WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) today announced its dates for the 2012 National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid. The 2012 Town Meeting will take place in Washington, D.C., on June 26 – 28 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

The National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid is known for being the annual gathering for those working or interested in demand response and smart grid. This event is recognized as the premier event focused on the business and policy aspects of demand response and the smart grid technologies and practices that enable it. It is unique in that in addition to a conventional format of presentations on best practices and case studies, it devotes an entire day to a roundtable discussion format where notable policymakers and demand response experts discuss with each other, and with the audience, the latest trends, issues, and developments in the demand response and smart grid space.

ADS Executive Director, Dan Delurey, said "Our 2011 National Town Meeting was by all measures—including attendee feedback—the best one yet. Our goal is to raise the bar and make the 2012 event even better. We expect to be reaching out to companies and individuals soon that may be interested in helping us as we work to meet that goal."

Attendees of the 2011 National Town Meeting called it "the place to be for industry professionals to network and learn the latest and greatest the industry has to offer," and declared it "the 'must attend' event for DR and SG professionals."

ADS, the organization that presents the Town Meeting, is a professional association serving demand response and smart grid professionals. ADS allows individuals to join as members, and also has membership options for companies and organizations. ADS members come from utilities, ISOs, technology companies, government agencies, legislative and regulatory bodies, and academic institutions. ADS members are engineers, economists, educators, consultants, regulators, and legislators, as well as marketing and communications professionals. For more information on membership, go to www.demandresponsesmartgrid.org/about-ads/membership.

Members of ADS receive free or discounted registration to ADS events, including the National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid. Members receive a monthly newsletter with interviews and updates from the world of demand response and smart grid. Members have opportunities for participation in workgroups and on subcommittees, and have many chances to work and interact with demand response and smart grid professionals throughout the United States. A new networking opportunity is the regularly-scheduled ADS "drop-in" call where members can network and share information with others on a regular basis.

To learn more about the National Town Meeting, visit: www.demandresponsetownmeeting.com

To become a member or learn more about ADS, visit: www.demandresponsesmartgrid.org

About the Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid

The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) is a nonprofit organization, originally formed as the Demand Response Coordinating Committee (DRCC) in 2004.  ADS is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization consisting of professionals and organizations involved in demand response and smart grid. It provides services to meet the needs of its members that help them 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, Arizona Public Service, ComEd, ENBALA, Exelon, Freeman, Sullivan & Co, ISO New England, MISO, National Grid, Navigant Energy Practice, NYSERDA, Pacific Gas & Electric, PECO, PJM Interconnection, Progress Energy, Salt River Project, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Walmart.    

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

About the National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid

ADS (formerly DRCC) is known for its annual National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid (NTM). This event is recognized as the premier event focused on the business and policy aspects of demand response and its enabling technologies and applications. It is unique in that in addition to a conventional format of presentations on case studies, the latest research, etc., it devotes an entire day to a roundtable discussion format where some of the leading experts in demand response discuss with each other and with the audience the latest trends, issues, and business developments.

More information on the Town Meeting can be found at: www.demandresponsetownmeeting.com

SOURCE Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid