A major step toward a standardized format for communicating actionable information on energy consumption to U.S. households has been achieved as the SGIP Governing Board voted to accept the third set of standards to emerge from the Priority Action Plan (PAP) teams.  The NAESB Energy Usage Information seed information model is the completed output for PAP 10.  The Board’s positive vote on January 28 signifies that these standards are now recommended for inclusion on the SGIP Catalog of Standards, where they will guide the development of an interoperable Smart Grid.

Consisting of informational components that are combined together in a data model, the standard will allow utilities and customers to exchange detailed electricity usage in a consistent format.  This will enable consumers to track their electricity usage and to help them decide how to manage their energy consumption—and costs.

Without a standardized format for organizing and presenting this information, there is the danger that a confusing variety of approaches would emerge.  The resultant incompatibilities among energy management products and services could undermine gains in energy efficiency and other anticipated benefits of the Smart Grid.  

Additional standardization efforts building on the PAP 10 Energy Usage Information standard are underway.  Under the SGIP-facilitated effort titled PAP 17, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will extend the NAESB model to create a facilities data model that provides additional elements that are required for the internal systems for commercial and industrial buildings (such as heating and air-conditioning units).

Congratulations and thank you to the team members of PAP 10 for this important accomplishment.Learn more here.