Echelon just announced that it will work with Eaton Corporation to offer smart grid services to residential customers. Under the agreement, Eaton will become a value-added reseller for Echelon, combining their own home automation product line with Echelon’s Networked Energy Services (NES) System. The deal encompasses Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and will help the EU meet its target of a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency.

The combination of Eaton’s product with Echelon’s Networked Energy Services will allow consumers to see and regulate their own energy consumption, while also facilitating utility communications with demand-response systems.

In a press release, Ken Oshman, Echelon’s chairman and chief executive officer, commented on the news:

“We are excited to partner with Eaton to enable them to offer a complete energy management solution that adds intelligence to the grid and extends it into the home. This collaboration exemplifies the flexibility of the NES System, and the innovation of companies like Eaton, who are making a difference in reducing energy consumption worldwide.”