The Role of Aggregator Topology on the Impact of False Data Injection Attacks

Data integrity in smart power grid is crucial for accurate billing, demand prediction, and the overall grid stability. Aggregators in the power grid are entities that aggregate power data measurements from consumers and relay this information to upper levels to guide power forecasting, generation and distribution. It has been shown that attackers mounting False Data Injection Attacks (FDIA) can disrupt the process of power state estimation while evading detection. In this paper, we study the role of the topology – the manner in which consumers are connected to substations and aggregators – on the impact of FDIA on the power grid. Through simulation experiments, we demonstrate the impact of compromised aggregators on demand forecasting leading to power loss and power outages.