Innovative Technology for Reliable and Secure OT Communications

 

Our Mission

We actively develop and support measures to improve interoperability and cybersecurity in DNP systems by developing technologies and standards, implementing a conformance program, and providing education to the industry.

 

Activities of the Users Group

DNP3 has grown to be the most widely used protocol for electric transmission and distribution communications in North America and other regions of the world, and is a named standard for DER communications. DNP3 is also broadly adopted in adjacent industries such as water / wastewater, transportation and the oil and gas industry. 

The DNP Users Group (DNP-UG) owns and maintains DNP3 and supports our user community and the industry by enhancing and promoting DNP3 (Distributed Network Protocol), also known as IEEE Std. 1815TM. Our members include utilities, suppliers, consultants, and individuals (including students). Many of our initiatives support greater interoperability between supplier’s products and systems and/or enhance cyber security. On-going refinements also add new features and time-saving capabilities which are then included in the next update of IEEE 1815. Our growing library of Standards, Application Notes, Guides, Security Notices, and Technical Bulletins provide essential information for our members. The leadership team and technical team members provide periodic educational opportunities including tutorials, white papers, and conference presentations. Our Conformance Certification Program manages the Conformance Test Review process and publishes conformance certificates which are publicly posted. The DNP-UG is governed by our Board of Directors in accordance with our bylaws. The technical teams are involved with four different groups as follows:

  • Technical Committee
  • Cybersecurity Task Force
  • Test Management Committee
  • Test Procedure Committee.

 

Recent and current developments include new:

  • Update to the IEEE Std. 1815TM standard.
  • DER communications standard – IEEE 1815.2TM (draft) – joint effort with MESA.
  • Secure Authentication v6 (SAv6).
  • Authorization Management Protocol (AMP).
  • Test procedures.
  • Device profile guide.
  • Expanded Conformance Certification Program (CCP).

 

Membership in the Users Group

Join us! To participate and receive DNP-UG member benefits and services including the latest documents and updates, utilities and vendors are required to join and remain members. For more information go to dnp.org or email our team at admin@dnp.org  

 

DNP Users Group content including, postings, documents and presentations that refer to IEEE or IEEE standards, solely represent the views of the DNP-UG and do not necessarily represent a position of either IEEE, IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA), the IEEE Power System Communications and Cybersecurity Standards Committee, or the applicable IEEE Working Groups.

 

The DNP Users Group is a California nonprofit mutual benefit Corporation, operating pursuant to United States IRS code 501(c)(6).

Announcements

New Member Fee Guide for 2020

We are pleased to announce and distribute our new Member Fee Guide.  The new fee structure takes effect on January 1, 2020.  

The Directors of the DNP Users Group (DNP-UG) want to thank you for your continued and vital support.  It is no exaggeration to say that we could not function without it.  Since our last announcement in August we have made good progress on a number of important initatives including:

  • Our revamped Conformance Test Review (CTR) program including new staff, an updated process and new certificate template. 
  • Cyber security - including Secure Authentication Version 6 (SAv6) and a new Authorization Management Protocol (AMP).
  • Website updates which are now in progress
  • New Master Station Test Procedures 
  • New Device Profile Guide
  • Overall update to the IEEE Std 1815 document

More detail on the above work items is included in a pending Member Update.

Although the DNP Users Group (DNP-UG) has continued to support many key initiatives, in 2018 the leadership concluded that our organizational structure of 100% volunteers was not sustainable. At the annual meeting in February 2019 a proposal to change the structure of the UG was approved by the members. We then entered a process of defining a new fee structure which was open and transparent with lots of opportunity for input from our members. The proposed fees were established to reflect the value brought by the DNP-UG when compared with similar industry bodies. This was followed by a vote by all members on a new fee structure concluding in July 2019. The vote was approved with good participation and by a wide margin.

In order for us to continue as a sustainable organization and progress in a timely manner on the many initiatives we have underway (with more planned), we need the continued support of you and/or your company at the new fee levels.

Thank you in advance for your on-going membership.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at admin@dnp.org  

Sincerely,

Directors,

DNP Users Group

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