Recommendations to EPRI and Standards Organizations

Achieve IntelliGrid Architecture’s Long-Term Goals

The recommendations to EPRI include a specific action plan to ensure that IntelliGrid Architecture is successfully implemented. This plan proposes specific steps be taken in the following areas:

·       Contributing to standards development organizations and consortia

·       Sponsoring pilot projects and field trials

·       Developing engineering tools and notation methods

·       Encouraging the adoption of IntelliGrid Architecture

·       Initiating work to continue systems analysis of the utility industry in more detail

·       Integrating IntelliGrid Architecture with other architectures

Continually Evolve Specifications

Do not wait for standards…develop and drive them to completion!

This section contains recommendations for actions that can be taken by consortia and other industry groups. These groups are vital to create consensus on interoperability issues so that formal standards can be written. For many of these groups, they are the de facto standards organization in their area. Work on some of these items is already underway. In those cases, EPRI and other industry organizations must try to provide resources to encourage the work.

This section recommends an action plan for ensuring that an industry-level architecture can be successfully implemented. Adopting IntelliGrid Architecture will require educating the general utility populace, implementing IntelliGrid Architecture principles, developing and standardizing new needed technologies, and harmonizing those technologies that exist and presently overlap.

This section provides recommendations for contributing to standards development organizations and consortia in order to:

§       Develop missing IntelliGrid Architecture technologies

§       Harmonize overlapping technologies

§       Integrate existing technologies into IntelliGrid Architecture

§       Ensure IntelliGrid Architecture recommended technologies are all standardized

Develop Contributions to Standards Organizations and Consortia to Progress key Infrastructure Elements

Standards organizations and consortia make progress through contributions that refine the standard as a result of analysis or actual implementation. This important aspect of standards development is often overlooked in most projects that seek to implement them. As part of the IntelliGrid Project, Table 5 represents steps in this direction. These recommendations must be further developed and new recommendations added as follow-on work continues. These are some of the necessary steps to build the components of an industry-wide architecture.

In Table 5, TC is defined as Technical Committee and WG is defined as Working Group. Unless otherwise noted, all working groups cited belong to the IEC TC 57 on Power Systems. Some of this work is already underway, in which case EPRI’s roles should support the work.

Bring Forward Object Based Communications Models

Several of the recommendations listed involve the development and standardization of object models. EPRI should take the lead in encouraging and providing resources for the development of these object models, using the excellent methodology pioneered in the current EPRI DER/ADA project. This methodology covers:

§       Initial drafts of object models (using the appropriate IEC61850 and/or CIM templates) using vendor information

§       Analysis of the current and future data requirements, based on analytical studies and critical Use Cases

§       Use of these data requirements to update the draft object models

§       Mapping updated object models into software tools which conform to appropriate standards, in order to validate the object model conformance

§       Developmental laboratory tests to verify that the analytical studies have determined the sufficient set of data, which includes all necessary data items, but does not include extra or unnecessary data items

§       Field tests to verify the laboratory tests under actual conditions

§       Submittal of these vetted object models to the appropriate standards body

§       Follow through with the standards bodies to support adoption of the object models as standards

§       Support to stakeholders to ensure implementation and deployment of the standard object models

Recommendations for Continuing IntelliGrid Architecture Research

Recommendations for Smart Toolset to Maintain IntelliGrid Architecture Over Time

The previously discussed systems engineering approach has been rigorously used during the development of IntelliGrid Architecture. To deal with such an overarching architecture development, the team has adopted the Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing, ITU-T Rec. X.901 | ISO/IEC 10746-1 to ITU-T Rec. X.904 | ISO/IEC 10746-4, commonly referred to as RM-ODP standard framework as a conceptual guideline. RM-ODP provides an excellent conceptual framework that has been accepted by the Object Management Group (OMG) and others for providing a complete characterization of the enterprise.

By design, RM-ODP does not provide any notation and method; IntelliGrid Architecture team has not been able to identify suitable commercial tools that directly support its concepts. Rendering and representing architectures remains the subject of significant debate; there is no widespread consensus on how it should be approached. Therefore, a discussion on tool selection is central to architecture development.

The tools used for developing IntelliGrid Architecture framework can also be used to expand it and develop applications based on it. However, developing a smart toolset, such that it correlates, discovers, and recovers architecturally relevant solutions when provided with a new set of requirements will greatly enhance the usability of IntelliGrid Architecture. This can be based on on-going research in language processing, artificial intelligence and knowledge discovery[8]. The team recommends development of smart toolset to increase the usability and applicability of IntelliGrid Architecture.

