Bell Labs Consulting for Smart Grid Network Evolution provides a utility with a customized, vendor-agnostic communications network evolution plan. This plan describes in detail the architecture of the modernized network and incremental steps that should be taken by the utility to evolve its existing communications networks to a modernized, reliable and secure network capable of supporting all legacy and currently-envisioned Smart Grid applications. Bell Labs’ Subject Matter Experts work in close partnership with the utility’s Subject Matter Experts. Using network design and analysis capabilities developed by the Bell Labs team, utilities receive detailed analysis of the Total Cost of Ownership associated with candidate evolution scenarios. The Bell Labs team quantifies the costs associated with the utility’s existing networks, giving utilities the information they need to take action. Accompanying analysis quantifies the costs and benefits of alternative evolution plans, wireless and wireline technology options, the use of private and public networks, and different operational models.