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OpenFMB Webinar December 11 | Advancing EV Integration and Interoperability Certification for the Grid Edge

The OpenFMB Users Group is proud to present its upcoming webinar highlighting two major milestones that are shaping the future of distributed energy resource (DER) integration.

First, Version 2.2 of the OpenFMB data model introduces a new module supporting EV charging that enables utilities, vendors, and innovators to better integrate electric vehicle infrastructure into the grid. This advancement provides a stable, flexible framework that addresses all types of DERs and accelerates real-world adoption.

Second, the establishment of a certification program at the first accredited OpenFMB testing lab marks a pivotal step in driving industry-wide adoption. This certification will create a larger ecosystem and strengthen the foundation for scalable deployment across the energy sector.

Join this OpenFMB Users Group webinar to hear insights, experiences, and perspectives on how OpenFMB is enabling collaboration and innovation across the energy landscape. This session will explore the technical, operational, and strategic impacts of these milestones—and what they mean for utilities, vendors, and stakeholders looking to embrace the future of grid modernization.

REGISTER HERE

Learn more before this webinar:
OpenFMB GitHub: https://github.com/openfmb
OpenFMB Website: https://openfmb.org

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61850ug Meeting: Joining Forces to Innovate, Connect, and Lead the Future of Smart Grid Technology

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the 61850 Users Group – North American Meeting, Fall 2025, themed “Joining Forces to Innovate, Connect, and Lead the Future of Smart Grid Technology”, taking place 22-23 October 2025, in Wendell, North Carolina, USA.

Hosted by:

This kickoff meeting brings together global experts, implementers, and newcomers to collaborate on shaping the next chapter of power system interoperability. As grid complexity accelerates, 61850-based solutions remain central to unifying protection, control, monitoring, and communication across diverse systems and vendors. Sessions will showcase lessons learned, pioneering applications, and the evolving best practices that are driving innovation and strengthening system resilience. Whether you’re just beginning your 61850 journey or helping define its future, this is your opportunity to connect with the community, exchange insights, and lead together toward a smarter, more integrated grid.

Call for Presentations
The Call for Presentations will open on 15 August 2025. We invite you to share your expertise on this year’s theme, as well as other 61850-related topics. Please click the link below if you would like to present at the Fall 61850ug meeting in Wendell.

Present!

Presentation Guidelines:
Submit a 200–500-word abstract outlining the presentation’s key message.

Include presenter information: name, title, company, address, phone number, email, short bio, and an optional headshot.

Deadline: 15 September 2025
Submit to: Joel@ucaiug.org

Presentation Policies:

  1. Priority for presentation selection is given to utilities (TSOs and DSOs), market participants, universities, and non-profit industry organizations.
  2. Suppliers may present a utility-approved presentation if they are co-authors. However, preference will be given to presentations with a utility presenter.
  3. All presentations must be non-commercial (no overt marketing material in the presentation) with a focus on the 61850 lifecycle which is deemed to be informative and helpful to other companies who are considering the use of 61850.
  4. Non-commercial thought leadership presentations from all 61850ug members are welcome.
    Presentations that demonstrate implementation experiences with lessons learned are preferred over strategies for future projects.
  5. 61850 Users Group membership is not a requirement for presenting.

Registration

Early bird registration is available until 15 September 2025. After this date, space will be limited and registration will require direct contact.

Register now!

To register after 30 September 2025, please contact Margaret@ucaiug.org.

Sponsorship Opportunities
Corporate members are encouraged to participate through sponsorship or by reserving a vendor demo table. Sponsorship levels include Gold, Silver, Lanyard, and Table Sponsor options. To purchase a sponsorship for this CIMug meeting, please use the following link: Be a sponsor!

For more details about sponsorships, contact Sponsorships@ucaiug.org.

Key Dates
Call for Presentations Deadline: 15 September 2025
Early Registration Deadline: 15 September 2025

Meeting Location
Siemens
7000 Siemens Road
Wendell, NC 27591 USA
Tel: +1 (919) 365-2200
Website: https://usa.siemens.com/gridsoftware

Presented by the 61850 Users Group
The 61850 Users Group is a not-for-profit organization of utilities, consultants, and suppliers committed to promoting the use and understanding of the IEC 61850 standards. The group provides education, fosters consistency in implementation, and helps stakeholders stay informed on 61850 developments.

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CIMug Meeting: Bridging Planning & Operations: Interoperable Solutions for Rapid Grid Transformation

CIM Users Group – North American Meeting | October 14–16, 2025 | Wendell, North Carolina, USA
Theme: Bridging Planning & Operations: Interoperable Solutions for Rapid Grid Transformation

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the CIM Users Group – North American Meeting, Fall 2025, themed “Bridging Planning & Operations: Interoperable Solutions for Rapid Grid Transformation”, taking place October 14–16, 2025, in Wendell, North Carolina, USA.

