  Modern networks are becoming increasingly interdependent. As a prominent
example, the smart grid is an electrical grid controlled through a
communications network, which in turn is powered by the electrical grid. Such
interdependencies create new vulnerabilities and make these networks more
susceptible to failures. In particular, failures can easily spread across these
networks due to their interdependencies, possibly causing cascade effects with
a devastating impact on their functionalities.
  In this paper we focus on the interdependence between the power grid and the
communications network, and propose a novel realistic model, HINT
(Heterogeneous Interdependent NeTworks), to study the evolution of cascading
failures. Our model takes into account the heterogeneity of such networks as
well as their complex interdependencies. We compare HINT with previously
proposed models both on synthetic and real network topologies. Experimental
results show that existing models oversimplify the failure evolution and
network functionality requirements, resulting in severe underestimations of the
cascading failures.
