Xtensible Solutions

IEC TC57

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the world’s leading organization for the preparation and publication of international standards for electrotechnology. The IEC Technical Committee 57, Power System Management and Associated Information Exchange, comprises industry experts from around the globe who are responsible for the development and maintenance of leading interoperability standards such as the IEC 61968/70 Common Information Model (CIM) and the IEC 61850 Substation Automation standards. Xtensible’s participating members in the IEC committees chair key working groups, prepare technical documents, and develop standards in line with the groups’ goals of efficiency in world trade and economic growth.

From Xtensible’s Greg Robinson, IEC TC57 member and System Interfaces for DMS Convener :

The IEC Common Information Model (CIM) and 61850 standards have been identified as core standards for the smart grid by national bodies of many countries around the world.  Whether a utility adheres strictly to the IEC TC57 standards or merely uses them as a starting point, technical risks can be mitigated and substantial life-cycle cost savings can be achieved through their use.

Other Xtensible involvement:

TC57, WG13, EMS Application Program Interfaces
Terry Saxton, Convener

TC57 WG14, System Interfaces for DMS
Greg Robinson, Convener
Shawn Hu, 61968-1 primary author; 61968 – 9 & 11 member
Mark Ortiz, 61968-8 member; 61968-9 member; and 61968-100 Co-Leader
Phillip Jones, member
Joe Zhou, member

TC57 WG16, Deregulated Market Communications
Harry Garton, member
Terry Saxton, member

TC57 WG19, System Architecture
Terry Saxton, 62357-1 Editor
Shawn Hu, CIM Profile TF and CIM Naming and Design Rules member

Greg Robinson, member

NIST SGIP

The NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) develops standards-based interoperability architectures and solutions involving multiple sets of standards by bringing together practicing professionals from the standards organizations identified on the NIST SG Roadmap. The SGIP provides a set of testing guidelines to help ensure that the implemented smart grid system of systems delivers the intended business functions and benefits. Xtensible’s SGIP participants are uniquely positioned to help identify applicable standards, illuminate gaps in currently available standards, and set priorities for new standardization activities of the evolving Smart Grid.

From Xtensible’s Mark Ortiz, NIST SGIP Testing and Certification Committee End-to-End Testing Chair:

There is a big challenge ahead for the SGIP Testing and Certification Committee since NIST has identified the initial list of standards for interoperability.  The Testing and Certification Committee has begun to address these challenges by developing and implementing an Interoperability Process Reference Manual and creating the right structure of working groups to focus on the necessary elements for conformance and interoperability testing.  While the challenge remains, the Testing and Certification Committee is taking steps to create the necessary elements that support the development of a comprehensive interoperability testing approach that covers the identified evolving standards and new emerging standards.

Other Xtensible Involvement:

PAP 3
Bruce Bartell, voting member

PAP 4
Bruce Bartell, voting member

PAP 9
Bruce Bartell, voting member

PAP 10
Steve Van Ausdall, editor

PAP 18 (PEV)
Wayne Dennison, member

Architecture Committee
Greg Robinson, voting member

Terry Saxton, member
Joe Zhou, member

UCAIug

UCA International Users Group works closely with the primary standards-writing organizations to enable integration through the deployment of open standards in the energy and utility industry. The UCAIug member groups, including CIM Users Group (CIMug), Open Smart Grid (OpenSG), and 61850, draw their membership from Xtensible and other experienced utility industry companies. Members of UCAIug groups endorse open and public standards in the utility industry, develop product and system testing programs, and promote the adoption of Smart Grid standards and technologies world-wide.

From Xtensible’s Terry Saxton, CIMug Co-Chair and Process WG Co-Chair:

It is important that, in addition to developing the IEC CIM standards, we are also active in the deployment of these standards by ISO/RTOs, utilities, and energy companies as well as the vendors that develop products supporting the CIM standards. The CIM Users Group provides a web site featuring utility project stories with access to the standards and CIM UML models as well as bi-annual meetings to showcase CIM-based vendor products and opportunities for networking with others using these standards to achieve the Smart Grid interoperability vision.

Other Xtensible involvement:

Systems WG
Greg Robinson, Chair
Shawn Hu, Service Definition Team Co-Chair

OpenADR TF
Bruce Bartell, Service Definition Team Technical Editor
Dave Dodson, member

OpenADE TF
Steve Van Ausdall, Co-Chair
Wayne Dennison, member

EIM TF
Greg Robinson, Vice-Chair
James Meyer, Secretary

AMI-Enterprise TF
Mark Ortiz, Co-Chair

Kyle Rainey, member
Greg Wynne, member
Joe Zhou, member

MultiSpeak

The MultiSpeak Specification is a key industry-wide standard for enterprise application interoperability in utilities. As the most widely applied de facto standard in North America, MultiSpeak is “currently in use in daily operations of more than 600 electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, municipals, and public power districts in at least 15 different countries” (Source: MultiSpeak website).

