IEC 61968-1:2012

Application integration at electric utilities - System interfaces for distribution management - Part 1: Interface architecture and general recommendations

IEC 61968-1:2012 is the first part in a series that, taken as a whole, define interfaces for the major elements of an interface architecture for distribution management. This International Standard identifies and establishes recommendations for standard interfaces based on an Interface Reference Model (IRM). Subsequent clauses of this standard are based on each interface identified in the IRM. This set of standards is limited to the definition of interfaces. They provide for interoperability among different computer systems, platforms, and languages. Methods and technologies used to implement functionality conforming to these interfaces are recommended in IEC 61968-100. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous one:
- update of IRM table which has been out of date;
- addition of missing Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) related functions;
- alignment with newly released IEC documents;
- alignment with IEC 61968-100; update of annexes.

Intégration d'applications pour les services électriques - Interfaces système pour la gestion de distribution - Partie 1: Architecture des interfaces et recommandations générales

La CEI 61968-1:2012 est la première partie d'une série qui, prise dans son ensemble, définit les interfaces pour les éléments principaux d'une architecture d'interface de gestion de la distribution. Cette Norme Internationales identifie et établit des recommandations pour des interfaces standard basées sur un Modèle d'Interface de Référence (IRM). Les articles suivants de cette norme sont basés sur chaque interface identifiée par l'IRM. Cet ensemble de normes se limite à la définition des interfaces. Elles pourvoient à l'interopérabilité entre les différents systèmes informatiques, plates-formes, et langages. Les processus et les technologies utilisés pour mettre en application une fonctionnalité se conformant à ces interfaces sont recommandés par la CEI 61968-100. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à la précédente:
- mise à jour du tableau intitulé Modèle d'interface de référence (IRM);
- ajout des fonctions manquantes relatives à l'infrastructure de comptage avancée (AMI);
- alignement avec les documents de la CEI récemment publiés;
- alignement avec le contenu de la CEI 61968-100;
- mise à jour des annexes.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 29-Oct-2012
• ICS: 33.200 - Telecontrol. Telemetering
• Technical Committee: TC 57 - Power systems management and associated information exchange
• Drafting Committee: WG 14 - TC 57/WG 14
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 29-Apr-2020
• Completion Date: 26-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revised: IEC 61968-1:2020 - Application integration at electric utilities - System interfaces for distribution management - Part 1: Interface architecture and general recommendations
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 61968-1:2003 - Application integration at electric utilities - System interfaces for distribution management - Part 1: Interface architecture and general requirements
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Overview

IEC 61968-1:2012 is an international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that defines the interface architecture and general recommendations for system integration at electric utilities, specifically focusing on distribution management. As the foundational part of the IEC 61968 series, this standard establishes the Interface Reference Model (IRM) essential for enabling interoperability among diverse utility software systems, platforms, and programming languages.

This standard aims to streamline the integration of various distribution management applications by providing a clear and consistent framework for system interfaces. It supports electric utilities in managing and optimizing distribution networks effectively while ensuring that different components communicate reliably and securely.

Significant technical updates in this edition include the addition of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) support, updates to the IRM table, alignment with related IEC documents, and enhancements to annexes for improved guidance.

Key Topics

• Interface Reference Model (IRM): Central to IEC 61968-1, the IRM defines the major elements and their interactions within the distribution management system, establishing standardized interfaces for key business functions.

• Integration Infrastructure: Recommendations cover methodologies for requirements analysis, interface profiles, middleware services, communication protocols, and platform environments that facilitate seamless connectivity among systems.

• Information Exchange Model: The standard provides guidelines for message structure design, including request, response, event, fault, and signature messages, ensuring consistent data exchange between utility applications.

• Component Reporting and Error Handling: Although informative, this section advises on best practices for reporting components’ statuses and managing errors within integrated systems.

• Security and Authentication: Guidance on how to implement secure communication and authenticate system components safeguarding utility data and infrastructure.

• Maintenance Considerations: Addresses the importance of maintaining interfaces and integration components to ensure long-term system reliability and performance.

