# DNP3

Protocols · `DNP3` · verification: source checked

DNP3 is an open, standards-based communications protocol for interoperability between substation computers, RTUs, IEDs and master stations in electric utility systems. It was developed by Harris, Distributed Automation Products, and responsibility for its specifications was transferred to the DNP Users Group in November 1993. It is also used in water/wastewater, transportation and oil and gas, and was adopted as IEEE Std. 1815.

## Specification

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Transports | other |
| Architecture | master slave |
| Encoding | binary |
| Standard body | IEEE |
| Standard ref | IEEE 1815-2012 |

## Study notes

- DNP3 was developed by Harris, Distributed Automation Products.
- Responsibility for DNP3 specifications transferred to the DNP Users Group in November 1993.
- DNP3 is based on IEC Technical Committee 57, Working Group 03 OSI 3-layer Enhanced Performance Architecture (EPA) for telecontrol applications.
- DNP3 was selected as a Recommended Practice by the IEEE C.2 Task Force for RTU to IED communications.
- DNP3 is used in the electric utility industry and in water/wastewater, transportation and oil and gas industries.
- Subset levels define interoperable application options; the simplest is for low-cost distribution feeder devices and the most complex for full-featured systems.
- Limited transport-layer functions support 2K block transfers for IEDs, RF and fiber.
- IEEE 1815-2012 is an inactive-reserved standard, inactivated on 2023-03-30, and supersedes 1815-2010.

## Sources

1. [Overview of DNP3 Protocol](https://www.dnp.org/About/Overview-of-DNP3-Protocol) (accessed 2026-10-25)
2. [IEEE SA - IEEE 1815-2012](https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/1815/5414/) (accessed 2026-10-25)

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