System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management

A method for supplying operating reserve to a utility, the method comprising:

• determining, by a control device located at a service point, an amount of electric power stored by at least one device at the service point;
• reporting, by the control device, the amount of stored power to a central controller;
• and
• controlling, by the control device, a flow of electric power from the at least one device to a power grid accessible by the utility responsive to a request from the central controller, the request responding to a need for operating reserve by the utility.

A method for supplying operating reserve to a utility servicing a plurality of service points, the method comprising:

• determining, by a central controller, amounts of electric power stored by a plurality of devices located at the plurality of service points to produce stored power data;
• storing, by the central controller, the stored power data in a repository;
• determining, by the central controller, an amount of available operating reserve based on at least the stored power data;
• receiving, by the central controller, a request for operating reserve from the utility;
• and
• responsive to the request for operating reserve, managing, by the central controller, a dispatch of electric power from the plurality of devices to a power grid accessible by the utility.