Applications

IEC 61968-1 is integral for utilities aiming to enhance operational efficiency through interoperable distribution management systems. Typical practical applications include:

• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Integration: Supports communication between meter data management systems and other utility applications, thus enabling smart grid functionalities.

• Distribution Network Operations: Facilitates the integration of network operation software to manage real-time data exchange and control.

• Asset and Records Management: Enables coordinated management of distribution assets by integrating enterprise asset management solutions.

• Operational Planning and Optimization: Assists in connecting planning tools with operational systems for better resource allocation and system performance.

• Customer Support Systems: Provides interfaces that streamline customer information access and service processes.

• Maintenance and Construction Coordination: Allows integration of work management systems to optimize maintenance workflows and construction projects.

Using IEC 61968-1 interfaces ensures that utilities can implement flexible, modular systems that evolve with technological advancements and regulatory requirements.

Related Standards

• IEC 61968 Series: IEC 61968-1 serves as the architectural foundation, with subsequent parts addressing specific system interfaces such as network operations (Part 3), asset management (Part 4), operational planning (Part 5), and meter reading (Part 9).

• IEC 61968-100: Recommends methods and technologies for implementing the functionalities conforming to IEC 61968 interfaces, complementing the interface definitions in Part 1.

• Common Information Model (CIM): CIM extensions defined in related parts of the IEC 61968 series form the data model basis upon which the IEC 61968-1 message structures and associations are built, enhancing data consistency across platforms.

• IEC 61970 Series: Focuses on energy management system interfaces, complementary to IEC 61968's distribution management focus.

By conforming to IEC 61968-1 and its companion standards, electric utilities can achieve interoperability and efficient integration of complex distribution management systems, ultimately supporting the modernization and smartening of grids worldwide.

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61968-1 ®
Edition 2.0 2012-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution
management –
Part 1: Interface architecture and general recommendations

Intégration d'applications pour les services électriques – Interfaces système
pour la gestion de distribution –
Partie 1: Architecture des interfaces et recommandations générales

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IEC 61968-1 ®
Edition 2.0 2012-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution

management –
Part 1: Interface architecture and general recommendations

Intégration d'applications pour les services électriques – Interfaces système

pour la gestion de distribution –

Partie 1: Architecture des interfaces et recommandations générales

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX XB
ICS 33.200 ISBN 978-2-83220-425-2

– 2 – 61968-1 © IEC:2012
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4

INTRODUCTION . 6

1 Scope . 11

2 Normative references . 11

3 Interface reference model . 11

3.1 Domain . 11

3.2 Business functions . 12
3.3 Interface reference model . 13
4 Integration infrastructure recommendations . 39
4.1 General . 39
4.2 Requirements analysis methodology . 39
5 Interface profile . 39
5.1 General . 39
5.2 Abstract components . 40
5.3 Component adapters . 41
5.4 Interface specification . 41
5.5 Middleware adapter . 41
5.6 Middleware services . 42
5.7 Communication services . 42
5.8 Platform environment . 42
6 Information exchange model . 42
6.1 General requirements . 42
6.2 Message structures . 43
6.2.1 General recommendation . 43
6.2.2 Message header . 44
6.2.3 Message type payload . 44
6.2.4 Explanation of associations . 46
6.2.5 Compliance philosophy . 47
6.2.6 Extension . 47
6.2.7 Request message . 47
6.2.8 Response message . 48

6.2.9 Event message . 48
6.2.10 Fault message . 48
6.2.11 Signature element . 49
7 Component reporting and error handling (informative) . 49
7.1 Component reporting . 49
7.2 Error message handling. 49
8 Security and authentication (informative) . 50
9 Maintenance aspects (informative) . 50
Annex A (informative) Use of IEC 61968 series of standards . 51
Annex B (informative) Inter-application integration performance considerations . 61
Annex C (informative) Views of data in a conventional electric utility . 62
Bibliography . 65

61968-1 © IEC:2012 – 3 –
Figure 1 – Distribution management with IEC 61968 compliant interface architecture . 7

Figure 2 – Example utility implementation of IEC 61968 . 9

Figure 3 – Typical functions mapped to interface reference model . 13

Figure 4 – Overview of the interface profile and corresponding subclause numbers . 40

