11.3 The Object Identification System (OBIS)

OBIS defines identification codes for commonly used data items in energy metering. The DLMS-UA Blue book and IEC 62 056-61 specify the overall structure of the identification system and the mapping of all data items to their identification codes.

All data items exposed by a meter are uniquely identified by an OBIS code. This is true for measurement data, but the scope of OBIS is wider than measurement data: OBIS codes also cover data used for configuration of metering equipment; or related to the meter status. OBIS codes are defined for all types of utility metering applications: electricity, water, gas and heating.

The concept of an OBIS code is based on a hierarchical structure composed of 6 different “value groups”, from A to F (Figure 11.2 and Figure 11.3).