IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)

White Paper
IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)
Introduction
3
The drivers
3
Towards pan-European standardisation
3
From standards to interoperability
4
The IDIS Association
6
Outlook
7
2
IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)
3
With the extension of smart metering to smart grids
and smart homes, interoperability is fast becoming
the crucial factor to secure investment. Landis+Gyr is
proactively supporting international standardisation
initiatives, thereby forming the basis for interoperable
smart products. With the establishment of the
Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation (IDIS)
association, Landis+Gyr and other members commit
themselves to the implementation of standards into
interoperable solutions.
Introduction
The industry movement towards smart grids is evolving
in phases. The frst step, implementing smart metering,
is taking place in many European countries, along with
a movement from traditional electricity measurement
to multi-energy metering. Development towards smart
grids will also see smart metering expand into network
management. Furthermore, smart metering is reaching
consumers as personal energy management tools
are bringing the power of energy optimisation into the
home.
Technically, the building blocks for a smart grid are
already available. However, in order to achieve smart
grid functionality, smart metering needs to be rolled
out frst. Crucially, as smart metering expands to new
markets, the industry must provide standards that
enable true interoperability, not only for electricity but
also for gas, heat/cold and water metering.
The drivers
The introduction of smart metering in Europe is driven
by the introduction of the 3rd Energy package requiring
that 80 percent of European households are equipped
with smart meters by 2020. This will affect more than
200 million metering points. Initial estimations predict
investments of more than 40 billion Euros into the
deployment of smart metering by 2020.
Availability of smart metering functionality at each end
point on the electricity distribution network provides
IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)
the technical means to gather a comprehensive set of
data on the behaviour of the medium and low voltage
distribution grid. Local smart meter interfaces to
the fnal consumer offer the chance to manage local
consumption and local electricity generation. In addition
to the communication networks that are currently being
established in order to connect metering points to
utilities IT infrastructure, the foundations are now being
laid for total automation of the electricity distribution
network including local production and consumption.
This type of upgrade towards a smart grid environment
will require much higher levels of investment than the
investments in smart metering. The fnancial justifcation
for additional investment in smart grids depends in
large part on the status of the grid infrastructure and on
local conditions. Nevertheless, it is crucial that smart
metering infrastructure supports the smooth upgrade
to smart grids today or at a later date. This goal can
only be achieved by providing interoperable interfaces
based on open, international standards between the
crucial components of the smart metering system.
The European commission has recognised the
importance of interoperability based on open
standards, and has issued mandate M/441 to the
European standardisation organisations as a result.
Towards pan-European
standardisation
That the EU commission mandates smart metering
standardisation, as well as the market potential
triggered by the 3rd energy package, has initiated
many new projects within the European standardisation
organisations. The newly established smart metering
coordination group (comp. Fig. 1) ensures that there
is no duplication of work between the different
standardisation organisations, and that the challenging
goals set by the EU commission can be met.
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Figure 1: Implementation of the smart metering man-
date M/441
The coordination group defned six additional
functionalitieswhich must be supported by European
smart metering standards as a frst priority:
1. Remote reading of metrological register(s) and
provision to designated market organisation(s)
2. Two-way communication between the metering
system and designated market organisation(s)
3. Support advanced tariffng and payment systems
4. Allow remote disablement and enablement of
supply and fow/power limitations
5. Communicating with (and where appropriate
directly controlling) individual devices within the
home/building
6. Provide information via a portal/gateway to an in-
home/building display or auxiliary equipment
There is clear emphasis on smart metering and smart
home applications. The systemic benefts that are
enabled by bi-directional exchange of measured energy
data are many. Most importantly, data availability is
a pre-requisite to creating a smart grid environment
and data availability starts with smart metering.
The Standardisation organisations only provide the
framework and the process to ensure that the resulting
standards are truly open and that there are no hidden
intellectual property rights (IPRs) attached to them.
However, the actual standardisation work is performed
by the members of the working groups. Key players
contributing to the standardisation work are:
ESMIG, the European Smart Metering Industry Group
(www.esmig.eu), and
The OPENmeter project (www.openmeter.com).
Within the scope of the OPENmeter project, major
representatives of the European utilities, meter
manufacturers and the communication technology
industry develop the specifcations and standards for
smart metering.
From standards to interoperability
The mandate M/441 clearly states that the purpose of all
standardisation activities is to achieve interoperability.
Experience shows the following shortcomings of
standards:
there are typically several standards to choose from;
within a specifc standard there are usually different
options to choose from (some standards even offer
manufacturer specifc extensions)
These shortcomings do not say anything about the
quality of the standard but they instead refect the
actual situation in the market. Standards defning
solutions for well established, mature markets normally
allow fewer options, whereas standards for emerging
and evolving markets must offer more options. Despite
all these shortcomings, standards are an absolute
necessity to achieve interoperability. Only standards
issued by an offcial standardisation organisation
(e.g. Cenelec, CEN, or IEC) offer the guarantee that all
opinions were considered when defning the standard,
that the standard is available for all and that there are
no hidden IPRs attached to it. The availability of open
standards is a necessary condition to achieve
interoperability but it is not suffcient.
IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)
Interoperability can only be achieved with a
commitment to a specifc standard with a specifc
confguration of the options offered by the standard. In
the European market there are two project examples
where utilities have made this commitment to open
standards. Landis+Gyr contributes know-how and key
components to both projects:
The LINKY project in France where ERDF committed
the deployment (frst phase 300000 nodes in 2010)
of smart meters according to the existing IEC stan-
dards (i.e. IEC 62056 for the smart metering applica-
tions and the application layer and IEC 61334 for the
PLC communication). For this purpose ERDF has is-
sued the LINKY companion specifcations describing
how these standards are used and which options are
chosen. In addition, ERDF has also issued a speci-
fcation for next generation PLC technology (G3),
ftting into the existing standardisation framework
and which may be considered for future upgrades,
thereby ensuring backwards compatibility to the
existing standards.

