In 2019, the first set of harmonised requirements for security certification of smart meters in Europe, developed by CEN/CENELEC/ETSI Coordination Group for Smart Meters with the support of the ESMIG. It was officially certified under Common Criteria by the Dutch certification body NSCIB. Smart meter certification performed using this protection profile by any of the certification bodies members of the SOG-IS agreement, will gain recognition across the 17 European countries that have signed that agreement.
The development of smart energy grids is dramatically changing the grid as we know it today, and traditional energy services and markets are undergoing a significant transformation. Thanks to ICT, the grid of the future becomes smarter so as to improve the reliability, security, and efficiency of the energy systems through information exchange, distributed generation, storage sources, and the active participation of the end consumer. Internet of Things (IoT) communication networks are already in use and enable modern energy services provided by grid operators and energy service companies.
With this increasingly connected environment comes the risk of vulnerabilities, which could affect the reliability of the energy system and the trust of consumers. Therefore, securing the smart grid and the related communications systems is essential for a successful energy transition. And with the smart meter being one of the key ICT components of the smart grid, ESMIG actively contributed to the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Coordination Group on Smart Meters to make sure we put in place a harmonised European approach for the security of these devices.