Smart Grid Priority Actions

Building on a century-long partnership with the electric industry, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is playing a key role in one of this generation's grand challenges—modernizing the electric power grid so that it incorporates information technology to deliver electricity efficiently, reliably, sustainably, and securely. Unlike the grid of the 20thcentury, which primarily delivered electricity in a one-way flow from generator to outlet, the modernized grid permits the two-way flow of both electricity and information.

Working with stakeholders and partners from industry, government, and academia, we've been building a solid framework and roadmap for smart grid interoperability standards. While continuing our work toward smart grid version 1.0, we are also participating in the full cycle of research, development, and innovation that will take us to smart grid 2.0, 3.0, and beyond.

Visit the NIST Smart Grid home page.

A key partner in this effort is the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP).NIST initiated the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) to support NIST in fulfilling its responsibility, under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Title XIII, Section 1305), to coordinate standards development for the smart grid. The SGIP is a vehicle for NIST to solicit input and cooperation from private and public sector stakeholders in developing the smart grid standards framework.

In late 2009, the SGIP was established as a public/private partnership that defines requirements for essential communication protocols and other common specifications and coordinates development of these standards by collaborating organizations.

In April 2013, the SGIP fully transitioned to a non-profit private-public partnership organization, SGIP 2.0, Inc., supported by industry stakeholder funding and funding provided through a cooperative agreement with NIST. NIST continues an active role in the SGIP.

One of the important ways in which SGIP addresses urgent issues is through the Priority Action Process (PAP).PAPs arise from the analysis of the applicability of standards to smart grid use cases and are targeted to resolve specific critical issues. Specifically, a PAP addresses one of the following situations:

• A gap exists, where a standard or standard extension is needed.
• An overlap exists, where two complementary standards address some information that is in common but different for the same scope of an application.

In the case of Green Button, two SGIP PAPs have played important roles:

• PAP-10: Standard Energy Usage Information(completed in 2012)
• PAP-20: Green Button Energy Services Provider Interface (begun in 2012, active)

Visit the SGIP home page.

Chris Greer
Director, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office

David Wollman
Deputy Director, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office