Quick take: We have previously documented the trend toward demand response 2.0 and the move to automated demand response. AutoDR automates the connection between the utility and the devices, so load reductions can be triggered in an instant with a software command.

In theory, AutoDR is so fast it can be used to buffer wind or for regulation and ancillary services. But it was long hampered by the lack of a standard way to talk to devices. That obstacle was overcome by the appearance of the AutoDR standard. Now vendors are not just making their own systems AutoDR compliant, but also pre-integrating their systems together, as Schneider and IPKeys have done. – Jesse Berst

The companies say the solution,

which integrates IPKeys' EISS technology with Schneider Electric’s StruxureWare software at the control level means that C&I customers of electric utilities can have a robust, flexible, and cost effective method of connecting to the smart grid and maximizing the demand response potential of their facilities.

"While fostering the collaborative relationship required for a smart grid, it benefits utilities by allowing them to achieve more reliable and responsive programs while simultaneously benefiting end use customers by providing them with greater flexibility and revenue from demand response program participation," noted Phil Davis, senior manager, smart grid solutions at Schneider Electric.

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Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry's oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services.