The COSEM object model, internationally standardised as IEC 62056-61 and 6-62 as well as EN 13757-1, has been developed to model a wide range of utility metering applications, for all energy types and for all application segments from highend metering to residential mass applications. The COSEM object model specifies a library of interface classes. Each interface class – currently more than 60 of them are specified – provides a set of attributes to characterise all aspects of data units of different complexity, as well as a set of methods that allow performing operations on the attributes.

 

Conformance requirements can be formulated as abstract test cases, which, when implemented in software called a Conformance Test Tool (CTT) and properly parameterised, become executable test cases.

 

Since the first Metering Europe Conference and Exhibition in Madrid in 1999, the DLMS User Association has been an active participant in and contributor to this event.

 

Distributing knowledge and information about DLMS/ COSEM and its applications is one of the important activities of the DLMS User Association. Training seminars and consultations are important tools for informing existing and potential users about the specification and latest developments. They also provide feedback on the expectations of new users and everyday experiences. These events also give great networking opportunities.

Smart metering for residential customers, driven by market liberalisation, regulatory changes, technology advancements and the potential to better control end eventually help reduce energy consumption through better information to customers, is high on the agenda of metering people worldwide. Power Line Carrier (PLC) could be the number one medium for this purpose.

The DLMS User Association is proud to celebrate its 10th birthday. Travel with us to see how during these ten years DLMS/ COSEM became a strongly established international standard for meter data exchange.

 

The growing use of DLMS/ COSEM (IEC 62056) has resulted in several questions concerning the possibility of reading meters over power lines. One of the strengths of DLMS/COSEM is that application modelling is well separated from the communication profiles. Therefore, application data can be easily transported over various media.

For the first time, the DLMS User Association participated in an event outside Europe. This was justified by the growing interest in our activities from Asia and proved to be a great success. Asian Energy Week attracted many experts, and the DLMS UA profited by:

With a growing population of DLMS/COSEM-based meters and data collection systems the issue of performance becomes important, as trading on the liberalised markets is based on the daily reading and processing of load profiles, which requires efficient handling of large amounts of data. Customers expect interoperability from DLMS/COSEM and also superior performance.

The DLMS User Association is a traditional and ardent supporter of the Metering Europe exhibition and conference, which took place this year in Berlin from 27-30 September. The Association has a booth, presented a paper, and had its General Meeting during the conference.