Construction of such a toolset would encompass:

§       Absorbing the contents of the ISO2004[9] for mapping RM-ODP to UML. This would allow accommodating a deeper and emerging standard mapping to RM-ODP.

§       Revising the UML model of all import data to this extended mapping

§       Migrating IntelliGrid Architecture import and analysis tools to XML and adding some consistency validation to the word editing process (text sections and spreadsheet) -- this can include what has been done as a manual normalization process today.

§       Producing a cookbook and necessary toolset to allow IntelliGrid Architecture process of Domain Template => UML import and normalization process to be replicated by interested and independent groups.

Research the Impact of Communication Failures on Power System Design

Determine how failures in the communications system itself can impact the stability and reliability of a next generation power system that depends upon it. What are the types of failures, including equipment failures, operational failures, errors, deliberate attacks, etc.? What are the communication failure mechanisms and mitigation strategies when such failures occur? What are the impacts of the initial communication failures on power system operations? What are the impacts of the failure management strategies, such as alternate paths, failover of equipment, etc on power system operations?

Study Strategies on Managing Disparate Technology Life Cycles

Communication technologies, with life cycles varying from months to years, change far more rapidly than the power system equipment with life cycles of years to decades. Communication technologies often involve continuous version updates and software patches that may or may not be thoroughly tested – especially considering that software gets better with age. What strategies are needed to manage these disparities? How can users be sure of the degree of testing that has been performed? What degree of assurance is needed for different functions?

Research on Distributed Control Strategies

Research should be undertaken to measure the stability and effectiveness of distributed control strategies in real-time and over larger periods of time. Distributed control strategies include closed-loop local and wide area, distributed and central control concepts. No matter what the underlying communications architecture and specific technological implementation, it needs to be demonstrated that use of the IntelliGrid Architecture to achieve a variety of local and globally optimized control strategies is possible. Research must be done to identify those implementations that are feasible, stable, cost effective, and enhance rather than diminish the power system reliability – a danger if the architecture and strategies are too complex. For example, control theory needs to be extended to deal with distributed, probabilistic response functions and the relative improvement in performance based on wide-area vs. local feedback measurements. Wide-area control strategies need to be simulated and perfected off-line before they are applied on a ‘live’ power system.

Development of High-Speed Authentication/Encryption Technologies

It was suggested in Table 5 above that standards bodies consider development of encryption technologies for high-speed device to multi-device communications (as will be required for sending phasor data from one measurement site to multiple subscribing hosts). It is to be noted that although this is a goal, the required level of technology is not available today. Specifically, an encryption technology is required on a point to multi-point message that will not slow down the delivery of the message.

Migration and Maintenance of IntelliGrid Architecture Website

For IntelliGrid Architecture to have visibility, the information captured and developed during this project must be readily available to all interested parties. In addition, as the final deliverable is primarily being presented in electronic format, IntelliGrid Architecture.org website must be migrated to a final server and maintained on a consistent basis. It is a strong recommendation that this task be undertaken as soon as possible. The site should be designed for ease of navigation with links to the primary functionality of IntelliGrid Architecture being visible on the home page. Also to be included are constructs to solicit comments and easy access to the various tools that were developed during the course of the project (including a link to the Magic Draw^TM Viewer).

Develop an IntelliGrid Architecture Users Guide

Although IntelliGrid Architecture Report provides a general guideline to assist different users in utilizing IntelliGrid Architecture results (discussed earlier in this volume), a complete Users Guide could provide more details and more examples. In addition, an accompanying IntelliGrid Architecture seminar would provide individual support for different groups of users.

The IntelliGrid Architecture Users Guide would provide detailed procedures for using IntelliGrid Architecture for each of the different types of users: power system planners, project engineers, information specialists, regulators and advisors, and standards developers. It would also include extensive examples of how the main IntelliGrid Architecture deliverable could be utilized to develop concrete equipment and systems design specifications for implementations of IntelliGrid Architecture. This document would foster the necessary peer review of IntelliGrid Architecture deliverable and its implications on the design of the power system of the future. The results of such stakeholder review and comment would be used to focus and direct IntelliGrid Architecture follow on R&D that takes the next step and works to recommend a concrete set of design specifications and test implementations.

The IntelliGrid Architecture User’s Guide would be a key part of IntelliGrid Architecture workshops discussed in section 6.6.5 below.

Develop Reference Design for Advanced Distribution Automation (ADA)

Multiple projects within and outside of EPRI are underway, which involve advanced distribution automation (ADA) and other automated distribution operations (ADO). This area of utility operations, as indicated in IntelliGrid Architecture project, has become increasingly critical for future power system operations, as distributed generation becomes more widespread, market forces call for demand response capabilities, energy is becoming less easily available and therefore more expensive, and financial pressures are requiring more efficient energy transmittal operations.

