A utility system supplying, through a distribution system, electricity to a plurality of facilities within a localized area of a power grid of the utility system, the utility system comprising:
- a communications network comprising a central controller located at a utility substation and a plurality of meters, wherein the utility substation supplies energy to the plurality of facilities within the localized area of the power grid, and the plurality of meters includes a meter located at each facility of the plurality of facilities within the localized area of the power grid;
- and
- a translating device connected to the communications network;
- wherein the communications network provides bi-directional communications between the plurality of facilities within the localized area of the power grid and is used for routing bi-directional communications from one network device of a plurality of network devices to other network devices of the plurality of network devices;
- wherein the one network device of the plurality of network devices comprises a first utility meter measuring electricity usage at one facility of the plurality of facilities within the localized area of the power grid, and the other network devices of the plurality of network devices comprises a second utility meter located at a separate facility of the plurality of facilities within the localized area of the power grid;
- wherein all of the bi-directional communications between the plurality of facilities within the localized area of the power grid are routed through the central controller;
- wherein a first group of network devices of the plurality of network devices uses one native language with which network devices of the first group were programmed for effecting bi-directional communications, and a second group of network devices of the plurality of network devices uses different native languages with which network devices of the second group were programmed for effecting bi-directional communications;
- wherein the translating device affects communication message writing, reading and interpretation schema of the first meter at an application layer (Layer 7) of an open communications interconnection (OSI) message stack;
- and
- wherein the translating device converts a native language, with which the first utility meter was programmed, into a neutral language for carrying a message from a point of origin of the message to a receiving location where the second utility meter is located, and the second utility meter converts the message from the neutral language into a native language with which the second utility meter was programmed to allow communication between the first utility meter and the second utility meter, thereby eliminating problems resulting from use of dissimilar meters within said localized area, preventing disruption in bi-directional communications if a natural or manmade disruption occurs, and permitting the plurality of meters within the localized area of the power grid to continue communicating with each other using the translating device even if the plurality of meters within the localized area of the power grid cannot do so through the central controller at the utility substation.