As the electrical power industry continues to evolve toward Smart Grid-based architectures, traditional standards bodies such as IEEE are playing a significant role in developing guidelines that will affect network and power engineers, system designers, and others involved in network deployment.
This ongoing process evolves at a rapid pace. The IEEE, for example, has more than 100 standards “relevant to the Smart Grid,” according to its web site. Existing standards that apply to the Smart Grid are being identified, while new standards are in development.
Organizations such as NEMA, ANSI and others also are actively involved in standards development for the Smart Grid.
Generally, the Smart Grid describes next-generation electrical power networks that emphasize information technology to greatly increase communication in the generation, delivery, consumption and management of power. As such, standards will focus on interoperability, security, communications protocols, transient monitoring, and much more as part of the Smart Grid initiative.
More Information
Keep up-to-date with approved and proposed IEEE standards relevant to Smart Grid here. (http://smartgrid.ieee.org/standards/ieee-approved-proposed-standards-related-to-smart-grid)
Click here for a Smart Grid conceptual model from IEEE. (http://smartgrid.ieee.org/ieee-smart-grid/smart-grid-conceptual-model)