Apparatus for operating an automation installation, comprising - an automation control system comprising a process control unit for controlling the processes carried out by the automation installation, wherein, in the course of control, the process control unit accesses a plurality of device control units (DC1,..., DC4), wherein a respective device control unit (DC1,..., DC4) is assigned to a respective subsystem (MO1,..., MO4) of the automation installation and controls devices belonging to the subsystem (MO1,..., MO4); - a superordinate control system which has access to the automation control system in order to influence the operation of the automation installation; - an energy control system for determining and executing switching sequences, wherein, in the course of executing a switching sequence, the energy control system gives switching commands to the automation control system, as a result of which devices of the subsystems (MO1,..., MO4) are at least temporarily switched to operating states with a reduced energy consumption; - an interface for outputting first information signals from the process control unit to the energy control system, wherein the first information signals specify one or more subsystems (MO1,..., MO4) and/or devices of the latter which are at least temporarily not required by the processes carried out by the automation installation; - an interface for outputting second information signals from the superordinate control system to the energy control system, wherein the second information signals specify at least one pending stoppage of operation of one or more subsystems (MO1,..., MO4) and/or devices of the latter; - wherein the energy control system is configured in such a manner that it calculates and executes the switching sequences on the basis of the first and second information signals (IN1, IN2). - an automation control system comprising a process control unit for controlling the processes carried out by the automation installation, wherein, in the course of control, the process control unit accesses a plurality of device control units (DC1,..., DC4), wherein a respective device control unit (DC1,..., DC4) is assigned to a respective subsystem (MO1,..., MO4) of the automation installation and controls devices belonging to the subsystem (MO1,..., MO4); - a superordinate control system which has access to the automation control system in order to influence the operation of the automation installation; - an energy control system for determining and executing switching sequences, wherein, in the course of executing a switching sequence, the energy control system gives switching commands to the automation control system, as a result of which devices of the subsystems (MO1,..., MO4) are at least temporarily switched to operating states with a reduced energy consumption; - an interface for outputting first information signals from the process control unit to the energy control system, wherein the first information signals specify one or more subsystems (MO1,..., MO4) and/or devices of the latter which are at least temporarily not required by the processes carried out by the automation installation; - an interface for outputting second information signals from the superordinate control system to the energy control system, wherein the second information signals specify at least one pending stoppage of operation of one or more subsystems (MO1,..., MO4) and/or devices of the latter; - wherein the energy control system is configured in such a manner that it calculates and executes the switching sequences on the basis of the first and second information signals (IN1, IN2).