Power automation system for operating and observing an electrical power supply system comprising - electrical field devices which, on the one hand, are connected to sensors arranged at the electrical power supply system for detecting measured values and, on the other hand, to a higher-order communication bus; - at least one electrical station control device which, on the one hand, is connected to the communication bus and, on the other hand, to a higher-order control center communication link; and - at least one electrical system control center device (18a, 18b) which is connected to the control center communication link; wherein - the field devices, the at least one station control device and the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) are equipped for processing operation management data necessary for operating and observing the electrical power supply system and the communication bus and the control center communication link are equipped for transmitting the operation management data in accordance with a first communication protocol or a first data transmission service of a particular communication protocol in such a way that the operation management data are transmitted between the field devices, the at least one station control device and the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) in accordance with the first communication protocol or the first data transmission service of the particular communication protocol; wherein - the field devices, the at least one station control device, the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) are equipped for processing electrical power quality data specifying the electrical power quality of the electrical power supply system; characterized in that - the communication bus and the control center communication link are equipped for transmitting the electrical power quality data in accordance with a second communication protocol, which is different from the first communication protocol, or a second data transmission service of the particular communication protocol which is different from the first data transmission service, in such a way that the electrical power quality data are transmitted between the field devices, the at least one station control device and the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) in accordance with the second communication protocol or the second data transmission service of the particular communication protocol. - electrical field devices which, on the one hand, are connected to sensors arranged at the electrical power supply system for detecting measured values and, on the other hand, to a higher-order communication bus; - at least one electrical station control device which, on the one hand, is connected to the communication bus and, on the other hand, to a higher-order control center communication link; and - at least one electrical system control center device (18a, 18b) which is connected to the control center communication link; wherein - the field devices, the at least one station control device and the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) are equipped for processing operation management data necessary for operating and observing the electrical power supply system and the communication bus and the control center communication link are equipped for transmitting the operation management data in accordance with a first communication protocol or a first data transmission service of a particular communication protocol in such a way that the operation management data are transmitted between the field devices, the at least one station control device and the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) in accordance with the first communication protocol or the first data transmission service of the particular communication protocol; wherein - the field devices, the at least one station control device, the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) are equipped for processing electrical power quality data specifying the electrical power quality of the electrical power supply system; characterized in that - the communication bus and the control center communication link are equipped for transmitting the electrical power quality data in accordance with a second communication protocol, which is different from the first communication protocol, or a second data transmission service of the particular communication protocol which is different from the first data transmission service, in such a way that the electrical power quality data are transmitted between the field devices, the at least one station control device and the at least one system control center device (18a, 18b) in accordance with the second communication protocol or the second data transmission service of the particular communication protocol.