Figure 5 – Logical view of an IEC 61968 message . 44

Figure 6 – Example of a message type payload . 45

Figure 7 – Example of how message elements are derived from the CIM . 46

Figure 8 – Navigating associations in CIM (UML notation) . 46

Figure 9 – Navigating associations in message type schemas . 47
Figure 10 – Logical view of a request message . 47
Figure 11 – Logical view of a response message . 48
Figure 12 – Logical view of an event message . 48
Figure 13 – Logical view of a fault message . 49
Figure A.1 – Process A: Application of IEC 61968 series by a utility. 52
Figure A.2 – Process B: application of IEC 61968 series by a utility . 53
Figure C.1 – Database views depend on the time and user . 63

Table 1 – Document overview for IEC 61968-1 . 10
Table 2 – The Interface Reference Model (IRM) . 15
Table A.1 – Use case template . 55
Table A.2 – Commonly used verbs . 58
Table B.1 – Typical load scenario . 61

– 4 – 61968-1 © IEC:2012
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
APPLICATION INTEGRATION AT ELECTRIC UTILITIES –

SYSTEM INTERFACES FOR DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT –

Part 1: Interface architecture and general recommendations

FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 61968-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 57: Power
systems management and associated information exchange.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2003. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) update of IRM table which has been out of date since the 1st edition;
b) addition of missing Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) related functions;
c) alignment with newly released documents from the technical committee;
d) alignment with IEC 61968-100;
e) update of annexes.
61968-1 © IEC:2012 – 5 –
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:

FDIS Report on voting
57/1272/FDIS 57/1288/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on

voting indicated in the above table.

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

A list of all parts in the IEC 61968 series, published under the general title Application
integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution management, can be found
on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct
understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a
colour printer.
– 6 – 61968-1 © IEC:2012
INTRODUCTION
IEC 61968 is a series of standards:

IEC 61968 part Title
1 Interface architecture and general recommendations

2 Glossary
3 Interface for network operation

4 Interface for records and asset management

5 Interface standard for operational planning and optimisation
6 Interface for maintenance and construction
7 Interface standard for network extension planning
8 Interface standard for customer support
9 Interface for meter reading and control
11 Common information model (CIM) extensions for distribution
13 CIM RDF model exchange format for distribution
100 Implementation profiles
The IEC 61968 series is intended to facilitate inter-application integration, as opposed to
intra-application integration of the various distributed software application systems supporting
the management of utility electrical distribution networks. Intra-application integration is aimed
at programs in the same application system, usually communicating with each other using
middleware that is embedded in their underlying runtime environment. Additionally the intra-
application integration tends to be optimized for close, real-time, synchronous connections
and interactive request/reply or conversation communication models. IEC 61968 series by
contrast, is intended to support the inter-application integration of a utility enterprise that
needs to connect disparate applications that are already built or new (legacy or purchased
applications) each supported by dissimilar runtime environments. Therefore, IEC 61968 series
is relevant to loosely coupled applications with more heterogeneity in languages, operating
systems, protocols, and management tools. IEC 61968 series is intended to support
applications that need to exchange data on an event driven basis. IEC 61968 series is also
intended to be implemented with middleware services that broker messages among
applications and complementing, but not replacing, utility data warehouses, database
gateways, and operational stores.

