DLMS & Generic Companion Profiles: The Future of Smart Metering Interoperability
Over a billion smart meters are deployed globally. Making them work together is the next frontier.
The smart metering ecosystem has grown into one of the most complex technology networks in the energy sector — spanning devices, communications protocols, data platforms, and regulatory frameworks across dozens of markets. With that scale comes an increasingly urgent challenge: interoperability.
In 2024, the DLMS User Association introduced Generic Companion Profiles — a significant step forward in addressing the evolving requirements of smart metering systems and opening new opportunities for seamless interoperability across the ecosystem. GCPs promise to streamline supply chains, broaden the scope for intelligent energy management, and shift the center of gravity in energy management from utilities toward consumers and prosumers.
WHAT'S INSIDE
The history of smart metering and how the DLMS open standard laid the foundation for today's ecosystem
How smart meter technologies are distributed across global markets
The crucial role smart meters play in the energy transition — and the interoperability challenges holding it back
How Generic Companion Profiles address those challenges and enable the transition to smarter energy management
How Critical Software can support suppliers operating within the smart metering ecosystem