Overview
IEC TS 61970-2:2004 is the glossary component of the IEC 61970 series, titled Energy management system application program interface (EMS‑API) – Part 2: Glossary. It supplies standardized terms and abbreviations used across the IEC 61970 family so implementers and stakeholders share a consistent vocabulary. This Technical Specification supports interoperability and clarity for EMS‑API work derived from the EPRI Control Center API (CCAPI) effort and is of core relevance to modern Smart Grid and utility control‑center integration.
Key topics and requirements
This publication is a reference glossary rather than a prescriptive technical standard, but it underpins technical work by defining concepts used throughout the series. Important topics covered include:
- Common Information Model (CIM) - definition and role as an abstract model representing utility objects used in EMS information models.
- Component and component model - definitions for reusable software building blocks, their interfaces and interaction mechanisms.
- Component container / component execution system - context and runtime environment for components, including containers, middleware and communication profiles.
- Application, application context, and API (Application Program Interface) - clarified meanings for software modules, their runtime grouping and public function sets.
- Middleware, legacy application, legacy wrapper - terms for integration layers and strategies to incorporate existing systems into component‑based EMS.
- Data and document models - XML, DOM, DTD, events, directed label graphs and other data‑exchange constructs used in EMS communications.
- Modeling relationships - association, aggregation, generalization, cardinality and multiplicity constraints as used in CIM and EMS data models.
Normative reference: IEC 61970-1 (Guidelines and general requirements) is identified as indispensable for applying the glossary.
Applications and who uses it
IEC TS 61970-2 is primarily a reference used by:
- EMS software developers and architects implementing or integrating EMS‑API compliant components.
- Utility engineers and IT teams working on control‑center modernization and Smart Grid interoperability.
- Vendor product managers and system integrators packaging applications as plug‑ins or adapting legacy systems via wrappers.
- Standards writers and tool builders who need precise definitions for CIM‑based models, middleware, and component execution systems.
Using a common glossary reduces misinterpretation, accelerates integration, and helps protect investments in existing EMS applications.
Related standards
Part of the IEC 61970 series. Key related documents in the series include:
- IEC 61970-1 (Guidelines and general requirements)
- Other IEC 61970 parts that define CIM, CIS frameworks, data access, eventing and XML codification (listed in the specification).
Keywords: IEC TS 61970-2, EMS‑API, glossary, Common Information Model, CIM, energy management system, Smart Grid, component model, middleware, interoperability.