Patent ID: 7127328

Claim:
An energy management system for managing an energy distribution system, the energy management system comprising: first and second energy management devices, the first energy management device being affiliated with a first entity and the second energy management device being affiliated with a second entity different from the first entity; wherein at least the second energy management device includes: an energy distribution system interface operative to couple the second energy management device with at least a portion of the energy distribution system; a processor coupled with the energy distribution system interface and operative to generate energy management data therefrom; and a security device coupled with the processor and operative to provide access data identifying entities and affiliates thereof, unaffiliated with the second entity, which are permitted to access the energy management data; the energy management system further comprising: a network coupled with the first and second energy management devices and operative to facilitate communications therebetween; and wherein the first energy management device is operative to request at least a portion of the energy management data from the second energy management device via the network, the request including an assertion of authorization to access the energy management data, the processor being operative to validate the assertion via the access data provided by the security device and limit access to the energy management data based thereon.