At the present time, a few isolated implementations of portions of ADA are being undertaken by utilities. However, a full reference design including implementation procedures toward the distribution system of the future has not been developed. Presently, there is no consortium to address ADA; this could be resourced through EPRI.

The following steps are recommended to develop and build on a reference design for ADA.

§       Develop roadmap for ADA studies and projects toward the distribution system of the future, using expert opinion and stakeholder inputs

§       Develop the actual reference design, coordinating across groups which are involved with different aspects of ADA to work toward common goals, including utilities, vendors, integrators, regulators, etc.

§       Support ongoing studies, pilot projects, and system-wide projects involving ADA to ensure compliance with the roadmap. Some are discussed in section 6.6.4 below.

§       Support periodic updating of the ADA reference design.

Applying the IntelliGrid Architecture to Legacy Systems

The need to integrate legacy systems is far more common than building systems from scratch, and the legacy system integration process is by far more complex. The IntelliGrid Architecture discusses these integration issues, but additional Use Cases, specific application of IntelliGrid Architecture recommendations to these Use Cases, and benefit-cost analysis of these recommended technologies in different legacy systems situations are needed to provide the supplemental information for information specialists to address the problems of their own legacy systems.

Since different types of legacy systems usually present unique problems, seminar material could be developed to cover different types of legacy systems, with experts presenting these seminars to different groups.

Develop Metadata User’s Guide

One of the most challenging issues with data management is the fact that different data is needed by different applications. In addition, these needs vary from implementation to implementation, and in the same implementation over time. Using common information models and common interfaces is a major contribution to solving this problem. The technologies recommended in IntelliGrid Architecture, such as CIM, GID, and the IEC 61850 object models, provide mechanisms for self-discovery of the metadata describing the data that is available in the network. However, a User’s Guide is necessary to explain to implementers how best to make use of the metadata and self-description concepts, both to publish data and to find the data that is needed. Such a User’s Guide should explain:

·       Methodologies for categorizing data within servers

·       Techniques for making use of multiple hierarchies of data in order to determine the meaning of data that is not yet part of a common information model.

Research must be done to identify what analysis and decision support applications are required to facilitate the creation of a self-healing grid. For example, real time analysis and decision support applications that fuse data from power system security analysis with asset management applications.

These data management methodologies should be used as the basis for the intra-control center testbed project described below.

Recommendations for deployments and construction of reference implementations

Key reference designs

A reference design is a document describing the design of a system in generic terms. Multiple vendors can use this single generic design to create their own particular implementations that have value-added features but that are nevertheless compatible with each other. For instance, cell-phone vendors have produced reference designs for the next generation of phones.

The benefit of a reference design is that it reduces the time to develop and deploy a technology within an industry because the common elements of the system are only designed once. A vendor using a cell-phone reference design need not research the components necessary to make a new phone compatible with the network, but can focus on meeting specific market needs.

The IntelliGrid Architecture team recommends that power industry consortia develop reference designs in the following areas that represent new power utility applications:

·       Consumer interface, and in particular a Consumer Portal device (see next section)

·       Control and monitoring of Demand Response (Real-Time Pricing)

·       Control and monitoring of Distributed Energy Resources

·       Organization of Micro-grids

·       Energy marketing and trading

The IntelliGrid Architecture use cases captured in these areas can be used as starting points for the reference designs.

Consumer Portal

The consumer interface and the home automation portion of the power industry are in significant flux at the moment. There are a huge number of different ‘standards’ being promoted by different organizations and vendors, with the result that there is very little interoperability.

This lack of standards (or surplus of standards, depending on your point of view) is a barrier to the development of important industry applications such as real-time pricing, demand response, micro-grids, and centralized building automation.

The IntelliGrid Architecture team recommends that resolution to this problem focus around the concept of a ‘consumer portal’, also known as a gateway or aggregator. This portal would be able to convert from various technologies that are used on a customer site, to a common object model and a smaller set of technologies (or a standard link between new technologies and the internal workings of the consumer portal) that would be used to connect the portal to the utility network.

The steps in this development should be:

1.              Develop common object models for various consumer devices. These models would include objects for meters, sensors, controls, appliances, and so on, as well as an object model for the consumer portal itself.

2.              Identify and prioritize requirements for the portal itself, starting with the capability to implement the object models for a variety of devices.

3.              Work with industry consortia to select a technology subset to enable connecting the consumer side to the energy infrastructure (e.g. power line carrier technologies, XML based transactions and object models, financial transaction models, etc.)

