Opower, APPA, CSG, and Energate Join The Association for DR & Smart Grid

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) today announced the addition of four new members. The new members are Opower, the American Public Power Association (APPA), Conservation Services Group (CSG), and Energate.

ADS is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, that focuses on development and exchange of information among policymakers, utilities, technology companies, and other stakeholders. It includes as members companies and organizations, as well as individuals who consider themselves to be DR and smart grid professionals.

"We are pleased to have these new members be a part of ADS," said Dan Delurey, Executive Director of ADS. "We look forward to their contributions as ADS works to foster the growth of the demand response and smart grid community. Their membership will broaden and diversify our organization. It will also help us have a better exchange of ideas and information on DR in general and how it is developed and implemented in different ways in different regions of the country. These new members will add expertise and experience that will help in carrying out our work in 2012 to implement the National Action Plan on DR and Smart Grid."

Opower is a leader in customer engagement and energy management software, providing the utility industry's only cross-channel customer engagement platform proven to drive energy efficiency gains on a large scale. Using cutting-edge behavioral science and patent-pending data analytics, the Opower platform enables utilities to provide targeted energy data and advice to individual customers. More than 60 utilities—including 8 of the 10 largest in the U.S.—partner with Opower to improve the effectiveness of their energy-efficiency portfolios and motivate their customers to become more energy efficient, and increase the level of customer engagement and overall customer satisfaction. For utilities with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), the Opower platform represents a cost-effective way to convert hourly data into measurable energy savings, delivering a clear return on investment directly to the customers. For more information, please visit www.opower.com.

American Public Power Association (APPA), based in Washington, DC, is the service organization for the nation's more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities. Collectively, these utilities serve more than 46 million Americans. APPA was created in 1940 as a nonprofit, non-partisan organization to advance the public policy interests of its members and their customers, and provide member services to ensure adequate, reliable electricity at a reasonable price with the proper protection of the environment. Today, APPA's goals include providing utilities and municipalities with the resources and tools to make educated decisions about any technological investment, especially smart grid technologies, so that they can keep their systems reliable and safe, while delivering electricity at the lowest cost possible. For more information, visit www.publicpower.org

Conservation Services Group (CSG) is the leading provider of residential energy efficiency programs in North America. The nonprofit company promotes residential energy efficiency, health, safety, comfort, and building durability, helps shape energy-related public policy, and designs and implements programs backed by leading-edge information technology solutions. CSG's mission is to promote energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy resources to protect the environment, make homes and buildings safer, and create a profitable, sustainable industry. With a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions for nearly 30 years, CSG is committed to providing customized solutions to exceed clients' goals. For more information, visit www.csgrp.com.

Energate is a leading provider of demand response and home energy management solutions including software, wireless communications, gateways, smart thermostats, switches and consumer energy displays. The Consumer Connected Demand Response (CCDR™) solution allows utilities to immediately address residential energy demand and empowers consumers to more effectively manage their energy use. Energate products seamlessly connect to the Smart Grid to deal with supply and demand challenges, the increased use of renewables and dynamic rate structures. Founded in 2004, Energate is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario with offices in California, Illinois, Texas and Toronto. For more information, visit www.energateinc.com

About the Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid

The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) is a nonprofit organization, originally formed in 2004 as the Demand Response Coordinating Committee (DRCC). ADS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization consisting of professionals and organizations involved in demand response and smart grid. It provides services to help its members in the conduct of their work and in the attainment of their personal, corporate and governmental objectives. ADS seeks to establish and grow a demand response "community" of policymakers, utilities, system operators, technology companies, consumers, and other stakeholders.

Group Members of ADS are Ameren, American Electric Power, American Public Power Association, Arizona Public Service, ComEd, Conservation Services Group, ENBALA, Exelon, Freeman, Sullivan & Co, ISO New England, MISO, National Grid, Navigant Energy Practice, NYSERDA, Opower, Pacific Gas & Electric, PECO, PJM Interconnection, Progress Energy, Salt River Project, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, and Tennessee Valley Authority.     

More information on ADS can be found at: www.demandresponsesmartgrid.org

SOURCE Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS)