11th May 2026
The Connectivity Standards Alliance and the OpenADR Alliance have just announced a Liaison Agreement between them.
According to the Press Release, this liaison agreement allows the two organisations to work together to strengthen how in home energy management can be made grid aware. By joining Matter (in the home) with OpenADR (grid to home) devices can be influenced by grid signals to help network operators optimise how homes use energy at different times of the day, helping to take advantage of excess generation, and reducing usage when power is scarce.
As more and more of us get EV chargers, Heat pumps, Solar and Battery systems, de-carbonising our homes, these new electrical appliances will put more pressure onto the grid. We therefore need appliance manufacturers to adopt Matter, and allow the energy gateway devices to take the strain by implementing OpenADR 3.
This means manufacturers are de-coupled from the complexity of some of the new regulator requirements which are likely to become law in the next few years. In the UK, DESNZ (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) SSES (Smart and Secure Energy System) programme is consulting on Energy Smart Appliance regulations. OpenADR 3.1 is likely to be the standard used for Consumer Led Flexibility, allowing consumers to engage with Demand Response flexibility services.
This exciting new announcement could help promote Matter and OpenADR as the two combined standards that manufacturers and Flex Service Providers get behind (globally!).
The Connectivity Standards Alliance and the OpenADR Alliance today announced a formal liaison agreement to enable their mutual members to accelerate the
adoption of grid-connected residential energy management solutions. This collaboration across two leading standards organizations addresses a growing need for
seamless communication between smart home devices and the energy grid.
Utilities face mounting pressure to manage a grid shifting rapidly toward renewable energy sources, just as electric appliances, including EV chargers, heat pumps,
solar installations, and home battery systems, become increasingly common in homes worldwide. At the same time, those device manufacturers are navigating a
complex landscape of energy management standards, creating uncertainty and making it difficult to determine which protocols to support and how to implement
them.
The liaison agreement establishes a clear division of applications. The Matter smart home protocol, stewarded by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, handles
in-home communication between appliances and an energy gateway. The OpenADR 3 protocol, developed by the OpenADR Alliance, enables communication
between the gateway, utilities, and grid operators. Together, these two protocols can enable an end-to-end pathway from the grid to the individual device.
“This collaboration is about enabling utilities, manufacturers, and platforms to make things simpler for everyone across the energy ecosystem,” said Connectivity
Standards Alliance Head of Testing and Certification, Jon Harros. “By bringing the energy ecosystem together, our members are creating a clear roadmap for device
makers, and enabling utilities to scale with confidence, resulting in trusted, reliable solutions consumers can depend on.”
This collaboration opens the door to meaningful and tangible benefits across the energy value chain. Manufacturers can save go-to-market time, up-front
investment, and ongoing maintenance by establishing a single development path that more easily unlocks the new revenue opportunities through Flexible Service
programs. By enabling their devices to respond to grid signals, consumers benefit through bill credits and additional incentives, while utilities gain a standardized,
scalable mechanism for demand response. For regulators, several of whom have already signalled interest in mandating OpenADR 3, gain assurance an
interoperable solution exists.
“OpenADR has been a proven standard for demand side management and flexibility since 2012,” said Rolf Bienert, Managing and Technical Director of the OpenADR
Alliance. “By working with the members of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, we can help position the next generation of smart home devices to participate in the
flexibility programs that utilities and governments are counting on.“
Together, members of both organizations are working to make it easier to turn connected homes into active participants for a smarter, more resilient energy future.
Utilities, service providers, and device makers are encouraged to join the OpenADR Alliance and Connectivity Standards Alliance to collaborate and accelerate
bringing this vision to market.
