low data rate
(D) Limited reliability

14. The communication network connecting distributed energy resources and substations is part of:
(A) Field Area Network (FAN)
(B) Home Area Network (HAN)
(C) Local Area Network (LAN)
(D) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

15. WiMAX is commonly used in smart grids for:
(A) Long-range, high-speed wireless data transmission
(B) Short-range control only
(C) Fiber-optic replacement
(D) Circuit switching

16. In smart grids, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication enables:
(A) Autonomous communication between devices without human intervention
(B) Manual relay operation
(C) Human-only monitoring
(D) Fixed-line telephony

17. The Home Area Network (HAN) connects:
(A) Smart appliances and meters within consumer premises
(B) Substations to control centers
(C) Distributed generators
(D) Transmission lines

18. Local Area Network (LAN) in substations is used for:
(A) Communication among Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs)
(B) Consumer billing
(C) Mobile data sharing
(D) Remote sensing only

19. Internet of Things (IoT) in smart grids helps in:
(A) Real-time monitoring, analytics, and automated control
(B) Manual data collection
(C) Paper-based control systems
(D) Isolated system operation

20. Which protocol is widely used in smart grid communication for interoperability?
(A) IEC 61850
(B) HTTP
(C) SMTP
(D) FTP

21. The IEC 61850 standard is mainly associated with:
(A) Substation automation systems
(B) Customer billing
(C) Home appliance design
(D) Power generation forecasting

22. The communication protocol DNP3 (Distributed Network Protocol) is used for:
(A) SCADA communication and data exchange in utilities
(B) Wireless mobile communication
(C) Fiber optics
(D) Audio transmission

23. Cybersecurity in smart grid communication ensures:
(A) Protection of data integrity, confidentiality, and availability
(B) Faster data corruption
(C) Higher latency intentionally
(D) Reduced system monitoring

24. A key challenge in smart grid communication is:
(A) Cybersecurity and data privacy concerns
(B) Excess generation
(C) Transmission line overheating
(D) Transformer aging

25. The main advantage of using wireless mesh networks in smart grids is:
(A) Self-healing and high reliability in data transmission
(B) Fixed connection only
(C) High interference losses
(D) Unidirectional communication

26. The communication latency requirement in smart grids is most critical for:
(A) Protection and control systems
(B) Energy billing
(C) Load forecasting
(D) Maintenance scheduling

27. Which layer of the smart grid communication architecture deals with data transmission?
(A) Network layer
(B) Application layer
(C) Physical layer
(D) User interface layer

28. The main role of the application layer in smart grid communication is to:
(A) Provide user-specific services and data visualization
(B) Transmit raw data only
(C) Convert analog to digital signals
(D) Control physical parameters

29. The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer is responsible for:
(A) Managing access to the communication medium
(B) Encrypting data
(C) Power factor control
(D) Voltage regulation

30. The ultimate goal of communication technologies in smart grids is to:
(A) Enable a reliable, secure, and intelligent power system
(B) Increase manual data handling
(C) Reduce automation and monitoring
(D) Disconnect consumers from the grid