Information Protection is Top Priority

The issues of the information cryptoprotection tools (ICPT) being integrated into the metering device systems were discussed by the experts at the round-table discussion «Safe and Efficient Energy Accounting. Exchange of Experience in Introduction and Operation of Smart Energy Metering Systems».

 A pilot project for the use of the energy consumption Data Acquisition and Transmission Devices (DATD) with the installed ICPT that had been implemented in Kuban by Rosseti PJSC demonstrated successful results. This was announced by Denis Koval, Head of the Committee of INSIST ENERGO Association, Chief Design Officer of NPO MIR.

According to him, during testing it was found out that the use of the ICPT increases the data collection time by 1.9 times without the use of a digital signature and approximately by 10 times with the use thereof, however, even such values are not critical and may be considered acceptable, as it is a matter of a few seconds. ICPTs also cause more than 30% increase in traffic. Currently, we are preparing for the second stage of the pilot project in order to check up the technology and minimize the costs, Denis Koval noted.

ICPT tests conducted by Inter RAO UES appeared to be effective as well, reported Dmitry Zaretsky, General Director of NTC Nartis. Just like Mir, Nartis is a manufacturer of DATD, as well as of gateways and other equipment for power grids. Dmitry Zaretsky reminded that since 2022 all information computer complexes of an electric installation should be equipped with ICPT, however, he noted that there were ongoing discussions on whether such tools should be installed in consumers’ metering devices or it is sufficient to have them on higher system levels.

Representatives of ICPT manufacturing companies, that is Infotecs, С-Terra, Eleron, provided detailed information on the specifics of their products. The areas of concern in this field include receipt of licenses for repair of DATD with ICPT, and not only for the manufacture (in different cases different requirements are applied to personnel), insignificant device calibration interval that needs to be increased, an unsatisfying import substitution level, meaning that ICPT manufacture using domestic components is much more costly than using foreign ones, which causes rise in price of the devices. As it turned out, no ICPT unification, that was inquired by some participants of the round-table discussion, is expected: the sales companies need to select any of the licensed manufactures for making systems based on their solutions.

 

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Information Protection is Top Priority

The issues of the information cryptoprotection tools (ICPT) being integrated into the metering device systems were discussed by the experts at the round-table discussion «Safe and Efficient Energy Accounting. Exchange of Experience in Introduction and Operation of Smart Energy Metering Systems».

 A pilot project for the use of the energy consumption Data Acquisition and Transmission Devices (DATD) with the installed ICPT that had been implemented in Kuban by Rosseti PJSC demonstrated successful results. This was announced by Denis Koval, Head of the Committee of INSIST ENERGO Association, Chief Design Officer of NPO MIR.

According to him, during testing it was found out that the use of the ICPT increases the data collection time by 1.9 times without the use of a digital signature and approximately by 10 times with the use thereof, however, even such values are not critical and may be considered acceptable, as it is a matter of a few seconds. ICPTs also cause more than 30% increase in traffic. Currently, we are preparing for the second stage of the pilot project in order to check up the technology and minimize the costs, Denis Koval noted.

ICPT tests conducted by Inter RAO UES appeared to be effective as well, reported Dmitry Zaretsky, General Director of NTC Nartis. Just like Mir, Nartis is a manufacturer of DATD, as well as of gateways and other equipment for power grids. Dmitry Zaretsky reminded that since 2022 all information computer complexes of an electric installation should be equipped with ICPT, however, he noted that there were ongoing discussions on whether such tools should be installed in consumers’ metering devices or it is sufficient to have them on higher system levels.

Representatives of ICPT manufacturing companies, that is Infotecs, С-Terra, Eleron, provided detailed information on the specifics of their products. The areas of concern in this field include receipt of licenses for repair of DATD with ICPT, and not only for the manufacture (in different cases different requirements are applied to personnel), insignificant device calibration interval that needs to be increased, an unsatisfying import substitution level, meaning that ICPT manufacture using domestic components is much more costly than using foreign ones, which causes rise in price of the devices. As it turned out, no ICPT unification, that was inquired by some participants of the round-table discussion, is expected: the sales companies need to select any of the licensed manufactures for making systems based on their solutions.

 

More