What do Web Services (WS) have to do with the Smart Grid? If done correctly, they can be a key to progress. Done incorrectly -- as is sadly the case today -- they can be a blocker.

 Web Services are software systems designed for interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. They can also be used to implement a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), where the basic unit of communications is a message (also called "message-oriented services").

 The goal of WS technology is plug-and-play software -- software that can be installed and communicating with other WS modules in less than a day (in a secure, reliable manner). There's good reason that it is the flavor of the year in the IT world. A survey by CIO Insights confirmed that a Service Oriented Architecture based on WS generally fares well as a productivity booster.

WS technology is pervasive in SCADA and smart meter applications. Indeed, secure, reliable data transfers between organizations is a necessary component for almost any part of the Smart Grid.

In a case study provided by WS-I, Web Services Interoperability Organization, Firemen’s Fund Insurance (FFI) was seeking to automate internally using a single vendor billing and lower the cost of call-centers communicating with its 3000+ independent agents, which was already served by a host of legacy software (sound familiar?). Contracting with Webify, FFI was able to integrate legacy software, mainframe computers, databases and web content into one seamless communication platform. This integration saved FFI large sums because it lowered call volume and allowed FFI to continue using legacy software. This shows the cost saving promise of multi-vendor interoperability, even though this case study was only for a single vendor implementation, because multi-vendor interoperability cost saving start approaching those of a single vendor solution.

The moving target problem

In theory, then, Web Services will be a godsend as we spend the next few years building the foundational elements of an intelligent, interoperable electric grid. In practice, they could be a hindrance because of the differing standards and their rate of adoption.

The board of the Web Services Interoperability Organization (www.ws-i.org) is composed primarily of the large software vendors (IBM, SAP, BEA, Sun, HP, Intel, Oracle, Microsoft and others). It has released three key profile documents that further refine WS specifications.

Sadly, many software vendors (including members of the board) have released software implementing previous versions of those profiles. As a result, WS modules are not always interoperable, as has already been discovered in applications such as digital signature, encryption, WS-Addressing and WSDL standardizations.

The competing standard problem

Another problem is the existence of other competing standards, such as RFC 4130 from The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF.) This standard, which is used in the automotive, banking, petroleum, retail and governmental sectors, is supported by over 35 vendors. Customers can be up and running in a day.

RFC 4130 vendors include Axway, BridgeGate International, Bridgeware, Cleo Communications, Click Commerce, The Descartes Systems Group, EDS, EXTOL International, GXS, IBM, Inovis, nuBridges, SEEBURGER AG, Sterling Commerce and IBCO Software. They have seen the benefit of working together, using the RFC standard to save their customers millions of dollars. The problem: only a few of them have applications aimed at the utility world.

The simple solution

WS technology holds out the promise of saving utilities millions of dollars. At the moment, it is stalled by WS-I members and others who do not adequately incorporate the promise of WS into their software. More specifically, they do not certify interoperability before releasing to customers.

Other industries have encountered similar roadblocks on the way to digitalization. The solution is in our own hands. Utilities can resolve these inconsistencies quickly by purchasing only off-the-shelf software that has been tested against all others and proven its interoperability.

That simple step will put the electric power industry on the fast track to a world of plug-and-play, up-in-a-day software modules that can transform how we build and maintain software.

   Wikipedia Web Services page

   Web Services Interoperability Organization

   Internet Engineering Task Force

   CIO Insights Survey

   Drummond Group

Rik Drummond is the CEO of Drummond Group Inc., an interoperability software testing and consulting company, and the past Chair of the GridWise Architecture Council.