DLMS UA and EPRI Leading Energy Industry Initiative to Advance Standardization and Interoperability Efforts in the U.S.

Today, DLMS User Association (DLMS UA) announced the signature of an agreement with EPRI – an independent non-profit energy research, development, and deployment organization – to further advance industry collaboration and adoption of common standards for the digitalization of data exchange for strategic energy and water infrastructures.

This collaboration will encompass a diverse array of joint initiatives, all aimed at fortifying standardization and interoperability of energy devices, including metering products and services, that will allow North American utilities to achieve full interoperability and interchangeability of their smart metering deployments.

The first step of this collaboration involves establishing a dedicated task force, led by EPRI, to further develop DLMS UA’s smart metering generic companion profile. With contributors including leading manufacturers Honeywell, Hubbell and Itron, alongside public utilities Avangrid (and its subsidiaries), Pacific Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison, this task force is poised to accommodate the distinct requirements of the U.S. market for energy devices.

The outcome of this taskforce will mark the creation of a certification program within the U.S. Designed to facilitate manufacturers’ collaboration with public utilities, this certification program could empower them to obtain compliance and compatibility certification for their devices. The result could provide a higher degree of interoperability, regardless of the manufacturer, ultimately contributing to enhanced efficiency and dependability.

According to Ed Berost, EPRI principal technical leader, “This collaboration is a significant milestone in our efforts to assist in a standardized framework for the energy industry. It enables us to converge some of the best minds in the energy industry to address specific needs that ultimately benefit society, which is the core of EPRI’s mission.”

Sergio Lazzarotto, President & Executive Director, DLMS UA added, “We are excited to be working with EPRI to bring the benefits of the DLMS UA protocol to the U.S. market. This effort marks an exciting chapter in our quest to promote interoperability and standardization across the globe, and we look forward to collaborating with EPRI to achieve our shared goals.”