Dr Aaron Snyder, Deputy Director, EnerNex of Smart Grid Labs

Knoxville, TN, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- August 16, 2012 - The contract to validate the test framework for remote smart meter firmware upgrades has been awarded to EnerNex Smart Grid Labs by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

EnerNex will provide support for the merit review criteria portion of the project, which entails evaluating the framework, writing test plans, overseeing the testing infrastructure, and providing feedback to DOE, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which developed the framework, and standards groups such as NEMA and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

“EnerNex SGL is pleased to be a member of such a highly qualified project team, and will specifically be responsible for providing support as an industry partner,” said Dr Aaron Snyder, deputy director of Smart Grid Labs. “We are pleased to work with ORNL and Itron in undertaking this project.”

As electric utilities turn to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and smart meters to promote the development and deployment of the smart grid, one aspect that can benefit from standardization is the secure, remote upgradeability of smart meters.

The draft framework, which was released last month, offers a generic set of testing criteria to help any utility determine whether its method of upgrading meters conforms with the security and functionality requirements in the National Electrical Manufacturers Association standard for smart grid upgradeability (NEMA SG-AMI 1-2009, Requirements for Smart Meter Upgradeability).