———————
Under consideration.
Under consideration.
Under consideration.
Under consideration.
Under consideration.
61968-1 © IEC:2012 – 7 –
IEC  1963/12
Figure 1 – Distribution management with IEC 61968 compliant interface architecture
Figure 1 clarifies the scope of IEC 61968-1 graphically in terms of business functions and
shows distribution management with IEC 61968 compliant interface architecture.
As used in IEC 61968 series, distribution management consists of various distributed
application components for the utility to manage electrical distribution networks. These
capabilities include monitoring and control of equipment for power delivery, management
processes to ensure system reliability, voltage management, demand-side management,
outage management, work management, automated mapping and facilities management. The
distribution management system could also be integrated with premise area networks (PAN)
through an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. Standard interfaces are to be
defined for each class of applications identified in Clause 3, Interface Reference Model (IRM),
except for those in the group EXT (External to DMS – distribution management system).
In the distribution management domain it is important to keep in mind the basic meaning of
the following terms:
• management: effective regulation and direction;
• automation: working without human participation in accordance with pre-defined rule sets;
• system: a set of organized operations working to support a particular activity (set of
applications). Generally, a system in the context of this work is a computer based
technology.
In the world of integrated systems, systems can also be a subset of a larger system, a system
of systems or a set of federated systems. A system composed of coordinating subsystems
may support activities more efficiently than the subsystems operating independently.
As the size of an organisation increases so does the complexity of the tasks and information
exchange associated with the tasks. Furthermore, the deeper the data structure is within a
system the less transparent it is to the end user. This suggests the need for data stewardship
to avoid:
• errors arising from multiple points of data entry;

– 8 – 61968-1 © IEC:2012
• lack of consistency with software interfaces;

• expensive changes with new or upgraded software;

• loss of governance of authorised data.

The standardisation of data facilitates the reduction of errors, reduced time for data entry, and
improved process control.
IEC 61968 series recommends that the semantics (domain model) of system interfaces of a
compliant utility inter-application infrastructure be defined using Unified Modelling Language
(UML).
The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a data format for structured document interchange
particularly on the Internet. One of its primary uses is information exchange between different
and potentially incompatible computer systems. XML is thus recommended to define
grammar/syntax (profiles) of a compliant utility inter-application infrastructure.
Where applicable, IEC 61968-3 to -9 and -13 of this standard will define the information
recommended for ‘message payloads’. Message Payloads will be formatted using XML, with
structures defined using XML Schema (IEC 61968-3 to -9) or RDF Schema (IEC 61968-13)
with the intent that these payloads can be loaded on to messages of various messaging
transports, such as SOAP, JMS, RESTful HTTP, or Web Services (WS). It is the intent of
IEC 61968 series to be leveraged by Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) and to encourage
the usage of Enterprise Service Buses (ESB). In the future, it is possible that payload formats
other than XML could be officially adopted by IEC 61968 series for specific parts or
information exchanges.
Communication between application components of the IRM requires compatibility on two
levels:
• message formats and protocols;
• message contents are mutually understood, including application-level issues of message
layout and semantics.
Clause 5 defines abstract middleware services recommended to support communication
between the applications defined in the IRM. These services are intended to be deployed,
with little additional software required, by mapping them to commonly available services from
various messaging technologies including Web services (WS-*) and middleware such as
Message Brokers, Message Oriented Middleware (MOM), Message-Queuing Middleware
(MQM), and Enterprise Service Buses (ESB). Clause 5 is organized as follows:
• Subclause 5.1 provides overview of interface profile.

• Subclause 5.2 identifies general recommendations of the applications identified in the IRM.
• Sub-clause 5.3 describes component adapters.
• Subclause 5.4 describes interface specification recommendations.
• Subclause 5.5 describes how information exchange services may either be supported
directly by middleware or that software may be required to map (adapt) the utility’s
middleware services to the standard information exchange services.
• Subclauses 5.6 to 5.8 describe environmental recommendations for information exchange.
An example of a typical utility’s implementation of IEC 61968 series is provided in Figure 2. In
this example, the utility has used interface adapters as a means to integrate many of its
legacy systems with other application systems that are IEC 61968 compliant. Note those
legacy systems and IEC 61968 compliant systems both continue to use proprietary integration
techniques among their internal applications; only information that needs to be exchanged
among applications at the utility enterprise level is expected to use IEC 61968 interface
services.
61968-1 © IEC:2012 – 9 –
For purposes of this example, it is assumed that the utility’s Outage Management System

(OMS) already has the capability to issue controls to and gather device states from the

Distribution Automation system. As it is working acceptably for the utility, this interface does

not need to be changed. However, because other applications need to be notified when

distribution devices change state, the Distribution Automation system publishes state changes

through middleware services. Another benefit of publishing events is that they can be

recorded by an event history application in a data store; this data can then be used in the
generation of various types of reports. As much of the information exchanged among these

systems is useful for management decision support, a data warehouse application has also

been connected to the IEC 61968 middleware services so that it may receive published

information.
IEC  1964/12
Figure 2 – Example utility implementation of IEC 61968
The organization of IEC 61968-1 is described in Table 1.

