IEC/CIM Interoperability Testing for Meter Reading and Control Confirms Ecologic MDMS Smart Grid Readiness

Ecologic Analytics, LLC - 05.04.2010

Ecologic Analytics, a leading provider of meter data management systems (MDMS) for the Smart Grid, announced today that the Ecologic MDMS passed without exception the industry's first interoperability test of the International Electrotechnical Commission/Common Information Model (IEC/CIM) 61968 Part 9 standard. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) facilitated a series of seven rigorous tests verifying the ability of participating Smart Grid technologies to exchange and interpret data using the IEC/CIM messaging protocol between systems.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has prescribed IEC/CIM standards be used for integration of Smart Grid systems and technology components. The tests have now confirmed with leading technology suppliers both the implementation of these standards in generally available Smart Grid products and their streamlined interoperability in a scalable architecture.

"In order for utility Smart Grid initiatives to be successful, standards are essential for reducing the costs and timelines for end-to-end solution integration and life-cycle management," said Dave Hubbard, co-founder, chief technology officer for Ecologic Analytics. "We were pleased to work with other industry leaders to demonstrate alignment of our respective solutions with standards supported by NIST and required for the U.S. Department of Energy's Smart Grid Investment Grant program."

A comprehensive report will be available directly from EPRI on the Smart Grid solution suppliers participating in this testing titled, "Smart Meter Information Interoperability Test (61968-Part 9) - The power of the Common Information Model to exchange messages between back-end systems."

For each of the seven interoperability tests, the Ecologic MDMS utilized its native IEC/CIM 61968 Part 9 interfaces to send and receive meter reading, meter control, and meter event messages. These tests included message exchanges with metering, outage management and simulated customer information systems.

Test 1: End Device Events Message Generated by the Metering System

Test 2: End Device Events Message Generated by the MDMS Test 3: Unsolicited Meter Reading Message from the Metering System

Test 4: Unsolicited Meter Reading Message from the MDMS Test 5: Get Meter Readings Request with Synchronous Reply (initiated by MDMS)

Test 6: Get Meter Readings Request with Synchronous Reply (initiated by Test Stub on ESB) Test 7: End Device Control

For more information about the Ecologic MDMS, please contact Ecologic Analytics via email . For the EPRI research report expected to be released shortly, send an e-mail to askepri@epri.com.

About Ecologic Analytics

Ecologic Analytics, LLC is a leading provider of meter data management systems (MDMS) for electric, natural gas and water utilities. Ecologic Analytics offers a flexible, configurable and highly scalable enterprise software solution that receives data from any AMI/AMR system and/or manual source, supporting the dynamic operational and business processes needed for Smart Grid initiatives. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota.

« All Metering News