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The Smart Grid — Building it Right the First Time

Given the substantial investment needed to build the Smart Grid, utilities should be mindful of the broad set of requirements and technical considerations it demands. The following criteria provide a framework for evaluating Smart Grid solutions:

• Demonstrated solution:

  The technology should be in use, at scale, across a variety of utilities worldwide, serving mulitiple applications and geographies.

• Performance:

  The Smart Grid requires high-performance hardware and software. The system should allow sub-four-second, on-demand meter reading and sub-one-second device signaling.

• Security:

  The network should be secure with strong cryptography and security across all layers and at every endpoint.

• Multi-purpose architecture:

  Utilities should be able to rapidly deploy Smart Grid applications such as AMI, DA, DR, and EVs.

• Standard protocols:

  Internet Protocol v6 allows for multi-vendor interoperability.

• Scalability:

  The hardware and software needs to scale to support millions of endpoints.

• Affordability:

  Costs should be comparable to legacy narrowband AMI solutions and its operational gains should make the business case for the utility.

• Self-configuring, self-healing:

  In case of a problem, the network must be able to quickly detect, respond and recover while minimizing downtime and loss.

• Managability:

  Utilities should be able to apply standard IT skill sets in managing the network and applications.

• Consumer empowerment:

  The platform should enable customers to control their usage by time of day based on their new knowledge of usage time and rates.

• Longevity:

  The technology needs to have lasting and powerful communications, ample computing and remotely upgradeable firmware.