[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 40586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16727]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 120530125-2125-01]


Draft NIST Interagency Report (NISTIR) 7823, Advanced Metering 
Infrastructure Smart Meter Upgradeability Test Framework; Request for 
Comments

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
seeks comments on Draft NISTIR 7823, Advanced Metering Infrastructure 
Smart Meter Upgradeability Test Framework (Draft NISTIR 7823). This 
draft document provides an example test framework and conformance test 
requirements for the firmware upgradeability process for the Advanced 
Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Smart Meters. The target audience for 
Draft NISTIR 7823 includes numerous stakeholders in the Smart Grid 
space, particularly customers, Smart Meter manufacturers, certifying 
bodies, test labs, and standards development organizations.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 9, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the document may be sent to: 
Information Technology Laboratory, ATTN: Michaela Iorga, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8930, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930.
    Electronic comments should be sent to: Michaela Iorga at 
[email protected], with a Subject line: NISTIR 7823 Comments
    Draft NISTIR 7823, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Smart Meter 
Upgradeability Test Framework, is available electronically from the 
NIST Web site at: http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsDrafts.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michaela Iorga, (301) 975-8431, email: 
[email protected], or Nelson Hastings, (301) 975-5237, email: 
[email protected], National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8930, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST publishes this notice to solicit 
comments on Draft NISTIR 7823, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Smart 
Meter Upgradeability Test Framework (Draft NISTIR 7823). This draft 
document proposes an example test framework and conformance test 
requirements for the firmware upgradeability process for the Advanced 
Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Smart Meters. The conformance test 
requirements in the Draft NISTIR 7823 are derived from the National 
Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Requirements for Smart 
Meter Upgradeability standard, which defines requirements for Smart 
Meter firmware upgradeability in the context of an AMI system for 
industry stakeholders such as regulators, utilities, and vendors. Draft 
NISTIR 7823 identifies test procedures that the vendors and testers can 
voluntarily use to demonstrate a system's conformance with the NEMA 
standard. The testing procedures identified as ``Required Vendor 
Information'' apply to vendors, and the procedures identified as 
``Required Test Procedures'' apply to testers.
    Draft NISTIR 7823 includes a description of conformance tests that 
apply to Smart Meters and Upgrade Management System (UMS). The 
conformance tests applicable to Smart Meters are described in the 
following sections: Section 2, the Mandatory Functional Requirements, 
Section 3, the Conditional Functional Requirements, Section 4, the 
Optional Functional Requirements, and Section 5, the Non-testable 
Functional Requirements. The conformance tests applicable to UMS are 
described in Section 6.
    The test framework identified in the Draft NISTIR 7823 is intended 
to provide objectivity and repeatability in the testing process, and to 
ensure that a consistent method is used to assess conformance with the 
NEMA Requirements for Smart Meter Upgradeability. The NEMA 
specification does not address specific details on the interfaces, 
commands, or protocols needed to achieve a firmware upgrade, nor does 
it specify how the functional and security requirements contained in 
the specification are to be implemented.
    Draft NISTIR 7823 provides a high-level overview of the test 
procedures, in addition to providing more detailed steps for conducting 
the test, reviewing test results, and producing records to assess and 
report on results of the test.
    Comments are requested on the test framework, conformance test 
requirements, and test procedures described in the document.

    Dated: July 2, 2012.
Willie E. May,
 Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-16727 Filed 7-9-12; 8:45 am]
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