SCADA & RTU
Upgrade Engineering
Legacy RTU platforms don't last forever, and upgrading one is more complex than swapping hardware. N2 engineers the full migration — from existing system documentation through new RTU configuration, IED integration, and SCADA connectivity — so your operations team isn't left figuring it out alone.
Full migration engineering
Not just hardware. The whole transition.
An RTU upgrade is a system change. The hardware is straightforward. What creates risk is everything around it — undocumented point lists, IED configurations nobody has touched in a decade, SCADA templates that need rebuilding, and an operations staff that needs to keep the lights on through the transition. N2 engineers all of it.
Existing system documentation
We document your current RTU configuration, point lists, IED connections, and SCADA mapping before anything is touched.
New RTU configuration design
Complete configuration engineering for your new RTU platform, designed around your existing field devices and SCADA system.
IED integration
Engineering support for integrating protective relays and other IEDs into the new RTU, including protocol translation and point mapping.
SCADA connectivity
End-to-end connectivity engineering from the RTU to your SCADA master, including communications design and point verification.
Signs your RTU needs attention
- Legacy RTU platform approaching or past manufacturer end-of-support
- Spare parts unavailable or backordered indefinitely
- IED integration that is undocumented or unreliable
- SCADA points unverified, or frequently in alarm without cause
- Operations staff unsure what the RTU is — or isn't — reporting accurately
Service Detail
Migration engineering
- As-is field verification and point list reconstruction
- Protocol translation and point mapping
- RTU configuration and database build
- SCADA master and HMI template updates
- Cutover planning and outage coordination
- Point-to-point verification and commissioning support
Automation systems
- Substation and distribution automation design
- Fault location, isolation and restoration (FLISR)
- PLC-based system-wide load shed schemes with HMI
- Delivery point and intertie revenue metering
- EMS and intertie SCADA upgrades
Communications
- DNP3 and Modbus serial and TCP
- Substation telecom and network interface design
- Long-haul fiber systems and terminal node design
- Unlicensed data radio design and installation
- VSAT satellite systems
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
How long does an RTU upgrade project typically take?
A single-substation RTU replacement project runs 8–16 weeks from kickoff through commissioning support. This varies based on system complexity, the number of IEDs being integrated, and SCADA master compatibility.
Do we need to replace our SCADA system to upgrade the RTU?
Not necessarily. Most RTU upgrades are designed to work with existing SCADA masters using standard protocols such as DNP3 and Modbus. We engineer the RTU configuration around your existing SCADA environment wherever possible.
What if our existing RTU documentation is incomplete or missing?
That's common, and it's exactly what we expect. N2 begins every RTU project with a field verification and documentation phase — we build the as-is picture before designing the migration.
RTU project coming up?
Let's talk before you issue the RFP.
We can help you define the right scope before you go to bid — and that first conversation costs you nothing.