This meeting will focus on the vital connection between long-term planning and real-time operations, emphasizing how CIM and interoperable solutions empower utilities to respond to rapid grid changes. Sessions will showcase real-world implementations, integration strategies, and innovations that support agile, data-driven decision-making across the utility landscape. Whether you’re a CIM novice or expert, this event provides a valuable opportunity to deepen your knowledge and network with industry peers.

Registration
Early bird registration is available until September 1, 2025. After this date, space will be limited and registration will require direct contact.

Register now.

Key Dates
Call for Presentations Deadline: August 15, 2025
Early Registration Deadline: September 1, 2025

CIM University and User Group Meeting Location
Siemens
7000 Siemens Road
Wendell, NC 27591 USA
Tel: +1 (919) 365-2200

Presented by the CIM Users Group
The CIM Users Group is a not-for-profit organization of utilities, consultants, and suppliers committed to promoting the use and understanding of the IEC CIM standards. The group provides education, fosters consistency in implementation, and helps stakeholders stay informed on CIM developments.

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CIMug Webinar: Modernizing Grid Intelligence: How Unified Network Models Drive Compliance, Reliability, and DER Readiness

As the energy landscape transforms with rapid DER growth, aggressive electrification targets, and intensifying regulatory scrutiny, the need for accurate, real-time, and interoperable network models has never been more urgent. This executive-level webinar brings together leading experts from the CIM Users Group, Energy Changemakers, ERCOT, PCITek and Siemens to explore how utilities can leverage unified network model management (NMM) to meet the moment.

Wed, Sep 10
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CDT
Online event – Register

Join this discussion to learn how utilities are consolidating fragmented grid data into a single source of truth, using the Common Information Model (CIM) as a backbone to streamline compliance, strengthen system reliability, and accelerate DER integration. Real-world insights will be shared on how NMM is already delivering measurable benefits—from reducing modeling errors to boosting operational agility in the face of extreme weather and rapid load growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ensure Regulatory Compliance & Reduce Risk: Learn how unified network models simplify adherence to FERC Orders (e.g., 2003, 2222, 1920) and NERC standards (MOD-032-1, MOD-033-1), minimizing audit exposure and avoiding costly penalties.
  • Boost Grid Reliability & Resilience: Discover how centralized, high-fidelity models enhance scenario analysis, improve situational awareness, and enable proactive grid hardening against weather, wildfires, and volatility.
  • Drive Operational Efficiency Across Silos: See how integrated T&D models reduce duplication, streamline data handoffs, and support long-term system planning and real-time operations.

Speakers

  • Eric Meier [Panelist], Model Administrator
  • Margaret Goodrich [Panelist], Founder & President
  • Yang Feng, PhD [Panelist], Senior Staff Software Engineer
  • Elisa Wood [Moderator], Founder & Editor
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DistribuTECH’s ‘Energy Movement’ is Headed to Dallas, March 2025

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the 34th annual DistribuTECH Conference and Exhibition. This is one of the utility industry's leading annual transmission and distribution conferences and exhibitions, and will be held in Dallas, Texas, March 24 – 27, 2025.

DistribuTECH® is the most influential energy event in the country. In 2024, there were more than 17,400 attendees and 650 exhibitors.

Want a $5 Starbucks Gift Card? COME SEE US in Booth #2247 and share your experiences with the OpenFMB, CIM or 61850 Standards to the UCA personnel. Hurry! Quantities are limited.

Key Dates:

March 24, 26, 27, 2025

Full Event Schedule

 

What is DistribuTECH?

DistribuTECH is the leading annual transmission and distribution event that addresses technologies used to move electricity from the power plant through the transmission and distribution systems to the meter and inside the home. This year, 2025, the event will be held in Dallas, Texas.

Who Should Attend

Technology and utility industry decision makers within automation and control, energy efficiency, demand response, renewable energy integration, advanced metering, T&D system operation and reliability power delivery equipment, commercial and industrial energy management technology and water utility tech will all be represented at the conference.

DistribuTECH is the most influential energy event in the country. Be sure not to miss all of the amazing networking opportunities offered throughout the week. Connect with other professionals from every facet of the technology and utility industry.

Event Location:

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center

650 S Griffin Street

Dallas, Texas 75202

(214) 939-2700

 

If your company is a UCA member and would like to participate in the Marketing opportunities in our booth or sponsor our UCA annual meeting, please view sponsorship package details available here: https://www.ucaiug.org/Meetings/DTECH2025/default.aspx

Come by and visit DistribuTECH in Booth #2247. Hope to see you there!