– 10 – 61968-1 © IEC:2012
Table 1 – Document overview for IEC 61968-1

Clause Title Purpose
1. Scope Scope of IEC 61968-1.

2. Normative references Documents that contain provisions which, through reference in this text,

constitute provisions of this International Standard.

3. Interface reference The domain relevant to IEC 61968 series is described. For each relevant
model business function, a list of abstract components is provided, which is
described by the functions performed by the component. Parts IEC 61968-

3 to -9 define interfaces for these abstract components.

4. Integration infrastructure Utility inter-application infrastructure recommendations to integrate

recommendations components distributed throughout the enterprise.
5. Interface profile Utility inter-application integration environmental requirements are
described. Abstract message passing services are defined and are
available for applications to communicate information to other applications,
including publish and subscribe services.
6. Information exchange Requirements and recommendations are provided for information
model exchange between applications/functions listed in the IRM.

7. Component reporting Recommendations for audit trails and error message handling
and error handling authentication necessary to support utility inter-application integration are
described.
8. Security and Recommendations for security and authentication necessary to support
authentication utility inter-application integration are described.
9. Maintenance aspects General maintenance recommendations are specified.
Informative Use of IEC 61968 series The methodology used to determine interface architecture
Annex A recommendations for utility inter-application integration is described.
Informative Inter-application Some typical performance recommendations necessary to support utility
Annex B integration performance inter-application integration are described. These recommendations are of
considerations a general nature as specific implementation requirements will vary by
utility.
Informative Views of data in a This annex describes some of the underlying principles of defining the
Annex C conventional electric reference data dictionary of IEC 61968-11.
utility
61968-1 © IEC:2012 – 11 –
APPLICATION INTEGRATION AT ELECTRIC UTILITIES –

SYSTEM INTERFACES FOR DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT –

Part 1: Interface architecture and general recommendations

1 Scope
This Part of IEC 61968 series, is the first in a series that, taken as a whole, define interfaces

for the major elements of an interface architecture for distribution management.
This International Standard identifies and establishes recommendations for standard
interfaces based on an Interface Reference Model (IRM). Subsequent clauses of this standard
are based on each interface identified in the IRM. This set of standards is limited to the
definition of interfaces. They provide for interoperability among different computer systems,
platforms, and languages. Methods and technologies used to implement functionality
conforming to these interfaces are recommended in IEC 61968-100.
As used in IEC 61968, distribution management consists of various distributed application
components for the utility to manage electrical distribution networks. These capabilities
include monitoring and control of equipment for power delivery, management processes to
ensure system reliability, voltage management, demand-side management, outage
management, work management, automated mapping, facilities management, and metering.
The IRM is specified in Clause 3.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 61968-3, Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution
management – Part 3: Interface for network operation
IEC 61968-9, Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution
management – Part 9: Interface for meter reading and
IEC 61968-11, Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution

management – Part 11: Common information model (CIM) extensions for distribution
IEC 61968-13, Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution
management – Part 13: CIM RDF model exchange format for distribution
IEC 61970-301, Energy management system application program interface (EMS-API) – Part
301: Common information model (CIM) base
3 Interface reference model
3.1 Domain
Within this standard, the distribution management domain covers all aspects of management
of utility electrical distribution networks. A distribution utility will have some or all of the
responsibility for monitoring and control of equipment for power delivery, management
processes to ensure system reliability, voltage management, demand-side management,

– 12 – 61968-1 © IEC:2012
outage management, work management, automated mapping, facilities management, and

metering.
The distribution management domain may be organised as two inter-related types of business,

electricity supply and electricity distribution. Electricity supply is concerned with the purchase

of electrical energy from bulk producers for sale to individual consumers. Electricity

distribution covers the management of the physical distribution network that connects the

producers and consumers. In some countries, the responsibility of organisations may be

legally restricted and certain sections of the standard will be inapplicable.

