FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shuang Yu, Senior Manager, Solutions Marketing
+1 732-981-3424, shuang.yu@ieee.org
IEEE STANDARDS ASSOCIATION (IEEE-SA) SIGNS MEMORANDUM
OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CONSUMERS ENERGY
TO PROVIDE SYNCHROPHASOR CONFORMANCE TESTING
Consumers Energy to test IEEE C37.118.1™ compliance of synchrophasor technology
designed for helping ensure stable operations of electric power grids and avert blackouts
PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA, 21 August 2014 – IEEE, the world's largest professional
organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced that the IEEE
Standards Association (IEEE-SA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
Michigan-based Consumers Energy. The MoU supports development of a synchrophasor
conformity assessment program to provide testing of phasor measurement units’ (PMUs’)
compliance with respect to IEEE C37.118.1™ “Standard for Synchrophasor Measurements for
Power Systems.” Synchrophasors provide real-time measurement of electric power grids to help
ensure stable operations and avert blackouts.
“The signing of this memorandum with Consumers Energy represents a significant milestone
toward the establishment of a synchrophasor conformity assessment program. Consumers
Energy’s experience and technical acumen were consistent with the demands and goals of this
industry-supported synchrophasor conformity assessment testing program,” said Konstantinos
Karachalios, managing director, IEEE-SA. “One way the IEEE-SA supports industry
stakeholders throughout the standards lifecycle, even beyond development of a standard, is
with the IEEE Conformity Assessment Program (ICAP) and its globally recognized testing and
certification that drive accelerated deployment of products based on IEEE standards.”
Measurements recorded by synchrophasors include power flows, voltages, frequency and
phase angle. The North American Synchrophasor Initiative (NASPI) Report of Task Force on
Testing and Certification Final Report strongly recommends that users of synchrophasor
measurements require that the PMUs producing the measurements be certified compliant with
IEEE C37.118.1.
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“The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been a contributor to the
development of IEEE C37.118.1 standard and the synchrophasor Test Suite Specification
(TSS),” commented Gerald FitzPatrick, group leader, Quantum Measurement Division, NIST.
“NIST strongly supports the establishment of the ICAP program for PMU testing and
certification. This synchrophasor certification program, adopting the Smart Grid Interoperability
Panel’s (SGIP’s) Interoperability Process Reference Manual (IPRM), will advance our goals to
support a resilient grid that can accommodate high penetration of renewable resources and yet
maintain high reliability.”
Synchrophasor technology enables power system operators to accurately model and predict
electrical deviations in the power grid, and manufacturers are quickly developing cost-effective
PMU products to address this issue. The development of a test methodology based on the IEEE
C37.118.1 standard, TSS, is intended to assure the PMU’s claim of compliance to the standard.
The TSS was drafted by the Synchrophasor Conformity Assessment Steering Committee
(SCASC), which is comprised of technical experts from the power grid industry. The primary role
of the SCASC is to provide technical direction and guidance on the program construction.
“Key stakeholders such as utilities and manufacturers recognize and support the need for an
industry-recognized PMU conformity testing process,” commented Robert Sawyer, department
head, laboratory spokesperson, Consumers Energy. “We welcome the opportunity to
collaborate in this program, and believe we can meet and deliver the services as required by
this evolving market.”
ICAP will provide program management oversight, in addition to the development of policies
and procedures that govern the operational characteristics of a certification program. ICAP
(http://www.ieee-isto.org/icap) is a program of the IEEE Industry Standards and Technology
Organization (IEEE-ISTO). For further information on the syncrophasor conformity assessment
program, contact ICAP via email at icap-info@ieee-isto.org.
To learn more about IEEE-SA, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ieeesa, follow
us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ieeesa, connect with us on LinkedIn at
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1791118 or on the Standards Insight Blog at
http://www.standardsinsight.com.
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About the IEEE Standards Association
The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body within IEEE,
develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings
together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices
based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over
900 active standards and more than 500 standards under development. For more information
visit http://standards.ieee.org/.
About IEEE
IEEE, a large, global technical professional organization, is dedicated to advancing technology
for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology
standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide
variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to
biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at
http://www.ieee.org.
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