1. July 2010
Project: IEEE P Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)
Submission Title: [UTC Presentation to IEEE802]
Date Submitted: [12 July, 2010]
Source: [Klaus Bender] Company [Utilities Telecom Council]
Address [1901 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20006]
Voice:[ ], FAX: [ ],
Re: [Licensed channels for smart grid applications]
Abstract: [UTC recently surveyed utility members regarding use of radio frequencies for the smart grid and the perception of licensed versus unlicensed channels]
Purpose: [UTC supports the efforts of IEEE g but feels the inclusion of licensed channels in the standard will enable additional options for utilities to deploy the smart grid]
Notice: This document has been prepared to assist the IEEE P It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein.
Release: The contributor acknowledges and accepts that this contribution becomes the property of IEEE and may be made publicly available by P
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council

2. Utilities Telecom Council
July 2010
Utilities Telecom Council
Presentation to IEEE802 Plenary Meeting
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council

3. Utilities Telecom Council
July 2010
Utilities Telecom Council
UTC is an international trade association representing the information and communications technology (ICT) interests of electric, gas and water utilities.
Energy and water utilities face both challenges and change, during which ICT will play a critical role.
In this context, UTC’s mission is to ensure success for utility ICT professionals and their employers, technology partners, regulators, and customers. 3
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council

4. Importance of Open Standards
July 2010
Importance of Open Standards
UTC and its members acknowledge the need for open standards to smart grid deployment.
Communications standards are critical in this effort.
UTC supports IEEE’s efforts to assist in the development of smart grid standards thru the NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Roadmap process.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council

5. July 2010
Recent Member Survey
Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) conducted a survey of its core utility members, posing a series of questions related to certain technological issues and experiences that are relevant to the G standards-setting process.
111 valid (i.e. clearly identified respondents who completed more than just one or two questions)
The 111 respondents represented 82 distinct utility companies – our method allowed for individual, not corporate responses.
Among the titles of the respondents offered are:
Senior Engineer, Senior Engineering Supervisor, Senior Technology Specialist, Communications Engineer, Vice President of Engineering, GM of Engineering and so forth.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council

6. Characteristics of Respondents' Utilities
July 2010
Characteristics of Respondents' Utilities
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council

7. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
We asked the respondents to agree or disagree with the following statement: End-to-end IP connectivity is critical for future smart grid deployment. Approximately 83% of the respondents said they strongly agree or agree with this statement, while less than 5% disagree or strongly disagree.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 7
<author>, <company>

8. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
The survey asked respondents whether they agree or disagree with the following statement: Demand response, including load shed, is a critical component for our future energy strategy. Approximately 88% of the respondents either strongly agree or agree with this statement, while only about 2% disagree with the statement.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 8
<author>, <company>

9. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
The survey asked respondents to agree or disagree with the following statement: We operate a radio-based system for AMR, AMI, DA or another utility-centric activity. Around 74% of the respondents either strongly agree or agree with this statement, while 11% either disagree or strongly disagree with this statement.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 9
<author>, <company>

10. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
The survey asked respondents whether they agree or disagree with the following statement: We have experienced interference/jamming on an unlicensed radio system. Approximately 55% of the respondents strongly agree or agree with this statement, while 17% either strongly disagree or disagree with this statement.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 10
<author>, <company>

11. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
The survey asked respondents to agree or disagree with the following statement: We have experienced interference/jamming on a licensed radio system. Approximately 37% of the respondents either strongly agree or agree with this statement, while an almost equal percentage of respondents, 36%, either strongly disagree or disagree with this statement.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 11
<author>, <company>

12. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
The survey asked respondents whether they agree or disagree with the following statements: We have experienced radio penetration issues that might include radio access into vaults, high-rise buildings, basements and other situations. Around 57% of the respondents said they strongly agree or agree with this statement, while about 13% said they strongly disagree or disagree with this statement.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 12
<author>, <company>

13. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
The survey asked respondents whether they agree or disagree with the following statement: Both FCC unlicensed and licensed spectrum should be allowed as utility options in future NIST-approved (National Institutes of Standards and Technology) standards supporting smart grid applications such as IEEE G, which specifies interoperable RF communications, PHY/MAC, for the WAN/LAN. Approximately 87% of the respondents either strongly agree or agree with this statement, while only around 5% disagree with this statement.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 13
<author>, <company>

14. doc.: IEEE 802.15-<doc#>
<month year>
doc.: IEEE <doc#>
July 2010
The survey asked respondents whether they agree or disagree with the following statement: It is important to support standards that allow connection (without specialized repeaters) to hard-to-reach endpoints, such as meters in vaults, meters below grade or in high-rises, rural infrastructure and similar situations. Approximately 86% of the respondents either strongly agreed or agreed with this statement, while no respondents disagreed with this statement.
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council 14
<author>, <company>

15. UTC Approach to Standards
July 2010
UTC Approach to Standards
Concentrate on comms & IT issues
Coordinate with UTC SNC Education and Standards Committee
Webinars on standards topics
Working conference calls on issues of interest to members
Membership in SNC is free to UTC members
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council

16. Information Sources from UTC
July 2010
Information Sources from UTC
Short messaging
Twitter – UTC Linked In list – Facebook
Retweeting other posts as appropriate
Summary messages
UTC Intelligence weekly s
UTC Insight blog (
Detailed reports
Reports and analysis documents posted
Member only area of UTC web site
Klaus Bender, PE, Utilities Telecom Council