Smart Grid Interoperability Panel Launched; Governing Board Elected

The inaugural meeting of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP), a new forum to provide technical support to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as it coordinates standards for a modernized electric power system, elected 20 members to its governing board on Nov. 19. 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 NIST 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.

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.

“The panel will ensure that the perspectives of the many diverse constituencies—from utility to consumer and from appliance manufacturer to wind or solar farm—are represented in decision-making on standards needed to achieve the Smart Grid vision,” says George Arnold, NIST’s national coordinator for Smart Grid interoperability. “It will provide an open, consensus-based process for stakeholder participation.”

Members in 17 of the 22 SGIP stakeholder categories elected a representative to the governing board, which will prioritize the work of the SGIP and consult regularly with standards development organizations, user groups and others directly involved in standardization efforts. In addition, the entire membership voted on three at-large board members. Because of a tie, a run-off election will be held for the board seat in the stakeholder category representing “standards and specification development organizations.”

Full details, including the list of elected members of the SGIP governing board are in the NIST news release “Smart Grid Interoperability Panel Launched; Governing Board Elected.”