The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a first draft of its framework and roadmap for smart grid interoperability standards. The report defines nearly 80 existing standards that can be used for smart grids now and calls for setting up 14 groups to define by the end of 2010 standards in missing areas.

The new efforts will address areas such as adapting Internet Protocol and wireless networks for electric grids as well as writing profiles for smart meters. Other groups will define electricity pricing models and ways for consumers, utilities and third parties to access information about energy usage.

"We have set very aggressive timetables to get that work done," said George Arnold, national coordinator for smart grids at NIST.

A separate NIST report outlines cyber security requirements for smart grids, outlining vulnerabilities of a digital, networked power grid. More than 200 participants worked on the report which details more than 70 different interfaces that must be secured in smart metering and distributed management systems alone.

The smart grid represents a broad and undefined network - with new vulnerabilities. Click on image to enlarge.

Both reports are now out for public review. The security report is expected to include a detailed architecture and requirements section when it is finished in March 2010.

The draft reports represent the output from a series of workshops conducted over the year to date. "There's been a real urgency to get the standards to catch up with the state of deployment of these technologies" with more than 400 proposals now vying for part of an estimated $3.9 billion in economic stimulus funds for smart grid deployments and demonstration projects.

NIST will form a permanent panel including members from utilities, vendors and consumer groups to oversee the evolution of the standards work. It is expected to post details soon for how it will organize the panel and a governing board that will supervise it.