Changes

based on Bundesamt für Informationssicherheit (BSI) / German Federal Agency on IT-Security on

Cybersecurity for the Digitalization in Energy Industries

Without being able to describe all aspects of the above-mentioned standards and their implications in whole, I will follow a route on how it works and what is happening from the point of view of a regular consumer of energy services. Pleas keep in mind that the roll-out for this digital infrastructure is still in full swing at the point of this writing (2025). Whenever use cases are used as examples, they refer to electric energy. This should not divert attention from the fact, these communication standards and protocols do apply to all metered products (Sparten) in energy industries (Water, Heat, Gas, Contracting Services…) as well. Also, I do use the words “electricity” and “electric energy” synonymously and electricity or energy cannot be “consumed” – I know that. Finally: I am only beginning to investigate this. I have some professional experience, but it is limited. If I am wrong and/or describing situations inadequate-ly, please share your insight either in this Wiki, Recessim Discord or DM (Discord)

So you live in an apartment or house and use electricity. Big deal! And it really is. Let us see why. All the electric energy delivered for your convenience goes through at least one measuring device – the meter. That will be in our digitized world an electronic device called in Germany for unknown reasons a smart-meter or moderne Meßeinrichtung (mME). This thing is in its initial status not “smart” at all, given the idea smart means able to communicate. It’s not. It is an electronic counter with no initial ability to communicate. The meter resides in a market-location or MaLo (address of the building or apartment), which is associated with your invoicing details (customer name & address). The meter itself or multiple meters represent the measuring-location or MeLo. Ant this is bound to a meter-ID which is then associated with the physical meter, which again has a serial number.

Please note, routing is not available between these networks: LMN, HAN and WAN trough the smart meter gateway. It purely acts as a “bridge”, receiving messages from one network and sending different messages but accordingly to the purpose, to another attached network.