Chapter | 11 Software Infrastructure and the Smart Grid 279 These systems are optimized for network operation, a very different function from data management. Such an approach makes it much more difficult to inte- grate multiple communications technologies, a required feature of every utility as technology evolves more and more rapidly. Another alternative is to implement the smart grid platform functions by modifying core utility business systems. This is expensive because these systems are complex and were built to provide different functions, such as billing. This also adds risk, because the modifications to the legacy systems must happen in parallel with smart grid implementation. In some cases this approach would drive modifications to systems that are scheduled for replacement even before the smart grid or smart meters are fully deployed. These parallel activities mean the system can focus on neither its primary function--say billing--nor the smart metering implementation. Multiple Operating Companies/Multiple Utilities The smart grid platform approach supports utilities with multiple operating companies or jurisdictions where multiple utilities and multiple communica- tions networks are involved. This would allow, for example, consistent business rules for validating data to be applied across all operating companies. If there