The SGIP Interoperability Challenge enables members to submit ideas for developing the Smart Grid interoperability project roadmap and to vote for ideas that they would like to see implemented. The contest is located at www.sgip.org/challenge.
On the main contest page there are 2 buttons. The "SUBMIT YOUR IDEA" button enables users to send an idea to SGIP, and the "SEE SUBMISSIONS" button enables users to view ideas that have been submitted and approved and to vote on them (during the time frame that voting is open).
Submitting Ideas
When a user submits an idea, the idea is saved in a record and anyone at SGIP in the Interoperability Challenge Notification group will receive an email with a link to the new idea record. These records can also be accessed by logging in and clicking on ADMIN, then MANAGE ADD-ONS, SGIPINTEROP_COLLECTION and then INTEROPERABILITY CHALLENGE IDEAS. Once SGIP reviews the entry and determines that it is a worthwhile idea for the contest, the admin will click on the ACTIVE button in the record and click OK to save the change. At this point, the idea will show up on the SEE SUBMISSIONS page.
Voting for Ideas
On the See Submissions page, users will see all approved contest entries and be able to vote on any that they think should be pursued (when voting is open). To set whether voting is currently allowed, admins will log in and click on ADMIN, then MANAGE ADD-ONS, SGIPINTEROP_COLLECTION and then SGIP INTEROPERABILITY SETTINGS. You will see a check box that when checked will allow users to vote for ideas. When the box is unchecked voting is not active, and when users go to the See Submissions page, they will see the ideas, but instead of a VOTE button for each entry, then will see text that says "Voting is not open". Make sure to click OK after changing the setting for the voting option.
A record of any votes cast on the website are stored by logging in and clicking on ADMIN, then MANAGE ADD-ONS, SGIPINTEROP_COLLECTION and then INTEROPERABILITY CHALLENGE VOTE.