4.              Create a reference design (see the previous section) for the portal that vendors can use as a starting point for building one. A key part of this design should be that a portal could be embodied on a number of different platforms, such as an appliance, a meter, or as a separate stand-alone device.

5.              Work with appliance vendors to develop IntelliGrid Architecture-enabled appliances, either directly or through a portal.

6.              Encourage pilot projects to demonstrate the technology.

7.              Create application notes based on the pilot projects so that subsequent projects can deploy the technology better and faster.

Recommended Field Trials and Pilot Projects

This section provides recommendations for sponsoring pilot projects and field trials in order to:

§       Illustrate key IntelliGrid Architecture architectural principles.

§       Demonstrate interoperability between IntelliGrid Architecture devices and systems.

§       Develop missing IntelliGrid Architecture technologies.

§       Develop wrappers, gateways or translators important to the success of IntelliGrid Architecture.

§       Validate IntelliGrid Architecture work in real-world environments, and provide feedback to EPRI on IntelliGrid Architecture process.

In general, IntelliGrid Architecture team recommends that EPRI and other cross-industry organizations monitor projects that are being initiated by utilities, governments, and regulators, and try to introduce IntelliGrid Architecture architectural concepts and technologies into these projects. A wide variety of such projects are being initiated in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and large-scale blackouts. Initiators include:

§       U.S. Department of Homeland Security

§       U.S. Department of Defense

§       Independent system operators

§       State research and development agencies

This section provides a summary of proposed trials and projects. Subsequent sections provide more description of the projects.

Eastern Interconnect Phasor Project EIPP

The Eastern Interconnect Phasor Project (EIPP) has as its objective the establishment of a network of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) throughout the eastern US power grid that are networked via Phasor Data Concentrators. Present implementations are based on a communication protocol developed in 1988, which was designed to enable the necessary phasor data to be exchanged on existing 4800 bps communication lines. The proposal is to work with the Standards task force of the EIPP and to recommend architecture solutions based on IntelliGrid Architecture

Utility Operations Test Bed

As the utility grid is required to be ‘highly available’, it is necessary to thoroughly test new technologies in environments that closely resemble the actual operating conditions found in the utility enterprise. To meet this requirement, the recommendation is made to create a Utility Test Bed that can simulate these environments. The test bed would be configurable and adaptable to the environment/technology under test, and to be able to simulate as many of IntelliGrid Architecture environments as possible. This recommendation should be coordinated with NERC and the U.S. Department of Energy.

DER/ADA Field Trials

In parallel with IntelliGrid Architecture, work sponsored by EPRI is ongoing to develop standard object models for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in existing and future scenarios using Advanced Distribution Automation. It is recommended that the field trials be covered by IntelliGrid Architecture umbrella, - that is, that all aspects of the field trials be viewed with regard to the overall architecture concept – and that these trials expand their scope to focus on the actual ADA functions and algorithms as well as object models. As such, consideration of interconnection with the various utility control and monitoring centers be considered.

Before executing these field trials, it is necessary to develop an Advanced Distribution Automation reference design, as discussed above in this section.

Harmonized Common Object Models

In as much as one of the primary recommendations of IntelliGrid Architecture is the use of Object Models as the common denominator in IntelliGrid Architecture profile, the harmonization of the models described in IEC 61850, 61968, and 61970 is required. To achieve this goal, coordination of this effort is suggested as a follow-on activity. This activity would entail identifying the commonalities and defining the linkages (such as the linkage between a current transformer and the measurement of a current)

IntelliGrid Architecture-based GIS/DMS Integration

Demonstrate the benefits of an IntelliGrid Architecture based architecture to perform real-time equipment monitoring when displayed in a user-friendly manner. Use a commercial GIS and existing EMS or DMS applications and connect the two based on IntelliGrid Architecture architectural principles in a demonstration of how ‘off the shelf’ applications can communicate in a standard manner, to perform asset management of primary equipment over a large geographical area. The demonstration would compare real-time equipment monitoring data with nameplate specifications, location, and network location to visually display asset status.

CEO Portal

Using the IntelliGrid Architecture and ‘recommended technologies’ list, demonstrate that one can use commercially available tools to quickly create a website that displays summarized real-time data from an IntelliGrid Architecture (object based) network, tailored to different users with different interests. Ideally display data from a number of different database technologies, historians and/or data warehouses as well as demonstrating the ease of migrating object based data into data warehouses and historians.

Standards Based Power System Risk Management

Demonstrate the benefits of performing Risk Management using in IntelliGrid Architecture based integration infrastructure. As some of the needed financial data objects do not yet exist, part of the task would be to demonstrate how new financial objects could be developed and test the process for submitting them for standardization as part of CIM or 61850.