Figure 2: Interoperable LINKY equipment based on
standards IEC 61334 (S-FSK PLC-technology) and IEC
62056 (DLMS/COSEM)

5
The PRIME project launched by Iberdrola in Spain is
based on the same upper and medium layer stan-
dards (IEC 62056, IEC61334) but uses the PRIME
OFDM PLC technology on the physical layer. Also,
PRIME technology is designed to ft into the existing
standardisation framework and may be considered
as a next generation PLC standard. Iberdrola has
started the deployment of the frst 100000 meters
conforming to these companion specifcations.
Figure 3: Interoperable PRIME meter based on the
evolving PRIME PLC-technology and standard IEC
62056 (DLMS/COSEM)
The examples above show that it is possible to
achieve interoperability based on open standards
provided that there is the necessary commitment
from the utilities to investing in it. It must be noted
that even though the companion specifcations of the
two projects differ, they are both based on the same
standards. This makes it easier to attract a variety of
manufacturers that can use many of their equipment
parts in both projects and therefore proft from
economies of scale.
The examples above illustrate that larger utilities have
the resources required to commit to interoperability.
IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)
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But what about small and medium sized utilities? Do
they have to accept the equipment optimised for one of
the big ones?
In order to meet the requests of the smaller and
medium sized utilities for interoperable equipment,
a group of manufacturers have formed the IDIS
(interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)
association. The goal is to provide truly interoperable
smart metering equipment.
The IDIS Association
In tomorrows smart world, smart meters form the
foundation of an interconnected system spanning
from smart metering to smart grids and smart home
applications. To secure the interoperability levels
required to ensure a seamless fow of data and smooth
upgrades for new applications, three smart metering
industry leaders have founded the IDIS (Interoperable
Device Interface Specifcations) Industry Association
in Zug, Switzerland, in order to make interoperability a
reality in the smart metering industry.
The IDIS association develops, maintains
and promotes publicly available technical
interoperability specifcations, known as IDIS
specifcations, based on open standards and
supports their implementation in interoperable
products. The association manages, administers and
protects the IDIS quality label and supports rigorous
interoperability testing to ensure high quality standards.
Considering the variety of technical smart metering
standards currently available, commitment to
developing interoperable products based on these
standards is crucial. Standards guarantee open
technology but they do not guarantee the availability of
products which are tested for interoperability. Therefore,
IDIS is committed to specifying how the existing
and evolving standards are used in products and to
providing the necessary testing environment required
to achieve truly interoperable products. Further, IDIS
members are committed to making interoperability
tested IDIS products available in the market.
With the establishment of the IDIS association, the
founding members are stepping on virgin soil in
the smart metering industry. However, the telecom
industry has demonstrated that it is possible to achieve
interoperability by following this path.
IDIS is an association for smart metering companies
which are committed to providing interoperable
products based on open standards. IDIS membership
is open to any legal entity providing conformance
tested IDIS equipment. Its current members include
Iskraemeco, Itron and Landis+Gyr.
The specifcation team of the IDIS association is
currently completing the detailed specifcations
for IDIS package 1 (based on secured S-FSK
PLC communication according to IEC 61334-5-1
considering the latest extensions of the DLMS User
Association), supporting the following smart metering
use cases:
Automatic meter registration and system integration
Remote tariff programming
On-demand and scheduled meter reading for elec-
tricity, gas, heat and water meters
Disconnection and reconnection of electricity and
gas supply
System wide clock synchronisation
Quality of supply supervision at end nodes of the
distribution network
Demand/load management
Remote frmware update
Restricted data access to authenticated users
Secure data exchange by enciphering sensitive infor-
mation and by authenticating the source of data



IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)
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In parallel, the IDIS team is developing the IDIS
conformance test tool which automatically executes a
comprehensive set of test cases to ensure the quality
of interoperability on all levels. Only devices passing
more than a thousand tests will be granted the IDIS
interoperability label. The specifcation and the test
tools are scheduled for release in the second half of
2010.
For more info: www.idis-association.com
Outlook
Besides driving international standardisation initiatives,
Landis+Gyr is committed to implementing standards
into interoperable products. With the founding of the
IDIS Association, Landis+Gyr has established the
required basis to provide tested-interoperability as
a key feature of the Landis+Gyr Gridstream solution
portfolio. Gridstream helps utilities maximise the
effectiveness of their energy management assets
through the seamless integration and fow of technology
and information. Whether a utility needs the latest
smart metering and network technology or personal
energy management tools, Gridstream gives access to
a complete range of advanced multi-energy products
and systems.
A truly fexible solution, Gridstream can address all of
energy needs in one complete energy management
solution. Utilities may deploy individual Landis+Gyr
products or components and integrate them into your
existing infrastructure.
With the introduction of IDIS interfaces, integration of
third party components into Gridstream becomes a
plug-and-play exercise.
About Landis+Gyr
A trusted name in energy management solutions,
Landis+Gyr operates in 30 countries across fve
continents. Landis+Gyr ranks as the worldwide leader
in electricity metering with a preeminent position in
Advanced Metering Management. Its meters and
solutions empower utilities and end-customers to
improve their energy effciency, reduce their energy
costs and contribute to a sustainable use of resources.
With a proven track record for more than a century,
its Landis+Gyrs primary goal to help utilities manage
energy better.
For more information on how you can manage
energy better please contact:
Landis+Gyr AG
Theilerstrasse 1
6301 Zug
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)41 935 6000
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.landisgyr.eu
IDIS (Interoperable Device Interface Specifcation)