A framework for addressing interoperability issues

Interconnected electric power systems are composed of many businesses cooperating to deliver electricity to the consumer. Today's technology offers the ability to exchange information to enhance operational and financial effectiveness beyond the automation in present use. The incentive to exchange information electronically is a result of system and business processes that span organizations such as scheduling and coordinating electric supply and demand-side resources, detecting and correcting system problems, or providing settlement and billing information to market participants. The drivers for automating these information processes are evolving as industry policies, market rules, and technical capabilities mature. To facilitate information exchange, the GridWise (TM) Architecture Council (GWAC) promotes a collaborative path forward to advance interoperability so that organizations can better connect their inter-business processes as they see fit now and as they evolve in the future. The GWAC aims to frame the debate on interoperability to advance an overriding strategic perspective. This paper introduces a context-setting framework that organizes concepts and terminology to identify and debate interoperability, issues, articulate improvements, and prioritize and coordinate actions across the electric power community.