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CIM Users Group – Asia-Pacific 2024 Fall Meeting

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the CIM Users Group – Asia-Pacific 2024 Fall Meeting, "CIM as the mechanisms to support the grid modernization and digitalization" on 2-4 October 2024 in Pathum Thani, Thailand.  This meeting will emphasize the use of COM-based data exchanges as part of business proesses and how digitization is changing the utility industry environment.  Whether you are a CIM novice or expert, this meeting will provide a forum to learn more about CIM and network with colleagues.

Key Dates

Call for Presentations Deadeline - 10 September 2024
Early Bird Registration Deadline - 13 September 2024

What Is CIM?

The CIM is an international standard now globally accepted for modeling the information exchanges required in electric utilities. The CIM is independent of any individual application, middleware, or message protocols used for data exchange. The interoperability enabled by the CIM standards is a key factor for achieving the Smart Grid vision.

The CIM Users Group (CIMug) was formed to promote progress of the CIM and to share project experiences. The users group holds two meetings each year (one in Europe and one in the U.S.). Recognized experts share their insights and resolve key technical issues. Each meeting also includes pre-conference tutorials, vendor exhibits, and social networking opportunities.

 

Who Should Attend

Utilities, energy companies, RTO/ISOs and others involved in developing standards-based enterprise information architectures and integration frameworks to meet their business challenges will find this conference invaluable. Project managers, system architects, business and IT managers, and control center personnel will all benefit from this meeting. With the focus on Smart Grid interoperability and distribution applications, vendors with CIM-based products they plan to make available to this community will want to reserve a Vendor Table to demonstrate their products and discuss service offerings.

The meeting is open to all current or potential CIM users – you do not have to be a CIM User Group member to attend. Attendees gain first-hand access to CIM experts and come away with new insights on how to realize the power of CIM-based integration.

 

Meeting Location

Thammasat School of Engineering
Thammasat University Rangsit Campus
99 Moo 18, Phahonyothin Road
Klong Nueng, Klong Luang
Pathum Thani, 12120
THAILAND
Tel: +66 2 564 3001-9, +66 81 847 4149
https://engr.tu.ac.th/

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IEC 61850 IOP Birmingham 2024

2024 IEC 61850 Interoperability Testing Events

 

​Testing of Tools, PTP over PRP, Client/Server, GOOSE/R-GOOSE, SV/R-SV, and Security
Additionally: IEC 61850 for SCADA (Control Center to Substation)​

​Face-to-Face:      

Set-up September 12-15, 2024
Testing September 16-20, 2024

 

Meeting Location:

Birmingham, AL USA

 

Pricing Information: Home - IEC 61850 IOP Birmingham 2024 (ucaiug.org)

 

For the UCA Group Rate at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham, please use the following link: https://book.passkey.com/e/50842630
The Sheraton is walking distance (4 minutes) from the convention center.
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CIM Users Group – North American 2024 Meeting – 29-32 July, 2024

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the CIM Users Group – North American 2024 Meeting, "Standards-based Interoperability at the Grid Edge" on July 29-31, 2024 in Richland, Washington USA.

This meeting will emphasize the development, growth, and acceptance of the CIM standard by the industry and explore how that standard has provided techniques and best practices to achieve full data exchange and integration.  Whether you are a CIM novice or expert, this meeting will provide a forum to learn more about CIM and network with colleagues.

Join us for three days of tutorials, technical talks, and networking at our next North American user group meeting hosted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.  With over 300 days of sun a year, the vibrant Tri-Cities are the perfect destination fo rengaging with other CIM experts, enjoying local wine, and watching the Grand Prix hydroplane Columbia Cup race!

Key Dates

Call for Presentations Deadeline - June 1, 2024
Early Bird Registration Deadline - June 17, 2024

** Non-U.S. Citizens MUST register by the Early Bird Deadline **

What Is CIM?

The CIM is an international standard now globally accepted for modeling the information exchanges required in electric utilities. The CIM is independent of any individual application, middleware, or message protocols used for data exchange. The interoperability enabled by the CIM standards is a key factor for achieving the Smart Grid vision.

The CIM Users Group (CIMug) was formed to promote progress of the CIM and to share project experiences. The users group holds two meetings each year (one in Europe and one in the U.S.). Recognized experts share their insights and resolve key technical issues. Each meeting also includes pre-conference tutorials, vendor exhibits, and social networking opportunities.

 

Who Should Attend

Utilities, energy companies, RTO/ISOs and others involved in developing standards-based enterprise information architectures and integration frameworks to meet their business challenges will find this conference invaluable. Project managers, system architects, business and IT managers, and control center personnel will all benefit from this meeting. With the focus on Smart Grid interoperability and distribution applications, vendors with CIM-based products they plan to make available to this community will want to reserve a Vendor Table to demonstrate their products and discuss service offerings.