From Xtensible’s Shawn Hu, MultiSpeak group member and certified practioner:

Utilities face a wide range of challenges in their move toward Smart Grid, and a lack of interoperability between applications can lead to one big headache. MultiSpeak, one key industry standard, provides mature standardized interfaces for utilities’ enterprise integration. It specifies service interfaces for major smart grid operations such as meter reading, demand response, and much more.

NAESB

The North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) supports the development of standards in the electric power and natural gas industries, and is one of the key standards development organizations (SDOs) participating in the NIST SGIP PAP initiatives. Xtensible is proud to participate in and lead several NAESB standards committees which are paving the way toward interoperability between smart grid standards:

• PAP10 Energy Usage Information Model
• Energy Services Provider Interface (ESPI)
• Smart Grid Standards Development Committee

From Xtensible’s Steve Van Ausdall, NAESB ESPI Co-Chair:

Finalization of the NAESB ESPI specification marks an important milestone in the progression of smart grid standards. For the first time, an implementable standard that has been built through an open, consensus-based process, specifically designed to meet the needs of the community, is available. Because the standards build on commonly available tools and technologies, including W3C XML, IETF AtomPub and OAuth, as well as the IEC CIM-based PAP10 EUI model, it is possible to develop low-cost and even free software to meet the needs of the interface.

Other Xtensible involvement:
Bruce Bartell, SG Standards Development Committee member

OASIS

The OASIS Technical Committees are chartered by the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) to provide interoperability standards for the areas of Demand Response, Price and Product, and Schedule. The SGIP is chartered by The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to coordinate standards development for the Smart Grid. As stated on the SGIP Home Page, “By integrating an end-to-end, advanced communications infrastructure into the electric power system, a Smart Grid can provide consumers near real-time information on their energy use, support pricing that reflects changes in supply and demand, and enable smart appliances and devices to help consumers avoid higher energy bills.”

From Xtensible’s Bruce Bartell, OASIS Energy Interoperation, Energy Market Information Exchange, and WS-Calendar technical committees member:

The OASIS Energy Interoperation Standard supports interoperability standards for dynamic pricing and demand response. The OpenADR profile of this standard provides the basis for the implementable standard published by the OpenADR Alliance.

ZigBee Alliance

The ZigBee standards are low-cost, low-power wireless mesh standards connecting a wide range of consumer and business devices. These standards were custom-designed by industry experts to meet the specific market needs of businesses and consumers. Xtensible participates in the ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 committee to further the goals of reliabily, energy efficiency, and consumer energy management.

From Xtensible’s Steve Van Ausdall, ZigBee Alliance SE 2.0 contributing editor and modeler:

In implementing the Smart Grid, it is critical to empower consumers to manage their energy usage. SEP 2.0 is refined for use in constrained devices using a REST style, to bring smart energy devices onto the internet of things and provide visibility and management capability to energy efficiency. Smart appliances and vehicles will automatically optimize their energy use by receiving grid information and coordinating with aggregators and suppliers.

Other Xtensible involvement:
Shawn Hu, SE 2.0 member and contributor; DER team member
Joe Zhou, member

OpenADR Alliance

The OpenADR Alliance facilitates the adoption of OpenADR standards through the development of a process for compliance certification as well as education, training, and promotion within the industry. OpenADR aims to provide a low-cost communications infrastructure to “improve the reliability, repeatability, robustness, and cost-effectiveness of demand response (DR) in commercial buildings” (Source: OpenADR home page). Members of the OpenADR Alliance, including Xtensible’s own Bruce Bartell, are currently coordinating with OASIS and UCAiug to further develop the OpenADR specification.

From Xtensible’s Bruce Bartell, OpenADR Alliance Technical Committee member:

The OpenADR Alliance is developing an implementable Automated Demand Response Standard based on specifications from LBNL, UCA, and NAESB and the OASIS Energy Interoperation Standard. The development and certification of an implementable standard facilitates widespread adoption of the standard through improved interoperability and reduced cost.

IEEE PES

IEEE is one of the world’s leading global standards development organizations. The IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) is a worldwide, non-profit association of more than 28,000 individuals engaged in the electric power energy industry. Their mission is to be the leading provider of scientific information on electric power and energy for the betterment of society and the preferred professional development source for their members. The scope of the Society embraces research, development, planning, design, construction, maintenance, installation, and operation of materials and power systems for the reliable usage of electric energy, including its measurement and control (Source: IEEE PES website).

From Xtensible’s Terry Saxton, IEEE Power Engineering Society (PES) – Power Systems Control Committee member and frequent panelist:

IEEE PES conferences and exhibits provide an opportunity to educate practicing electrical engineers and IT professionals on the role of CIM standards in their enterprises. Implementing the CIM allows enterprise data to be expressed in standard semantic terms, which facilitates interoperability between systems, applications, and organizations that recognize the standard model.