Irving, TX, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- December7, 2012 - California’s investor owned utilities Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, are to require the OpenADR 2.0 standard for new customers in their demand response (DR) enabling technology programs in 2013, the OpenADR Alliance has announced.

The three utilities will add OpenADR 2.0 certified products to support locational dispatch of emergency and price DR resources, allowing them to better manage peak demand without the need for expensive new power plants.

OpenADR is an open global standard that enables electricity providers and system operators to automatically communicate DR signals with each other and their customers using a common language over any existing IP-based communications network. OpenADR standardizes DR price and reliability messages that automate and simplify customer DR participation, and improves DR event results.

“The availability of products complying with the OpenADR 2.0 standard will allow us to reduce the cost and improve the performance of our AutoDR programs,” said Albert Chiu, product manager, of Pacific Gas & Electric. “Using an OpenADR-based system, our customers can better manage their energy use during DR events, and the utility can minimize stranded assets at the same time.”

Other key benefits of OpenADR 2.0 implementation include:

• Rapid delivery of price and event information through a secure network
• Improved predictability of DR resources before/during an event
• Maximized incentives available from utilities to implement Auto DR-enabled control systems
• Support for ‘fast DR’ which will facilitate the integration of an increasing amount of renewable energy sources and the use of DR for ancillary services
• Reduced cost of deploying AutoDR programs and technologies as OpenADR functionality is designed directly into third party products.