IEC 62056-6-1:2023

Overview

IEC 62056-6-1:2023 is an essential international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) within the IEC 62056 DLMS®/COSEM suite. It specifies the overall structure of the Object Identification System (OBIS) and provides detailed mapping of all commonly used data items in electricity metering equipment to unique identification codes. OBIS is critical for enabling standardized electricity metering data exchange, ensuring interoperability, and supporting the integration and analysis of measurement and configuration data across diverse metering devices. This fourth edition replaces the previous 2017 edition, incorporating new OBIS codes and technical improvements to align with evolving industry requirements.

Key Topics

• Unique Data Identification: OBIS assigns a standardized, globally unique identifier to every data item within electricity metering equipment. This includes both direct measurement values and abstract data used for configuration and diagnostic purposes.
• Code Structure with Value Groups: The OBIS code structure consists of six hierarchical value groups (A to F) that identify:
  • The type of energy or medium (e.g., electricity, gas, water)
  • The measurement or communication channel
  • The specific data item (e.g., current, voltage, power)
  • Additional processing or classification information
  • Historical data or billing-related values
• Coverage of Different Media: While primarily designed for electricity, OBIS also supports other types of energy measurement such as heat, gas, and water, by introducing medium and channel concepts for clear source identification.
• Flexibility for Manufacturers and Countries: Manufacturer, utility, consortia, and country-specific code ranges are clearly defined, supporting customization while maintaining global consistency for standard data items.
• Conformance and Interoperability: OBIS facilitates manufacturer-independent data collection, remote and local meter reading, standardized billing, and seamless data exchange between devices and systems.

Applications

IEC 62056-6-1:2023 is applicable to a wide spectrum of electricity metering and multi-utility metering devices, including:

• Smart meters (fully integrated and modular types)
• Data concentrators and aggregation units
• Tariff attachments and supplementary measurement devices
• Combined metering systems handling multiple energy types (e.g., electricity, gas, and water)

The OBIS coding system enables practical benefits, including:

• Automated Meter Reading (AMR): Accurate identification and collection of energy consumption and configuration data for billing and energy management.
• Remote Configuration and Diagnostics: Utilities can remotely access, configure, and monitor meters using standardized OBIS codes.
• Interoperability Across Systems: OBIS ensures different brands and types of meters can communicate and share data effectively, reducing integration costs and simplifying data analytics.
• Advanced Energy Analytics: Clear and precise identification of data points supports deeper energy consumption analysis, load management, and smart grid applications.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adoption of OBIS supports conformance with national and international data exchange regulations.

Related Standards

IEC 62056-6-1:2023 is an integral part of the DLMS®/COSEM suite and is closely related to several standards and supporting documents, including:

• IEC 62056‑6‑2:2023 – Defines COSEM interface classes and logical object models used in conjunction with OBIS codes.
• IEC 62056‑21:2002 – Standards for direct local data exchange for meter reading and configuration.
• EN 13757-1:2014 – Specifies identification codes for metering media other than electricity, such as gas, water, and heat.
• IEC TR 62051 and IEC TR 62051‑1 – Provide terminology and data exchange definitions for electricity metering.
• IEC 62053-23:2003 – Contains particular requirements for static meters for reactive energy.

OBIS, as defined in IEC 62056-6-1:2023, advances electricity metering data exchange, ensures data integrity, and provides a scalable, globally consistent solution for smart metering system deployments.