PALO ALTO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/13/12 -- AutoGrid Systems, a leader in Big Data analytics and software services for empowering utilities and end-users to control power consumption and costs, announced that its flagship application, the Demand Response Optimization and Management System (DROMS), and its embedded OpenDR Server 2.0 has been certified for compliance with the OpenADR 2.0a profile specification.

AutoGrid's OpenDR Server 2.0 is available as a standalone product or as integrated within DROMS. The cloud-based OpenDR Server 2.0 can also be easily integrated into other third party applications to provide a cost-effective mechanism for service providers to offer support for OpenADR communications in existing systems.

Certification ensures that AutoGrid's technology will be compatible with software, hardware and other technologies based on either OpenADR 1.0 or OpenADR 2.0a. Over 80 companies and organizations are members of the OpenADR Alliance.

"The OpenADR standard allows utilities and energy service providers to implement automated demand response programs in a scalable, open and economical manner," said Barry Haaser, managing director, OpenADR Alliance. "It is exciting to see AutoGrid along with the rest of our membership drive an ecosystem that will have a significant impact on how power is delivered in the future."

Demand response is the "killer app" for the smart grid, according to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, and plays a vital role in curbing peak power. Historically, however, only a limited number of utilities and end-users have taken advantage of demand response programs because of the need for dedicated hardware and personnel.

DROMS transforms the market by replacing proprietary infrastructure with advanced software analytics delivered through a secure, reliable cloud-based service. DROMS cuts the cost of demand response by up to 90 percent while increasing the "yield" in electrical power by 30 percent or more. Additionally, DROMS can fine-tune power consumption continually, not just during peak power events. It has been tested to simultaneously support over one million OpenADR clients, making it the only software solution that can be deployed in large-scale rollouts across residential, industrial and commercial customers.

Existing demand response customers are adopting DROMS to supplement their current systems while small- and medium-sized utilities, service providers and commercial end-users are employing it to participate in demand management programs for the first time.

"Establishing a lingua franca that will enable devices and software platforms to communicate is a necessary next step in better energy management," said Michel Kohanim, CEO of Universal Devices, which designs integrated systems for home and commercial automation. "OpenADR creates foundation for companies like AutoGrid and Universal Devices to start demonstrating what the 'smart grid' means."

"AutoGrid's decision to embrace OpenADR 2.0a is further evidence of the value of this open standard to multiple stakeholders. As OpenADR 2.0a gains momentum nationally and internationally, companies like AutoGrid as well as utilities and ratepayers will continue to make automated demand response more pervasive and cost effective," said Dave Watson, program manager, Grid Integration Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

DROMS is the first commercial product from AutoGrid and is based on its Energy Data Platform (EDP). EDP combines a physics-based model of the grid, behavioral analytics and the petabytes of structured and unstructured data being generated by smart meters and other technologies. By examining the relationships between millions of variables in a service territory or within an individual facility, AutoGrid's services help customers manage power consumption in real time, forecast demand and develop long-range strategies.
DROMS additionally provides:

• A Unified View of All Available Resources Across All Programs. The service allows utilities to view available capacity across all customer segments, load types, geographic locations, and programs from a single dashboard.
• Real-Time load Forecasting and Event Monitoring. Advanced machine learning techniques generate highly accurate real-time predictions of individual loads, response to load shed requests or price signals.
• Comprehensive Networking and Communications. DROMS is the only system that supports communication to any device, over any channel of communication including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), broadband internet and cellular.
• Accessible through Public or Private Clouds. Customers also gain the benefits of enhanced security, reliability and privacy that can come with cloud-based architectures.
• Powerful Measurement, Verification, Analytics and Reporting. DROMS provides a large library of reports for analyzing and comparing event and program performance. Users can slice and dice results to gain insight into different customer segments.

"We are very glad to be collaborating with the OpenADR Alliance and its members," said Dr. Amit Narayan, AutoGrid's founder and CEO. "Demand management is one of the most effective tools we have for controlling power consumption. The mission now is to expand both the capabilities and the user base so that even small and medium facilities can take advantage of programs such as demand response and demand management."

About AutoGrid

Founded in 2011, AutoGrid is dedicated to bringing the power of Big Data, predictive analytics and Internet scale computational techniques to the production and consumption of electricity. Serving utilities of all sizes, grid operators, electricity retailers, ESCO services companies, and end-users, AutoGrid develops and markets services that both help lower costs and improve reliability of the electricity supply chain. For more, please see our website or contact us.

About the OpenADR Alliance

The OpenADR Alliance fosters the development, adoption, and compliance of the Open Automated Demand Response (OpenADR) standard through collaboration, education, training, testing, and certification. The OpenADR Alliance is open to all interested stakeholders interested in accelerating the adoption of the OpenADR standard for price- and reliability-based demand response. More information can be obtained at http://www.openadr.org/