Landis+Gyr Launches Program to Certify Interoperability of Home Area Network Devices
September 14, 2009 – Electric meters equipped with Gridstream technology use the ZigBee® Smart Energy Profile 1.0 to communicate with a variety of devices for personal energy management and demand response applications, including in-home energy displays, smart thermostats and load control devices. Going beyond basic compliance testing, Landis+Gyr’s program looks at the compatibility of the device’s applicable features and functions and its interaction with Gridstream’s operating software and Energy Service Portal.
“While any device that is compliant with the ZigBee Smart Energy Profile 1.0 will communicate with ZigBee-enabled Gridstream meters, our interoperability program is focused on functionality at a system level with the goal of delivering our utility customers the best possible user experiences for their preferred personal energy management devices,” said Michelle Mindala-Freeman, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Landis+Gyr.
Landis+Gyr has created testing procedures and is working directly with qualifying device manufacturers to assess product interoperability and performance.
“This program helps ensure Oncor customers will have products that communicate seamlessly with Landis+Gyr advanced meters now being installed across Oncor’s service territory,” said Mark Carpenter, Oncor Vice President and Chief Information Officer. ”Customers want ease of use, and these efforts address that need.”
Oncor will install close to 700,000 advanced meters by year-end and completely replace more than 3 million standard meters with advanced meters by 2012.
The interoperability program reflects Landis+Gyr’s growing involvement in enabling personal energy management and demand response solutions through the support of industry standards for home area network devices. While Landis+Gyr does not warrant other vendor’s in-home devices and in many cases cannot verify device features and functions independent of the Gridstream solution, the Landis+Gyr interoperability program is intended to provide all parties confidence that applicable device functions have passed through a baseline of system testing with the Gridstream solution.
Landis+Gyr serves on the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors and has been supportive of recent efforts to integrate IP standards and begin the process to incorporate the Smart Energy Profile for public applications into a global standard. In addition, the company is a promoter member of the IP for Smart Objects (IPSO) Alliance, a group that promotes interoperability of devices using standards and protocols developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force.
About Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr is the leading provider of integrated energy management solutions tailored to energy company needs. With a global presence and a reputation for quality and innovation, Landis+Gyr is unique in its ability to deliver true end-to-end advanced metering solutions. Today, the Company offers the broadest portfolio of products and services in the electricity metering industry, and is paving the way for the next generation of smart grid. With annualized sales of more than US$1.25 billion, Landis+Gyr operates in over 30 countries across five continents, and employs over 5,000 people with the sole mission of helping the world manage energy better. More information is available at landisgyr.com.
About Oncor
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (“Oncor”) is a regulated electricity distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to approximately 3 million homes and businesses and operating approximately 117,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by a limited number of investors (including majority owner, Energy Future Holdings Corp.), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of independent directors.
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