Edo, an energy efficiency and demand flexibility technology company based in the US, is working with the electricity and gas utility National Grid on a three-year project to enable commercial buildings in New York to adjust their electricity use in response to grid needs.
Supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the demonstration will deploy Edo’s Gateway hardware, analytics software and automated controls across a portfolio of commercial buildings within National Grid’s New York service territory.
The project will test grid-interactive buildings, in which electricity demand can be automatically reduced or shifted when requested by the utility. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will independently measure and verify the results.
Automated controls respond to grid signals
Edo’s Gateway connects to a building’s existing automation system, which monitors and controls equipment such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning. It streams operational data and enables connected equipment to be adjusted automatically in response to signals from National Grid.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and other networked equipment can reduce or shift their electricity use during peak periods. Edo’s predictive models will forecast how much demand can be adjusted, with the project seeking reliable, repeatable reductions while maintaining occupant comfort.
The Gateway will also integrate with National Grid’s distributed energy resource (DER) management systems. DERs include energy resources at individual properties, such as on-site solar and battery storage.
The project will use open communication standards such as OpenADR, which enable utilities and energy systems to exchange automated demand-response signals.
Launchbox provided an earlier New York test
Edo and National Grid previously used the approach at Launchbox, a newly renovated 61,625ft2 industrial facility in Latham, New York.
In a November 2025 case study, Edo reported that its Gateway had been connected directly to the property’s existing building automation system, enabling centralised monitoring and control of HVAC and ventilation equipment. Testing confirmed that the existing hardware could automatically adjust temperature settings.
Edo said the process from customer agreement to full grid interactivity took less than six weeks. Tests also confirmed the building’s readiness to shift electricity demand when required during winter and summer events.
The three-year demonstration will deploy the technology across a portfolio of commercial buildings.
Commercial buildings to adjust demand during peak periods
Participating properties will be continuously monitored, providing facility teams with information on building mechanical systems and distributed energy resources.
National Grid and Edo will test whether coordinated changes in building electricity use can reduce strain on substations and feeders during peak periods.
The project will also examine whether the approach can reduce electricity fed back into the grid from on-site solar and storage.
Edo said similar deployments have achieved peak-demand reductions of 10–15% and more than 90% accuracy between forecast and delivered flexible load.
Results to inform New York energy planning
The project is part of NYSERDA’s Innovation Grid Modernization programme, which supports approaches to managing peak electricity demand, integrating distributed energy resources, and preparing the grid for electrification.
NYSERDA said its investment in Edo’s Gateway will demonstrate how automated building controls can provide flexibility for electricity consumers and utilities. The project is also expected to generate data on real-time changes in electricity demand and support the integration of distributed clean energy.
EPRI will independently measure and verify performance, providing data and findings to inform New York’s future energy strategies.
