ELEMENTS OF THE SMART GRID

Smart Grid Requires Utilities To Merge IT And OT Worlds

28 August 2012 (Renew Grid)

“Uncertainty as to how new information technology (IT) systems should be incorporated into network operations continues to slow the advancement of smart grid technologies and is driving the need for greater collaboration between the IT and operational technology (OT) sides of the business, according to a new report from Pike Research.

“The need to support smart meters has already driven significant change in the utility IT landscape with the introduction of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and meter data management systems (MDMS) and the replacement and upgrading of existing billing and customer information systems (CIS)…[but] the evolution of the smart grid from the initial deployment of smart meters to a dynamic, intelligent network supporting bi-directional communications between utilities and customers is only just beginning.”

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“Other focal points for IT transformation include distribution management systems (DMS) and the merging of enterprise IT and OT to improve operational efficiencies and move toward the goal of a closed-loop network management operation…[Advancements] are being driven by new application requirements such as electric vehicle charging systems, demand-side management applications and distributed generation management, including virtual power plants and microgrids…

“The worlds of IT and OT teams have historically been distinct within utilities. IT has been primarily focused on business process and customer management systems. Operational systems for managing and monitoring power networks have been the domain of operational teams…[but] the smart grid requires a more holistic view of how a utility operates at both a business and field level…[and] greater cooperation between IT and OT teams…The importance of ensuring the security of the electricity grid…cannot be underestimated…”

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