Vertical Markets: Smart Grid Interoperability Panel Launched; Governing Board Elected

The inaugural meeting of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP), a new stakeholder forum to provide technical support to the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as it coordinates standards for a modernized electric power system, concluded recently with election of 20 members to its governing board.
Established by NIST with the assistance of EnerNex, under a contact enabled by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the new consensus-driven organization provides an open process for businesses and other stakeholder groups to participate in coordinating and accelerating development of standards for the evolving Smart Grid.
Starting with an initial membership of more than 370 organizations spread among 22 stakeholder categories, the SGIP has three primary functions:
•Provide technical guidance to facilitate development of standards for a secure, interoperable Smart Grid;
•Specify testing and certification requirements necessary to assess the interoperability Smart Grid-related equipment, software, and services; and
•Oversee the performance of activities intended to expedite the development of interoperability and cyber security specifications by standards development organizations.
Launched on Monday, November 16, 2009, with the membership’s ratification of the charter and by-laws, the SGIP will help NIST continue accelerated efforts to carry out responsibilities assigned to the agency by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The act calls on NIST to “coordinate the development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of smart grid devices and systems.”
NIST is now completing its Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards, Release 1.0, which has undergone public review and comment. The SGIP will further strengthen this roadmapping effort in collaboration with NIST.
Read the entire press release here.