Book excerpt: This book presents an application-centric approach to the development of smart grid communication architecture. The coverage includes in-depth reviews of such cutting-edge applications as advanced metering infrastructure, distribution automation, demand response and synchrophasors. Features: examines a range of exciting utility applications made possible through smart grid evolution; describes the core-edge network architecture for smart grids, introducing the concept of WANs and FANs; explains how the network design paradigm for smart grids differs from that for more established data networks, and discusses network security in smart grids; provides an overview of communication network technologies for WANs and FANs, covering OPGW, PLC, and LTE and MPLS technology; investigates secure data-centric data management and data analytics for smart grids; discusses the transformation of a network from conventional modes of utility operation to an integrated network based on the smart grid architecture framework.