Phasor Assisted State Estimation/State Measurement

Room for improvement exists in solving the state estimation problem. Present implementations suffer from poor solutions under lost data scenarios and ‘loosely coupled’ system topologies. Phasor assisted augmentation of State estimators has been undertaken, however, further work/migration to State Measurement is needed. A demonstration is proposed to show that synchrophasor information can be gathered from a variety of devices to augment and/or measure system state data from all desired portions of a network. Show that this leads to improved reliability in simulated emergency situations. This work would most likely require upgrading an existing utility communication network (using IntelliGrid Architecture recommended technologies) to accept higher volumes and speeds of data.

Wide Area Protection/Control (FSM Collaboration)

A major component of the Self-healing grid is the ability to dynamically protect and control the electric grid. In a follow-on effort, EPRI is sponsoring work in a Fast Simulation and Modeling (FSM) project. It is recommended that a liaison be established with the FSM project to enable assimilation of IntelliGrid Architecture concepts into the FSM work. It should be noted that IntelliGrid Architecture provides a sound starting point for requirements for the FSM function. It is expected that as FSM migrates into the demonstration phase, the improved reliability benefits from wide area protection and control will become obvious.

Cross-Organizational Trust Management

As more of the electron enterprise is incorporated into the utility communication network, the need increases to demonstrate how IntelliGrid Architecture application and security technologies can be used to permit cross-organizational control of power equipment. The proposed task would be to develop an emergency scenario requiring participation and control of the power system by multiple energy organizations, including authentication and establishing a ‘chain of trust’. Implement the scenario using IntelliGrid Architecture technologies.

Security Challenge Demonstration

Demonstrate the use of IntelliGrid Architecture security technologies to secure a particular communication link or set of environments. Identify areas requiring improvement. Build a secure system on the Utility Operations Test bed, issue a ‘hacker challenge’ and invite a NERC red team evaluation of the network.

ISO Architecture Board Liaison

During the stakeholder engagement process, it was discovered that the Independent System Operators throughout the country have established a national ‘architecture’ group that looks at communication issues throughout the ISO locations around the country. It is proposed that a liaison be established with this architecture group to provide education on the results of IntelliGrid Architecture and to provide guidance as to the application of the results. Input would be made through involvement in teleconferences as well as attendance at group meetings.

RTP Architecture Development

Many utilities, public utility commissions, and energy commissions are working toward developing a Real Time Pricing (RTP) system architectures in order to better manage the supply and demand of electricity. It is desirably that nationally, if not internationally, that a common architecture be applied to this solution. It is recommended that a ‘model’ of an RTP architecture be developed and be made generally available to the industry. In addition, there is much opportunity to bring the cross-domain concepts of IntelliGrid Architecture to bear on the creation of the ‘big picture’.

GridWise Coordination

The GridWise Alliance is a DOE sponsored effort to further the development of an architecture, similar to IntelliGrid Architecture, which provides a reference model and guidelines for stakeholder communication and decision-making. GridWise also recognizes the need for an overarching initiative to provide perspective to these efforts as contrary approaches may lead to confusion and duplication of efforts. It is proposed that tight coordination with the GridWise Architecture Board be established so that the results of IntelliGrid Architecture can provide a foundation for any architecture work that GridWise may undertake.

Recommendations for stakeholder outreach

Ongoing stakeholder outreach is critical for ensuring successful implementation and adoption of IntelliGrid Architecture. In addition to getting the end product into the hands of those who will be building equipment and systems utilizing the architecture, it is essential to extend and build upon the stakeholder outreach conducted during the requirements gathering and development phase. This is necessary to continue collecting additional use cases to support expansion of the architecture as well as ensure awareness and acceptance of it.

Conducting effective stakeholder outreach to potential implementation targets, as well as the various stakeholder publics, will facilitate adoption and implementation as well as reinforce the perceived merits and benefits of the architecture. This can help to inform and obtain support from individuals who may not be directly involved in implementation, but who can aid in getting IntelliGrid Architecture before regulators and standards making organizations.

