NIST has created a forum to discuss the impact of electromagnetic compatibility and interference on the operation of the smart grid. The agency states that electromagnetic disturbances and interference are two of the “…major standards-related issues and barriers impacting standardization efforts and progress toward a fully operational Smart Grid.” This forum is intended to start the discussion of how to ensure that the appropriate standards are specified or developed and then applied to ensure the Smart Grid systems are resistant to harmful electromagnetic events and at the same time do not cause interference to other systems. The site can be accessed here. Read more »

 PAP 17: Facility Smart Grid Information Standard was recently approved by the SGIP Governing Board. This new PAP will lead to development of a data model standard to enable energy consuming devices and control systems in the customer premises to manage electrical loads and generation sources in response to communication with the Smart Grid. It will also be possible to communicate information about those electrical loads to utilities, other electrical service providers, and market operators. The addition brings the total number of PAPs to 17. Several of the PAPs are near the completion of their action items. UTC tracks the progress of communications related PAPs, PAP01 (internet protocol), PAP02 (wireless communications) and PAP10 (Energy Usage Information). PAP17 was initially developed as part of PAP10 before being approved for a separate action item.  Read more »

The International Telecommunications Union has formally launched a smart grid standards focus group - FG Smart. Its first meeting will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, 14-16 June 2010. The scope of efforts includes:

* Identification of potential impacts on standards development;
* Investigation of future ITU-T study items and related actions;
* Familiarization of ITU-T and standardization communities with emerging attributes of smart grid, and
* Encouragement of collaboration between ITU-T and smart grid communities (hopefully including UTC, EUTC, UTC Canada, and APTEL).

More information is available on the web at http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/focusgroups/smart/.

The NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) is holding a conference call/meeting on Friday April 23, 2010 at 1:00 PM EDT. The SGIP oversees the completion of action items related to the Smart Grid Interoperability Roadmap. The action items are called Prior Action Plans (PAPs). Attendance is mandatory for voting members. UTC is a voting member of the SGIP.

Discussion items include bylaw changes related to intellectual property, standing committee reports and preparations for the face to face meeting in May. More information on attending the meeting is available on the SGIP web site. Read more »