DKE/BSI Standardisierungspartnerschaft
Rungaroon / stock.adobe.com
2025-06-16 press release

DKE and BSI drive digitalization of the energy transition with standardization partnership

Security and interoperability are essential for the digitalization of the energy transition - for example with smart metering systems. The DKE, BSI and industry partners are working closely together to ensure that the necessary technical guidelines and standards are implemented quickly on the market. The first standard has already been published on time, others are being planned.

(Frankfurt a. M., 16.06.2025) The law to restart the digitalization of the energy transition stipulates, among other things, that the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) will develop or update the required protection profiles and technical guidelines. In addition, the legally defined standardization partnership encourages further intensification of cooperation between the stakeholders involved, including between the BSI and DKE.

A regular quarterly exchange between the BSI, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK) and DKE was implemented several years ago in order to define the major guidelines for upcoming topics. A current core topic is the secure and seamless integration of smart metering systems into the existing infrastructure in order to realize a flexible energy system and make benefits available to consumers.

Joining forces: From regular participation to intensive cooperation

"With the standardization partnership enshrined in law, however, we have achieved a completely new level of quality and efficiency," says Bernd Stäblein from the DKE. It is now much easier for institutions such as the DKE to gain direct insight into the development of new technical guidelines and protection profiles. To this end, experts from the BSI or its partners are involved in the DKE working groups in order to discuss current standard specifications with each other. "While the industry benefits from the BSI's technical feedback, the BSI in turn receives valuable input from the field in order to prepare technical guidelines for commenting on the market," says xx from the BSI.

On time and efficient: first standard revised, others in planning

The first project from the standardization partnership has already been successfully completed: At the end of 2024, a new state of the art for the WAN interface on the smart meter gateway was published with the revision of DIN VDE V 0418-63-8. At the same time, the associated Technical Guideline TR-03109-1 was adapted and the standard from the Technical Guideline was referenced. This allowed experience from the rollout to be incorporated and superfluous information to be removed in order to simplify the application. "Changes to the TR were incorporated into the revision of the standard in real time and findings from the standardization process were incorporated into the guideline," says Janosch Wagner from DKE/K 461. "Thanks to the agile and transparent approach, we were able to deliver on time."

Following these positive experiences, further projects are already on the agenda, for example the revision of the Local Metrological Network (LMN) standard. This covers communication between the smart meter gateway and connected meters in order to record water, gas and heat consumption.

About DKE 

The DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (DKE) is the national platform for about 10,000 experts from industry, science and public administration to elaborate standards and safety specifications for electrical engineering, electronics and information technology. Standards support global trade and, among other things, the safety, interoperability and functionality of products and systems. As a competence centre for electrotechnical standardization, the DKE represents the interests of German industry in European (CENELEC, ETSI) and international standardization organizations (IEC). In addition, the DKE provides comprehensive services in the field of standardization and VDE specifications.

For more information, visit www.dke.de

About VDE

VDE, one of the largest technology organizations in Europe, has been regarded as a synonym for innovation and technological progress for more than 130 years. VDE is the only organization in the world that combines science, standardization, testing, certification, and application consulting under one umbrella. The VDE mark has been synonymous with the highest safety standards and consumer protection for more than 100 years. 

Our passion is the advancement of technology, the next generation of engineers and technologists, and lifelong learning and career development “on the job”. Within the VDE network more than 2,000 employees at over 60 locations worldwide, more than 100,000 honorary experts, and around 1,500 companies are dedicated to ensuring a future worth living: networked, digital, electrical.  
Shaping the e-dialistic future. 

The VDE (VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. For more information, visit www.vde.com

Contact
Press Officer
Jennifer Bounoua
Phone +49 151 14600477
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