In the last century, there was no major alteration in the structure of power grids. Studies have shown that existing infrastructure is no longer suitable to meet requirements of the future. To overcome the challenges and fulfil future requirements, we need a network that is reliable, efficient and intelligent. This has led to the development of emerging concept of smart grid (SG). Smart grids are the next generation of electrical power grids; a promising solution to overcome energy crises. Smart grid system is the integration of advanced computing and communication technologies with power system infrastructure. In this paper, we provide a survey of the communication infrastructure in smart grids that includes communication architecture and different network compositions, technologies, and intelligent functions that are employed in this architecture. This survey is expected to provide improved understanding of the technologies, its potential benefits and impact. Moreover, we intend to provoke interest amongst the research community to discover more about this emerging area to realize the potential of smart grid concept.
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