As 2025 draws to a close, it is remarkable to see how much progress our industry has made in strengthening the intelligence, security, and interoperability of modern energy networks. Across the OSGP Alliance community, members have shared a steady flow of innovations, deployments, and lessons learned that reflect a rapidly changing global landscape. Energy grids are becoming more complex, more distributed, and increasingly dependent on data-driven decision-making. In this environment, the value of secure, efficient, and proven standards such as OSGP has never been clearer.

This year, we saw a strong acceleration in the deployment of smart metering and low-voltage grid intelligence, driven by urgent needs: grid congestion, renewable integration, EV charging, and the rising expectations of consumers who want transparency, reliability, and control. DSOs across Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America reported meaningful progress in upgrading their networks. What stands out most is how grid operators are shifting from “meter rollouts” to true smart grid strategies, where OSGP-based devices act as distributed sensors, enabling real-time visibility and actionable analytics.

A defining development in 2025 has been the renewed focus on power quality data at the edge of the grid. With the ongoing electrification of mobility and heating, DSOs cannot afford blind spots in the low-voltage domain. OSGP deployments this year demonstrated once again how efficient messaging, robust security, and built-in demand response capabilities can offer unique value. Several members showcased successful use cases where granular power quality data allowed early detection of faults, prevention of overloads, and better planning for local renewable generation. These insights are increasingly seen as a prerequisite for long-term grid stability.

Security remained a central topic throughout the year. Geopolitical tensions, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, and new regulatory frameworks have heightened the urgency of adopting secure-by-design architectures. The OSGP Alliance continued to emphasise the importance of layered, standards-based protection, not only in the meter but across the communication chain. Members have consistently shown that security and efficiency can coexist, and that OSGP still sets a benchmark for strong, scalable security in constrained environments.

Another key trend in 2025 was the growing interest in interoperability and vendor-independent ecosystems. Many grid operators want to avoid long-term lock-in and instead build systems that allow mixing hardware and software from different suppliers. The Alliance’s ongoing work on testing, certification, and harmonisation has been instrumental in supporting that direction. As more DSOs adopt multi-vendor strategies, the role of our Alliance becomes even more strategic.

Looking forward to 2026, several themes are already taking shape.

First, the shift from data collection to data-driven optimisation will become mainstream. DSOs are increasingly asking how they can leverage the intelligence already available in their networks. This includes voltage and load management, predictive maintenance, fraud detection, and automated outage localisation. The next phase of smart grids is not about installing more devices; it is about extracting more value from them.

Second, flexibility management will grow in importance. Whether through integrated demand response, local energy communities, or coordinated EV charging, DSOs will need new mechanisms to balance distributed energy resources in real time. OSGP’s proven efficiency and two-way communication capabilities provide a solid foundation for this evolution.

Third, cybersecurity will intensify as a regulatory and operational priority. New EU guidelines, NIS2 implementations, and global infrastructure policies will demand continuous investment and collaboration. The Alliance will continue expanding its security guidance, best practices, and cross-industry partnerships.

And finally, interoperability will become a defining requirement for next-generation rollouts. DSOs and regulators are increasingly aligning behind open standards, certified ecosystems, and transparent testing frameworks, areas where the OSGP Alliance will continue to lead.

I want to express my appreciation to all our members, partners, and contributors for their hard work and dedication throughout 2025. Your expertise, collaboration, and commitment to innovation ensure that the OSGP Alliance continues to play a central role in shaping the future of secure, interoperable smart grids. As we move into 2026, I am confident that together we will further strengthen our impact and help grid operators around the world navigate the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.

I wish you, first of all, relaxing holidays with your beloved, and a successful and inspiring year ahead.

— Mark Ossel, Chairman OSGP Alliance