We are dealing with an unprecedented amount of data today. A single smart meter accounts for a few kilobytes of data for a single message sent, but smart meters send a continual stream of information and one can imagine the growing data deluge with 50 million smart meter installations that have already been implemented. So far this information has been difficult to capture and has not been utilized properly, resulting in improper optimization of energy production and operations making the whole process all the more expensive.


Redwood City based AutoGrid, founded in 2011 with its innovative technology has developed a software platform that uses predictive analysis to curb this massive amount of structured and unstructured energy grid data and help analyze data in real time. AutoGrid with the help of its analytical tools then analyzes this data generated by smart meters, voltage regulators and other equipment with a prospective usage pattern to help consumers and suppliers monitor their power consumptions in real time in a secure and quick manner.


The unsteady growth of renewable sources, the approval time taken for new plants to come up and the exhaustion and decommissioning of old plants have all been adding to the curtailments in terms of capacity and there is a greater need to manage things in a more efficient way. All of these have contributed for an agile and responsive system to quickly make way and fill this daunting need to manage energy systems in an efficient and economical manner. Demand Response systems (DRS) have come a long way to aid utilities in managing all of their aspects through a single, integrated system. The DRS acts as a single system which cuts down on building new power plants, new capacity reserves and many systems in parallel to these. DRS also increasingly favor those firms whose utilities look to extract additional value from smart meter investments. But implementing a Demand Response program was an uphill task for most of the companies, as it would require a massive amount of capital to be invested and typically only large power consumers of 100 KW and above would participate.


DROMS-The Best of the Demand Response Programs