The meeting is open to all current or potential CIM users – you do not have to be a CIM User Group member to attend. Attendees gain first-hand access to CIM experts and come away with new insights on how to realize the power of CIM-based integration.

 

Meeting Location

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Discovery Hall
650 Hord Rapids Rd.
Richland, WA 99354 USA
https://www.pnnl.gov/

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Arnhem 2024: Netherlands Meeting – 14-16 May, 2024

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the CIM Users Group – European 2024 Fall Meeting, "Gear Up: Support Business Processes and Boost digitization with the CIM" hosted by Tennet on 14-16 May, 2024 in Arnhem, Netherlands. This meeting will emphasize the use of CIM-baed data exchanges as part of business processes and how digitization is changing the utility industry environment. Whether you are a CIM novice or expert, this meeting will provide a forum to learn more about CIM and network with industry colleagues.​

Hosted by:

What Is CIM?

The CIM is an international standard now globally accepted for modeling the information exchanges required in electric utilities. The CIM is independent of any individual application, middleware, or message protocols used for data exchange. The interoperability enabled by the CIM standards is a key factor for achieving the Smart Grid vision.

The CIM Users Group (CIMug) was formed to promote progress of the CIM and to share project experiences. The users group holds two meetings each year (one in Europe and one in the U.S.). Recognized experts share their insights and resolve key technical issues. Each meeting also includes pre-conference tutorials, vendor exhibits, and social networking opportunities.

Who Should Attend

Utilities, energy companies, RTO/ISOs and others involved in developing standards-based enterprise information architectures and integration frameworks to meet their business challenges will find this conference invaluable. Project managers, system architects, business and IT managers, and control center personnel will all benefit from this meeting. With the focus on Smart Grid interoperability and distribution applications, vendors with CIM-based products they plan to make available to this community will want to reserve a Vendor Table to demonstrate their products and discuss service offerings.

The meeting is open to all current or potential CIM users – you do not have to be a CIM User Group member to attend. Attendees gain first-hand access to CIM experts and come away with new insights on how to realize the power of CIM-based integration.

Meeting Location:

Hotel Haarhuis
Stationsplein 1
6811 KG Arnhem
the Netherlands
Tel: +31 26 442 7441
https://hotelhaarhuis.nl/en​​​​​​​

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Webinar: Simplifying Secure Routable GOOSE & Sampled Values

Applications, Architecture, Configuration & Simulation - Sign up today for a FREE Webinar!

Smart Grid concepts have driven the need to migrate to microprocessor based controls and digital communications. There are several use cases that require interoperable communications within and between utilities as well as industrial complexes such as:

  • Transfer-Trip
  • Remedial Action Schemes (RAS)/System Integrity Protection Schemes (SIPS)
  • Load Shed
  • Blackstart
  • Dynamic Grid Formation
  • Actionable Synchrophasor Exchange

All of these use cases require point-to-multipoint secure communications. Some of the use cases can be extended to integrate between the utility enterprise and the industrial complex.

The routable version of the Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (R-GOOSE) and routable Sampled Values (R-SV) profiles satisfy the security and communication requirements of the utility industry. These profiles allow IP multicast address and advanced route path determination to prevent network flooding. The release of Amendment 1 to IEC 61850 Edition 2 has supplanted IEC TR 61850-90-5, providing enhancements and defect correction.

PROBLEM:

Security configuration and maintenance, in many cases, is viewed as complex and represents an impediment for adoption and deployment. The use of R-GOOSE/R-SV requires that the pairing of published information to subscribers of that information (e.g. a publication group) share a common symmetric key which utilizes a key distribution mechanism as specified in IEC 62351-9.

SOLUTION:

The engineering process of IEC 61850 allows for the configuration of publication groups, destination addresses for the publications, and addresses for key management for that group. The System Configuration Tool (SCT) stores this information in an SCL file that can be used by the Garibaldi Key Distribution Center to simplify security configuration by:

  • Managing large numbers of multicast group keys and policy distribution
  • Managing system Enrollment & Revocation
  • Supporting both centralized and de-centralized environments

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why it’s important to use routable GOOSE and the need for security
  • The concepts of key delivery resiliency
  • Leveraging IEC 61850 SCL to minimize security and system simulation configuration time
  • Learn how to simulate system design and impact of security on a system using Distributed Test Manager (DTM)
  • How to configure Garibaldi (Key Distribution Center) using SCL to save time & minimize configuration mistakes
  • Learn about the separation of security management planes and real time operation planes
  • How in service testing equipment can be used in a secure environment

Who should attend:

  • System Integrators
  • System Engineers
  • IT Network Engineers
  • IT/OT Cyber security personnel
  • Anyone interested in IEC 61850 automation & security

When: July 30, 2020 at 11am EDT