Dive Summary:
- According to a Pike Research report, smart grid success will require a greater level of cooperation between information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) teams, especially when it comes to business and field level operations.
- Systems for managing and monitoring power networks have been handled by OT, but many of the benefits of smart meter deployments – such as more flexible pricing, improved customer understanding, and the deployment of new services – require a significant investment in IT.
- Security is also an important factor in determining the future of the smart grid, part of which would require an effective separation of IT and OT networks to avoid simultaneous hacking.
From the article:
Uncertainty as to how new information technology (IT) systems should be incorporated into network operations continues to slow the advancement of smart grid technologies and is driving the need for greater collaboration between the IT and operational technology (OT) sides of the business, according to a new report from Pike Research.
The need to support smart meters has already driven significant change in the utility IT landscape with the introduction of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and meter data management systems (MDMS) and the replacement and upgrading of existing billing and customer information systems (CIS). However, the report notes, the evolution of the smart grid from the initial deployment of smart meters to a dynamic, intelligent network supporting bi-directional communications between utilities and customers is only just beginning. ...
