Investigating cyberattacks against under-voltage load shedding special protection schemes

Special Protection Schemes (SPS) have been widely adopted to help power grids operate closer to their stability limits, maximizing efficiency and reducing costs. While SPS improves system stability, its heavy reliance on communication networks introduces significant cybersecurity challenges. A cyberattack against the cyber layer of SPS threatens the availability and integrity of the physical layer of power systems. This paper explores the impact of a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack on a communication router within the Wide Area Network (WAN), focusing on how such an attack can disrupt SPS operations and compromise overall system stability. The study models three key components of SPS: the control center, MPLS-based WAN, and field devices. Two attack scenarios are simulated on the IEEE 9-bus test system. Simulation results and voltage stability analysis reveal that a successful DoS attack, by preventing the SPS from executing predefined protective actions, can lead to severe voltage drops and push the system into instability. These findings highlight the urgent need to address cyber-physical vulnerabilities when designing and deploying special protection schemes.

Smart Grids, wide-area communication networks, special protection schemes, voltage stability, cyberattacks.

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