Kärnten Netz GmbH, an Austrian electricity distribution company operating in the Carinthian region, has successfully procured 300,000 smart meters using European Network for Cyber Security (ENCS)-authored requirements to enable a smoother process and ensure the best possible cyber security. Due to the positive experiences during the project with ENCS, parent company KELAG has decided to join ENCS as its newest member.
Due to new European legislation Kärnten, Netz GmbH is equipping all of its customers with smart meters. One of the key features of these new devices is the ability, to record energy consumption every 15 minutes and to transmit the data to a central system to process and display it to the customer. To ensure data security during every step Kärnten Netz GmbH approached ENCS to support the procurement process.
ENCS, recognizing the need for a set of smart meter security requirements aligned with European Commission (EC) positioning and other European smart meter projects, collaborated with its members, partners and independent experts. ENCS was then able to create a set of standards in conjunction with Austrian industry group, Österreichs Energie, to be used across Austria and Europe to support their smart meter procurement projects.
Kärnten Netz GmbH was able to use these standards to address specific security threats and risks identified during the risk assessment phase of the project, matching Kärnten Netz GmbH’s chosen smart grid architecture, technology choices and security goals. ENCS will also rigorously test the meters for security flaws before they are rolled out, ensuring they are compliant with the security standards set with Kärnten Netz GmbH and Österreichs Energie.
“Working with ENCS and using the standards they had developed meant we could trust that we’d bought equipment that protects the customer as well as possible,” says Gerald Obernosterer, Project Lead Smart Meter at Kärnten Netz GmbH. “As a result, we’re looking forward to join ENCS to work together in the area of cyber security and especially security of smart meters with them and other members.”
ENCS’ membership network of DSOs, utilities and other critical infrastructure owners, is designed to collaborate and share cyber security knowledge and experience as the European smart grid rollout gathers pace, in order to build a more secure network.
“With the EC’s directive that 80 per cent of households must have smart meters by 2020, the pace of installations should only increase. If not protected properly, this could be a danger for consumers. Smart grid security is a huge priority across Europe,” explains Anjos Nijk, Managing Director, ENCS.
“We are already using the lessons we learned working with Kärnten Netz GmbH to improve our testing and approach. We’re always looking for ways to work with our members and partners to create a more secure European smart grid future, and are looking forward to more joint projects with Kärnten Netz GmbH to help them protect their customers and the grid using state-of-the art security standards.”
About Kärnten Netz GmbH
The Kärnten Netz GmbH is the leading electricity grid and gas grid provider in Carinthia with approx. 600 employees. It is a 100% daughter of KELAG-Kärntner Elektrizitäts-Aktiengesellschaft.
For more information about Kärnten Netz GmbH, please visit www.kaerntennetz.at
For more information about KELAG, please visit www.kelag.at
