Key issues [metering security issues]

This paper presents an overview of the data security and access security issues relevant to metering and associated communication systems. The term “meter” here covers a variety of metering and similar equipment, which is now normally accessible via some form of communications (local or remote) and is physically located at a customer´s site unattended by the energy supplier. The “key issues” include: security of access to the meter; security of data obtained from the meter; integrity of the data obtained from the meter; and effective management of the security keys. These issues become even more complex in the context of deregulation, where several different organisations may require access to the meter or its data and where questions of ownership of the data arise. The techniques used to cover these areas include: passwords; encryption; authentication; and effective administration and understanding. In many circumstances a combination of two techniques can give a level of integrity that far exceeds that obtained by either when used alone, and this synergy is often a way to a satisfactory solution