Key goals for the ongoing stakeholder engagement process include:

§       Establish and build an IntelliGrid Architecture as a brand name within the electric power industry – e.g., ‘IntelliGrid Architecture Inside’

§       Educate audiences on what IntelliGrid Architecture is and why it is needed

§       Provide timely, accurate information on IntelliGrid Architecture development and implementation process and scope to stakeholders and other interested parties

§       Facilitate awareness of what IntelliGrid Architecture is (and what it isn’t)

§       Facilitate stakeholder awareness, understanding, and buy in of IntelliGrid Architecture

§       Bring to the table and discuss concerns and issues that audiences may have about IntelliGrid Architecture and implementing it

§       Establish dialogue and facilitate public involvement in the implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture on a national and international level and within the various stakeholder groups – utility personnel, vendors, regulators, standards making organizations

§       Provide a consistent baseline message to all the stakeholder groups and the general public

§       Facilitate the implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture within the EPRI community

§       Provide a support mechanism for implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture through training programs and ongoing support via a users group

§       Lay the basis for IntelliGrid Architecture to be incorporated into standards and regulations – ideally as a whole but probably either in pieces or as an example of best practices

Effective stakeholder outreach lays the foundation for implementing IntelliGrid Architecture out in the field. Ongoing information dissemination and education/tech transfer will reinforce stakeholder outreach conducted during the development phase and maintain support for the end product and its implementation. Targeted audiences for these efforts include:

§       Utilities: There is a definite need to educate utility employees on the vision and value of IntelliGrid Architecture; create buy-in of the concept with utility executives; and engage key employees (managers and technical leaders) regarding the architecture to facilitate its adoption and implementation.

§       Regulators and Auditors: Regulators and auditors have an interest in ensuring that power systems meet their reliability, performance, market, and financial obligations. There is a need to assist regulatory commissions in understanding the nature and need for an industry-wide architecture and the benefits of implementing IntelliGrid Architecture.

§       Vendors and Suppliers: Vendor stakeholders are interested in designing, building, integrating, and servicing products that would effectively become a part of the implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture. These individuals would be adopters of the architecture specifications and associated standards. The purpose of outreach to this audience is to raise awareness and obtain buy-in and acceptance. Many vendors participate in standards bodies and IntelliGrid Architecture must be presented in the context of building upon existing standards development work.

§       RTOs / ISOs: Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators are responsible for the real-time dynamic operation of the electric power grid. There is a need to continue outreach to gain acceptance of the scope and concepts of IntelliGrid Architecture project. This is an audience sector similar in scope and purpose to utilities.

§       Industry Groups: Industry groups include utility associations and organizations, customer representative groups, users groups, standards organizations, technology development associations, and other groups involved with energy and technologies. There is a need to build awareness and gain acceptance and support of implementation from industry groups such as the Edison Electric Institute, UCA Users Group, DNP Users Group, ModBus Users Group, NERC, GRI, APPA, ASHRAE, SEMI, 24/7 Group, etc. who represent important sectors of the energy, electric power, related and supporting industries. These groups will play a large part in generating a favorable reception to the implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture by facilitating industry sector ‘buy-in’.

§       Government Institutions: Government institutions are looking to the utility industry to develop its own solutions to the new demands of deregulation, security, and enabling technologies. The technologies need to be founded upon existing standards and industry-at-large solutions where possible, but also through the development of architectures and roadmaps that address the unique requirements of energy systems. The governmental institutions need to feel comfortable that IntelliGrid Architecture will meet the societal obligations of a reliable and safe power infrastructure, the financial obligations of a fair and strictly managed electricity market, and the security obligations for a robust and flexible information infrastructure able to meet future challenges. The goal of engaging this audience is to educate about the needs and issues of the national power grid as well as to gain acceptance of IntelliGrid Architecture from influential agencies or commissions. Government organizations are likely to become a driving force for change and thus, once educated about IntelliGrid Architecture, will push for national acceptance of the architecture.

§       End User Groups / Organizations: Direct end users include those whose jobs would be directly impacted by implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture including customer energy managers, energy services providers, and other users. Many energy consumers would fall into this category as well as building owners and consumers whose lives may be impacted by rate structures and other concepts enabled by IntelliGrid Architecture. The purpose is to inform representatives of key groups of energy users about IntelliGrid Architecture, its benefits, and how it will be implemented. Interest in IntelliGrid Architecture generated by end-users is crucial to initiating demand for the advanced end-user services that IntelliGrid Architecture can facilitate. This in turn results in vendors creating products to satisfy that demand.

§       Standards Bodies: The purpose of outreach to these groups is to gain acceptance and incorporation of IntelliGrid Architecture into current and proposed standards. Outreach to standards groups such as the IEEE, IEC, ASHRAE, NIST, and others will need to continue. These groups are positioned to provide ongoing input for refining and enhancing the architecture as well as playing a large part in facilitating industry sector ‘buy-in’. Since an ultimate goal is to standardize IntelliGrid Architecture work through one or more of these organizations, buy-in is critical to the success of the project.

