IEC62056

IEC 62056 is a series of international standards for the remote reading of electricity meters, commonly referred to as Metering Communication Protocols. It was developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to facilitate interoperability between meters from different manufacturers and data loggers or other data acquisition systems. The primary goal of IEC 62056 is to define a standardized way for devices to communicate, exchange metering data, and manage these devices remotely.

The standards within the IEC 62056 series cover various aspects of meter communication. This includes defining the physical layers for communication, such as electrical interfaces and optical ports, as well as the data link and application layers. A key component of IEC 62056 is the Common Information Model (CIM), which provides a standardized object-oriented model for representing meter data and associated attributes. This model ensures that data from different meters can be interpreted consistently.

IEC 62056 is widely adopted globally and supports a range of functionalities essential for modern smart grids. These include reading active and reactive energy, voltage, current, power factor, and tamper detection events. It also supports commands for remote operations like load shedding or demand resetting. The standards are designed to be flexible and can be implemented over various communication technologies, including serial communication, power line communication, and radio frequency. Its widespread use promotes efficiency and cost savings in utility operations by enabling automated data collection and management.