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/.

My wife is fond of quoting the old adage, "Patience is a virtue, find it if you can, seldom in a woman, never in a man." While I would argue that she has the precedence backwards, the point is accurate. There has been precious little patience these days; at least, so it would seem when it comes to smart control grid and smart metering projects.

Recent press reports are stressing the hard times that many "smart" technology companies have been facing as the roll out of smart grids projects have been slowed by procedural problems surrounding smart grid stimulus funding and worries over the possibility of mandated technical standards flowing from NIST's smart grid interoperability standards process. Folks, two things: (1) the wait is almost over; and (2) don't ignore the fact that many smart installations have continued throughout this process. To the former point, we know that stimulus contracts are being signed in increasing numbers. Order confirmations are not far behind. While the NIST process is not complete, it is fairly clear now where it is headed and which technologies will be anointed as winners. So, in the end, patience has been the virtue that is now being rewarded. Read more »