Substations are major assets in distribution of electric power. Continuous monitoring and maintenance is essential for reliable operation of substations. Complete loss of power to a plant or laboratory leads to loss of productivity in all industrial sectors including nuclear research or plant establishments. In order to avoid this the critical plants and laboratories are fed power through redundant circuits of full capacity. This necessitates round the clock manning of substations to monitor the substation equipment and to undertake immediate restoration of power through other available redundant circuit. However, monitoring of substations continuously round the clock needs allocation of significant manpower who have to remain alert continuously without any active job assigned. The substation automation for new generation ones with digital meters, numerical relays, microprocessor releases provide solution for the same. But automation and remote monitoring of old substations in operation with conventional relays and instruments needs more planning, coordination and resolution of practical problems. This article outlines the issues tackled while designing and implementing power supply SCADA and proposing an IP based surveillance system involving spread out distribution substations of varied ages to unman these substations while keeping intact the reliability and functionality aspects.