§       International Community: The United States accounts for only 25% of the world market in utility spending. As such, in order to obtain world-class manufacturer buy-in, IntelliGrid Architecture needs to appeal to the larger world market. Learning from the lessons of UCA, we can draw the conclusion that overall acceptance of IntelliGrid Architecture will come only after international acceptance. To that end, it is important to engage international stakeholders in conjunction with the other category groups.

Stakeholder outreach, training and support should consist of the following components

§       Information and Promotion – to inform the overall stakeholder community about IntelliGrid Architecture, the value it provides, and how it can and will be implemented.

§       Education and Training – developing and delivering training in the development, construction, and implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture.

§       Support – developing and delivering a support mechanism, providing a distribution means and tools for implementing IntelliGrid Architecture.

Information and Promotion

The information and promotion component should consist of various communications strategies and tactics, including a rollout event, technical papers, articles, presentations, etc., to raise awareness and acceptance of IntelliGrid Architecture within the electricity industry and associate stakeholder communities. Key items include:

§       IntelliGrid Architecture Website – the collaboration web (www.iecsa.org) is already in existence and will require migration to support stakeholder engagement in the development phase An IntelliGrid Architecture website will continue to be a depository for press releases, white papers, background materials, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and other content. This material needs to remain publicly accessible (requires no user identification or password) and will be branded as a central destination where anyone can be directed for more information. Getting the site listed with the major search engines will be a key priority. The website will serve as the main avenue for support – housing the help desk/hotline and serving as the gateway for IntelliGrid Architecture users group website. The site will need to be updated to describe the final deliverables and provide a means to operate the support mechanism – hot line, FAQs, etc. Additionally, the site will serve as a depository for new use cases and implementation success stories, utilities using products that utilize IntelliGrid Architecture, etc.

§       Brochure – An overview brochure on IntelliGrid Architecture was developed to support stakeholder engagement in the development phase. This brochure could still be utilized, but an expanded brochure should be created explaining what IntelliGrid Architecture is, its scope, its benefits, how it will be implemented, and how it will be supported. This brochure could be distributed in hard copy and electronically at conferences, meetings, training events, presentations, and in person-to-person and group interactions. It will also be made available in electronic format on IntelliGrid Architecture website. There should also be an effort to develop a product explaining IntelliGrid Architecture in non-technical terms for the general public.

§       Newsletter – Develop a regularly-distributed newsletter will inform audiences about IntelliGrid Architecture, its goals, case studies of successful implementation, scheduled events (training events, annual user group conference), news, etc. The newsletter should be distributed in electronic format to individuals who sign up on IntelliGrid Architecture website, attend workshops, or who are identified as targeted audiences. A limited number of hard copies could be produced for distribution at conferences, workshops, and other appropriate forums.

§       Briefing Materials – Presentations on IntelliGrid Architecture and the process and progress of the project have already been developed. These should be revised to reflect the final deliverables and focus on implementation rather than on the development. Both short form and long form versions should be developed, as well as versions specifically targeted at various audiences – utilities, vendors, regulators, etc. A presentation describing IntelliGrid Architecture in easy to understand, non-technical terms would be useful as well.

§       Conference Presentations and Speeches – A pool of speakers consisting of key EPRI leaders and technical personnel, EPRI partners and advisers, early adopters of IntelliGrid Architecture concepts, IntelliGrid Architecture and other EPRI project contractors, and other industry experts should be identified and matched to potential speaking/presentation opportunities. A list of presentation venues running the gamut from ‘big think’ talks to technical papers should be compiled and speakers targeted at those events.

§       Articles – as with conference presentations, these would consist of ‘big think’ pieces targeted towards high-level and general audiences and technical pieces oriented towards key groups – utilities, vendors, regulators, and standards making organizations. Targeted publications range from utility and communication industry trade press to ‘op-ed’ pieces with bylines for senior EPRI management that could go into the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times. The targeted audiences for these include policy makers, utility managers, and designers/implementers.

§       Fact Sheets – these should reflect the final deliverables and address a range of topics related to particular audience groups – utilities, vendors, standards making organizations, etc. These would be posted on the website and made available at workshops, conferences, and events as well as directly to stakeholders.

§       Press Releases and Kits – There should be a concerted, aggressive process for generating and approving press releases and distributing them. Press releases could be distributed via the wire service utilized by EPRI and also sent directly to targeted media. Contacts should be made to targeted media to pitch press release and stories about IntelliGrid Architecture, especially focusing on demonstration projects and success stories.

§       Editors and writers with utility and communications industry trade publications (including websites and information services) as well as general press (particularly business or technology oriented newspapers, magazines, and broad/webcast outlets) can be a key ally in helping to implement IntelliGrid Architecture. Effective, positive coverage of IntelliGrid Architecture can aid in the implementation process and maintain a flow of information that keeps the various stakeholder groups and general audiences interested. This is particularly important given the demographic and geographic diversity of the various stakeholder groups. Also, media coverage can aid in reaching international audiences.

