DLMS User Association (DLMS UA) and the OpenADR Alliance have announced a global liaison agreement to promote interoperable, standards-based energy data exchange at the grid edge.
This agreement will support seamless data exchange between the widely trusted and adopted DLMS/COSEM standard for secure smart meter data exchange, and OpenADR’s secure, two-way signalling for demand response and distributed energy resources (DER), and flexibility services.
As utilities modernise their grid operations and scale DER and energy flexibility programs, clearly defined interfaces between regulated utility infrastructure and dynamic home and building energy management environments are becoming essential. By connecting a standardised data model with standardised flexibility signalling, this liaison provides a foundation for scalable, interoperable implementations while preserving architectural flexibility and market choice.
With the new agreement, DLMS UA and OpenADR can exchange technical information, review and comment on draft work, set-up ad-hoc technical task forces, and co-ordinate technical activities that advance practical, interoperable, standards-based solutions for flexibility services and consumer energy insights. Both organisations will remain independently governed, preserving their respective programs and certification schemes.
“This marks an important step toward strengthening interoperability at the grid edge,” comments Sergio Lazzarotto, president of the DLMS User Association. “DLMS/COSEM provides a robust, internationally recognised data model for smart metering. By establishing a clear and standardised mapping with OpenADR, we are defining a practical interface between revenue grade metering and flexibility markets. This will enable scalable, future-ready solutions while maintaining the rigour required for regulated and metrologically relevant applications.”
Rolf Bienert, managing and technical director of the OpenADR Alliance, adds: “For the first time, this liaison will create a clear bridging option between smart metering systems and customer-owned flexibility resources. OpenADR strives to keep the customer in charge of the equipment they own and have paid for. We do however recognise the need to incorporate systems with larger consumption into a tighter control mechanism. Bridging DLMS and OpenADR strikes an excellent middle way to achieve both objectives.”