Overview - IEC TR 62939-1:2014 (Smart grid user interface, Part 1)
IEC TR 62939-1:2014 provides an international, consensus view of the Smart Grid User Interface (SGUI). The Technical Report distils SGUI requirements from real-world use cases, analyses existing IEC and other international standards relevant to the customer-facing interface, and identifies standards gaps that could become IEC work items. The committee scope centers on information exchange for demand response and on connecting demand-side equipment and systems into the Smart Grid.
Key topics and technical requirements
- SGUI definition and scope - high-level description of the customer interface for two‑way information and control between consumers/prosumers and grid actors.
- Requirements from use cases - functional needs derived from national use cases (China, U.S., Europe, France, Korea, Japan, India) covering demand response, energy efficiency, DER control, EV charging and load management.
- Inter‑domain interoperability - interface contracts, boundary of authority, decision-making in large networks and how SGUI fits into multi‑actor ecosystems.
- Architecture and actors - recommended functional blocks and roles (grid-side, customer-side, SGUI actors, HEMS/BEMS, aggregators).
- Quality attributes - security and privacy, scalability, performance, maintainability and reliability requirements for customer interfaces.
- Standards gap analysis - mapping of use case classes to existing standards, identification of missing pieces, and priority recommendations for IEC work (including assessment of OpenADR 2.0, OASIS Energy Interoperation, SEP 2.0).
Practical applications and who uses this standard
IEC TR 62939-1 is intended for anyone designing, procuring or regulating customer‑side Smart Grid interfaces:
- Utilities and grid operators - to design demand response and market-facing customer programs.
- Equipment and software vendors - HEMS/BEMS developers, smart meter and smart appliance manufacturers, EV charging system providers, DER aggregators - for interoperability and conformance planning.
- System integrators and consultants - to architect solutions meeting security, scalability and performance needs.
- Regulators and policy makers - to understand interoperability and consumer protection considerations.
- Standards bodies and test labs - to prioritise standards development and interoperability testing.
Related standards and references
The report reviews many standards and includes an annex listing relevant work (examples shown in the report): ISO/IEC 15067‑3, ISO/IEC 15045 series, ISO/IEC 18012 series, ISO/IEC 14543 series (KNX), ISO/IEC 14908‑1, plus industry protocols such as OpenADR, OASIS Energy Interoperation, and Smart Energy SEP 2.0. For the full text and authoritative guidance, obtain IEC TR 62939-1:2014 from the IEC webstore.