An electrical distribution system comprising: a plurality of electrical substations , each of said electrical substations comprising a plurality of intelligent electronic devices, lEDs , and a plurality of communications networks interconnecting the plurality of lEDs at that substation ; wherein the plurality of communications networks at the plurality of electrical substations are configured as at least one virtual network spanning multiple ones of said plurality of electrical substations , and interconnecting at least some of said lEDs within said multiple ones of said plurality of electrical substations , wherein the electrical distribution system further comprises at least a network controller , wherein the network controller is in communication with nodes on said plurality of communications networks and is operable to configure said nodes so that delays experienced by messages on said at least one virtual network are below a defined first desired delay threshold (A), wherein said messages comprise generic object oriented substation event, GOOSE, messages carried on one of said at least one virtual network , wherein said network controller is configured to measure delays experienced by messages transferred between lEDs on a virtual network , wherein the network controller is configured to calculate a new topology of the at least one virtual network if the measured delays are larger than a second delay threshold (B) being a maximum tolerable delay, and reconfigure the virtual network to ensure that delays are smaller than the first desired delay threshold (A) for each of the at least one virtual network . a plurality of electrical substations , each of said electrical substations comprising a plurality of intelligent electronic devices, lEDs , and a plurality of communications networks interconnecting the plurality of lEDs at that substation ; wherein the plurality of communications networks at the plurality of electrical substations are configured as at least one virtual network spanning multiple ones of said plurality of electrical substations , and interconnecting at least some of said lEDs within said multiple ones of said plurality of electrical substations , wherein the electrical distribution system further comprises at least a network controller , wherein the network controller is in communication with nodes on said plurality of communications networks and is operable to configure said nodes so that delays experienced by messages on said at least one virtual network are below a defined first desired delay threshold (A), wherein said messages comprise generic object oriented substation event, GOOSE, messages carried on one of said at least one virtual network , wherein said network controller is configured to measure delays experienced by messages transferred between lEDs on a virtual network , wherein the network controller is configured to calculate a new topology of the at least one virtual network if the measured delays are larger than a second delay threshold (B) being a maximum tolerable delay, and reconfigure the virtual network to ensure that delays are smaller than the first desired delay threshold (A) for each of the at least one virtual network . <EOS>