Data Model
DLMS UA develops and maintains the DLMS specifications – a globally recognized suite that defines the DLMS/COSEM data model, format and application layer, enabling secure and interoperable data exchange across energy and water metering and management systems.
For more than 30 years, these telecommunication-agnostic specifications have provided a standardized and proven technical foundation for exchanging legally relevant data and for building secure, and interoperable devices and networks that operate seamlessly across manufacturers and systems.
Today, the DLMS specifications are the world’s most widely adopted data model for legally relevant information exchange, including data for billing services.
What makes us unique
The DLMS specifications ensure that metering data can be trusted, legally recognized, and securely used in digitalized transactions such as billing. Compliance with legislative requirements, including the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), guarantees that data remains accurate, authentic, and tamper-proof throughout its lifecycle.
- Ensures authenticity and integrity of data
- Provides end-to-end encryption and compliance with data protection requirements
- Fully aligned with legislative requirements
The DLMS/COSEM data model meets modern regulatory and security requirements, ensuring sensitive information remains confidential, and protected using advanced, future-ready cryptography.
- Energy-related data is classified as sensitive and protected accordingly.
- Data protection is ensured through encryption
- Crypto-agile security objects and interface classes (ICs) provide flexible management of security suites, policies, and materials.
- Digital certificates attest to the origin and conformity of devices, and are used for zero trust commissioning.
- Established security algorithms are used today, with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) readiness allowing rapid adoption without breaking backwards compatibility or affecting telecommunication independence.
DLMS specifications are developed and certified by DLMS UA through liaison agreements with key standardization organizations and in cooperation with accredited test laboratories.
- Specifications are adopted by international and regional standards organizations, including IEC, CENELEC, ANSI, AFSEC and others.
- Liaisons with major SDOs worldwide ensure that DLMS specifications stay aligned with evolving legislation and market needs.
- DLMS UA develops its own Qualification Tool and works with accredited independent test laboratories to certify products.
- Only certified products may use the DLMS certification trademarks.
DLMS specifications operate independently of telecommunication technologies, ensuring secure, reliable, and interoperable data exchange across all current and future networks.
- Security, role-based access control, rights management, metrology relevance, and data compression are all managed at the DLMS application layer combined with the DLMS/COSEM data model and are as such unaffected by the telecommunication technology used..
- Telecommunication profiles are managed and maintained in coordination with standardization organizations to guarantee compatibility and interoperability across all technology generations.
At the core of DLMS/COSEM is an evolutive object-oriented data model that provides a consistent, standardized way to represent devices, data, and functions. This approach ensures extensibility, interoperability, and long-term compatibility across all types of metering and control systems.
- Each object combines data (attributes) and functions (methods) to represent the external behavior of a device.
- New objects and attributes can be added without disrupting backwards compatibility.
- Continuously updated and refined to meet changing technical, market, and regulatory requirements
DLMS/COSEM is the only standardized interoperable evolutive legally relevant Data Model used in over 300 milion devices worldwide and supported by a robust certification program.
The specifications are organized into two main categories:
Together, these specifications ensure seamless integration, interoperability, and certification across a wide range of devices, vendors, and use cases.
Core DLMS Specifications
These define the essential technical framework for all DLMS/COSEM-based communication and modeling. Devices can be certified for compliance against the core specifications.
Generic Companion Profiles
These are a sub-set of the core specifications designed for specific use-case applications. Devices can be certified for compatibility against the GCPs.