Siemens and Landis+Gyr, a provider of smart metering solutions, have agreed a partnership in order to elaborate common standards. The standards will not only establish interoperability but are intended to give utilities the requisite security for their investments in smart grids.

Changing needs and growing demands characterise the situation of today's power utilities. Main drivers are fluctuating infeed, the need to integrate distributed energy resources, aging infrastructure, multi directional power flow and a changing legal and regulatory framework - to name a few. One solution to these challenges is the expansion of power supply networks to produce smart grids: "We have a full-scope smart grid portfolio with all the products and systems necessary for such expansion, in addition to that we widen our solution portfolio by working with Landis+Gyr," said Ralf Christian, CEO of the power distribution division of Siemens Energy.

"As a global market leader in smart metering products and solutions we are pleased we have won Siemens as our partner. Together we will build an interoperable path, which will lead utilities – either directly or in stages - to the realisation of their smart grid visions," said Andreas Umbach, president and chief operating officer of Landis+Gyr.