A utility domain includes the software systems, equipment, staff and consumers of a single

utility organisation, which could be a company or a department. It is expected that within each
utility domain, the systems, equipment, staff and consumers can be uniquely identified. When
information is exchanged between two utility domains, then identifiers may need extending
with the identity of the utility organisation in order to guarantee global uniqueness.
3.2 Business functions
Various departments within a utility co-operate to perform the operation and management of a
power distribution network; this activity is termed distribution management. Other departments
within the organisation may support the distribution management function without having
is
direct responsibility for the distribution network. This segmentation by business function
provided in the Interface Reference Model (IRM), which is described in detail in 3.3.
The use of a business-related model should ensure independence from vendor-produced
system solutions. It is an important test of the viability of this standard that the IRM be
recognisable to utility staff as a description of their own distribution network operation and
management.
Major utility business functions and sub-functions of the IRM are shown in Figure 3.

———————
The work of the CIRED Working Group on Distribution Automation, published in 1996, is fully acknowledged in
the segmentation.
61968-1 © IEC:2012 – 13 –
Maintenance and
Operational Planning
Network Operations Records & Asset
Construction
Management & Optimisation
(NO) – IEC 61968-3
(MC) – IEC 61968-6
(OP) – IEC 61968-5
(AM) – IEC 61968-4
Network Operations Network Control Maintenance &
Substation & Network
Monitoring (NMON) Inspection (MAI)
(CTL)
Network Operation
Inventory (EINV)
Simulation (SIM)
Construction WMS (CON)
Fault Management
Operational
(FLT) Geographical
Feedback
Switch Action
Design (DGN)
Inventory (GINV)
Analysis (OFA)
Scheduling (SSC)
Operation Statistics
& Reporting (OST) Work Scheduling
General inventory
Network
Power Import
& Dispatching (SCHD)
management (GIM)
Calculations Scheduling.
Dispatcher Training
- Real Time (CLC)
& Optimization (IMP)
(TRN)
Field
Asset Investment
Recording (FRD)
Planning (AIP)
Application Integration Infrastructure
Application Integration Infrastructure
Network
Customer
Meter Reading & Control
External to DMS (EXT)
Extension
Support
(MR) – IEC 61968-9
Energy Trading
Planning Business Planning &
(CS) – IEC 61968-8
(ET) Reporting (BPR)
(NE) – IEC 61968-7 Meter Reading
Meter Data
(RMR) Management (MDM)
Retail (RET) Premises (PRM)
Network
Customer Service
Advanced Metering
Metering System
Calculations (NCLC)
(CSRV)
Sales (SAL)
Infrastructure (AMI) (MS)
Human Resources
(HR)
Construction
Trouble Call
Stakeholder
Demand Response
Meter Maintenance
Supervision (CSP)
Management (TCM)
Planning &
(DR)
(MM)
Public Information
Management (SPM)
(PI)
Project Definition Point Of Sale
Load Control Meter Data (MD)
(PRJ)
(POS)
Supply Chain &
(LDC)
Energy Service
Logistics (SC)
Provider (ESP)
Meter Operations
Premise Area
(MOP)
Network Customer Account
Premise Area
Management (ACT)
(PAN)
Network
(PAN)
Financial (FIN)
IEC  1965/12
Figure 3 – Typical functions mapped to interface reference model
3.3 Interface reference model
It is not the intention of this standard to define the applications and systems that vendors
should produce. It is expected that a concrete (physical) application will provide the
functionality of one or more abstract (logical) components as listed in this standard. These
abstract components are grouped by the business functions of the IRM.

In this standard, the term abstract component is used to refer to that portion of a software
system that supports one or more of the interfaces defined in IEC 61968-3 to 9 and 13. It
does not necessarily mean that compliant software is delivered as separate modules.
In this subclause, the definitions of business functions introduced in 3.2 are further extended
into:
• sub-business functions (second column);
• abstract components (third column).
Some abstract components may be used by several different business functions. For example,
a component like power flow can be used for network operation, short term operational
planning and optimisation, and long term network extension planning. Much of the information
exchanged for power flow purposes in each of these areas will therefore use many of the
same information exchange message types (refer to Clause 6).

