Implementing a smarter grid for improved management and use of power is extremely
important for the future and development of South Africa. Even more important
is nding the best way to implement these grids in South Africa. A number of
evolutions are expected, but ultimately the eventual solution will need to satisfy
the requirements of the grid, while adhering to the relevant standards to result in a
suitable solution for South Africa. It can therefore not be assumed that a solution
which works successfully in another country will have the same results in South
Africa. The economy, nancial strength and technological maturity of South Africa
are among the factors which are unique and will require an implementation tailored
to t South Africa and these factors. The architecture of the grid gives it structure.
This report considers the architecture for implementing the grid in South Africa,
employing a view which places more importance on the consumers. An existing
architecture, the OPEN meter architecture, is identi ed and localised based on a
South African context, and then validated using existing international frameworks
which de ne characteristics that every grid architecture must have
