This paper proposes an ad hoc routing algorithm to
increase link reliability in power line communications over lowtension
power grid. The algorithm assumes data concentrator
(DC) located at the distribution transformer, which is polling
meters connected to the power line and send information about
energy consumption, loading profile and any other crucial data
to the utility. The proposed algorithm is designed to keep
the required processing complexity at the meter side to the
minimum, while shifting the intelligence towards the DC. The
protocol accounts for asymmetric characteristics of the power
line channel, where some nodes could suffer very bad downlink
quality due to noise at the meter side. These nodes couldn’t
receive data sent from DC and/or other nodes and are therefore
classified as deaf nodes, although their transmission could be
received properly by adjacent nodes. Furthermore, special packet
structure is proposed to minimize algorithm overhead and packet
routing mechanism. The protocol performance is compared
against LOADng, LOADng-CTP and AODV in terms of protocol
overhead, end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio and memory
requirements.