§       Media Events – A series of media events should be held shortly after the release of IntelliGrid Architecture. These could be held in various locations and possibly in conjunction with already scheduled industry events. The goal would be to provide a venue to reach and inform the press and the stakeholder communities.

Education and Training

A key component in implementing IntelliGrid Architecture will be the development and delivery of training programs. This will facilitate transfer of technology as well as build support for the adoption and implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture. It is recommended that there be the development, scheduling, and delivery of a series of workshops discussing the benefits and scope of IntelliGrid Architecture, the final deliverables, and how the results can be applied to new systems, legacy equipment, and the entire utility enterprise.

These workshops will range in scope and tone from high-level overview to nuts and bolts “here’s the architecture, here’s how to use it.” This should begin with the development of a series of outlines targeted towards specific audience groups, then move towards development of presentation materials, scheduling the workshops, identification of the best resources to teach the workshops, and actual conducting of the workshops.

The IntelliGrid Architecture workshops would be 1-3 days, with 1-3 speakers, depending upon the area and degree of interest. The workshops would include presentations, hands-on examples of using IntelliGrid Architecture Use Cases, hands-on examples of using the IntelliGrid Architecture, and other topics. A key component would be IntelliGrid Architecture User’s Guide, discussed above.

It is suggested that the workshops be handled using a ‘train the trainer’ approach where implementation facilitators undergo training on IntelliGrid Architecture and are then ‘certified’ to teach the workshops to others.

These workshops should be scheduled in conjunction with industry conferences and other events – especially related to the standards making organizations and conducted on both a regional basis and as requested to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to attend a workshop. In addition to in person training, there should be an effort to put together WebExÔ conferences to address audiences – primarily utilities – that have limited travel budgets.

Support

In addition to information/education and training, ongoing support will be a key component in ensuring the successful implementation of IntelliGrid Architecture. EPRI should consider a commitment to making this support available 24/7 to the various stakeholder categories. Key activities include:

§       Support Hotline and Website. An IntelliGrid Architecture Answers Hotline should be established to receive and answer questions. The hotline does not necessarily have to be a 24/7 operation, but there should be experts available to field calls and answer questions. When the line is not staffed, calls should be recorded and followed up within 24 hours. The IntelliGrid Architecture website should feature a strong support section housing the final deliverables, training materials, supplemental use cases, and a Frequently Asked Questions page that will address both technical and non-technical questions related to IntelliGrid Architecture and its implementation. The site should be accessible to registered users, who would not pay for registration. Also, as implementations are conducted and experience gained, it is important to incorporate lessons learned, new use cases, case studies, and other information into the on-line deliverables section of IntelliGrid Architecture website.

§       IntelliGrid Architecture Users Group. An IntelliGrid Architecture Users Group needs to be established and supported. This would be open to membership by any interested party, although utility, vendor, regulatory, and standards making organization personnel would be encouraged to join. The user group would maintain a website located off the main IntelliGrid Architecture website and would aid in the development and posting of FAQs, all supporting materials, and assistance with hot line questions. It is suggested that the group be governed by an advisory council of selected individuals representing key sectors – utility, vendor, government, etc. that provide direction to the group and advise on group and implementation activities. The group should have at least one meeting per year that is open to the public and feature both a technical – seminar, workshop – and administrative component targeted at discussion of implementation concerns, scheduling, etc. The advisory council and the group as a whole would provide input into development of information and education materials and the implementation process as a whole. In order to accelerate creation of IntelliGrid Architecture Users Group, it is recommended that the UCA International Users Group, as a funded and viable body, be considered as a means for making it happen.

Recommendations for integration with other architectures

It was identified in the introduction that the successful enterprise and industry-wide scope of IntelliGrid Architecture will interact with in whole or in part parallel efforts by other large stakeholder groups. Included are other key architectures in development at Federal, State and even International levels. It is essential to avoid the need for duplication and proliferation of translation layers and gateways that convergence be pursued between the energy industry and IntelliGrid Architecture, and, the following efforts.

Major architectural frameworks:

§       Federal Enterprise Architecture

§       Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DODAF)

§       State Level Architecture Developments

§       International Level Architectures

In addition, the following commercial and standards based architectural frameworks will impact products and services of use to the energy industry:

§       OMG’s Model Driven Architecture, MDA

§       ISO/IEC 10746 Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing, RM-ODP

§       Grid Computing (www.gridforum.org)