– 14 – 61968-1 © IEC:2012
Applications from different vendors package the functionality of these abstract components in

different ways. To use the IEC 61968 services, each application shall support one or more of

the interfaces for the abstract components.

IEC 61968-1 describes infrastructure services common to all abstract components whilst

IEC 61968-3 to 9 and 13 define the details of the information exchanged for specific types of

abstract component.
IEC 61968 series defines that:

a) an inter-application infrastructure is compliant if it supplies services defined in IEC 61968-

1 to support at least two applications with interfaces compliant to clauses of IEC 61968-3
to -9 and IEC 61968-13;
b) an application interface is compliant if it supports the interface standards defined in
IEC 61968-3 to 9 and 13 for the relevant abstract components defined in the Interface
Reference Model;
c) an application is only required to support interface standards of the applicable
components listed in Column 3. It is not required to support interfaces required by other
abstract components (Column 3) of the same business sub-function (Column 2) or within
the same business function (Column 1). While this standard primarily defines information
exchanged among components in different business functions, it may occasionally define
information exchanged among components within a single business function when a
strong market need for this capability has been realised.

61968-1 © IEC:2012                 – 15 –

Table 2 – The Interface Reference Model (IRM)
Business Functions Business Abstract Components Description
Sub-Functions
Network operation Network operation Provides the means for supervising main substation topology (breaker and switch state)
(NO) monitoring (NMON) and control equipment status. It also provides the utilities for handling network
connectivity and loading conditions. It also makes it possible to locate customer
telephone complaints and supervise the location of field crews.
[Refer to  Substation state supervision Provides the means for supervising main substation topology (breaker and switch state)
IEC 61968-3 and and control equipment status. This function is supported by a mimic diagram of
IEC 61968-13] substations.
Network state supervision Provides the means for handling network connectivity and loading conditions. It also
makes it possible to locate customer telephone complaints and supervise the location of
field crews.
Switching action supervision Provides a view of all incoming work on the systems. Work details are recorded for each
set of switching actions (examination of manual and remote controlled operations, work
characteristics, and crews involved in the work).
Switching pinning action Provides a view of all switching states other than the open or closed of the switch or
supervision device. For example, some utilities employ a pinning convention to denote: 1. switch held
open (Red Pin) and associated with a clearance safety document, 2. closed fused switch
involved in energized line work (Orange Pin) and associated with a Hot Line Work Permit
safety document, 3. normally open switch (Green Pin), 4. abnormally open switch (Yellow
Pin), 5. abnormally closed switch (Yellow with Green dot Pin), 6. fuse size deviation or
information (Blue Pin), 7. Out of Order or defective equipment (Brown Pin), and 8.
Transfer of Control (Pink Pin). A normally closed switch is not pinned.
Process and network data Includes the exchange of process related data as well as the sharing of network related
management data which is needed to perform different functions.
Operation data management Management of data acquired through operation (field crews, customers, scheduled and
unscheduled outages).
Regulation step supervision Provides a view for reporting the regulator tap-position. Substation regulator and pole-
mounted distribution line regulator installations will be reporting tap-position via the
“Process and network data management” abstract component.
Alarm supervision Network monitoring system where thresholds are set to indicate system failure and
response required.
Operator and event logs Operator logs capture field changes and scheduled work requiring downtimes. Events
logs capture outage and other relevant information.
Weather monitoring (lightning Allows to predict impacts on the electrical networks, especially where outages are likely
detection) to occur due to heavy storm activity. Temperature and wind speed are sometimes used to
calculate dynamic load limits on electrical network assets.

– 16 –              61968-1 © IEC:2012

Business Functions Business Abstract Components Description
Sub-Functions
Network control (CTL) Network control is achieved through decentralised control functions which need to be
coordinated at an upper level of the control hierarchy
Local automatic control functions can be performed using only local information and
which do not need knowledge of network connectivity. These functions are supported
locally by substation control equipment at substation level. Area network control functions
coordinate the local functions. These functions are operato
...