Method and apparatus in an electricity distribution network

1. A network element in an electricity distribution network, the network element comprising a memory and one or more processors connected to the memory, wherein the one or more processors are arranged to:

create a plurality of sequence skeletons including a first sequence skeleton and a second sequence skeleton, wherein

A) the first sequence skeleton identifies one or more of: i) a first set of one or more controllable devices that should be activated, ii) a first set of one or more controllable devices that should be inactivated, iii) a first set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated, and iv) a first set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated and

B) the second sequence skeleton identifies one or more of: i) a second set of one or more controllable devices that should be activated, ii) a second set of one or more controllable devices that should be inactivated, iii) a second set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated, and iv) a second set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated;

associate the first sequence skeleton with a first power consumption value;

associate the second sequence skeleton with a second power consumption value;

identify a plurality of controllable devices connected to the electricity distribution network;

determine one or more capabilities of the plurality of controllable devices;

receive an indication of a target power consumption value;

compare the received target consumption value with the first power consumption value;

compare the received target consumption value with the second power consumption value when the target power consumption value does not match the first power consumption value;

select the second sequence skeleton when the target power consumption value matches the second power consumption value; and

send instructions towards each controllable device identified by the selected sequence skeleton to meet the target power consumption value, wherein

the one or more processors arranged to calculate a plurality of sequence skeletons comprising which of the plurality of controllable devices connected to the electricity distribution network should be activated and which should be inactivated to meet each of a respective plurality of target power consumption values, wherein each of the plurality of target power consumption values identifies a different target power consumption.

2. The network element according to claim 1 , wherein the network element is further arranged to send instructions direct to controllable devices.

3. The network element according to claim 1 , wherein the network element is further arranged to sends instructions to at least one advanced meter.

4. The network element according to claim 1 , wherein the network element is further arranged to calculate an order of activation and inactivation of the controllable devices.

5. The network element according to claim 1 , wherein a sequence skeleton is calculated for responding to at least one of:

a failure of an element in the generation infrastructure giving a reduction in electricity generating capacity;

an increase in consumption of electricity from the electricity distribution network; and

a failure of a node of the distribution infrastructure.

6. The network element according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the controllable devices is an electricity storage device.

7. A computer implemented method of controlling an electricity distribution network, the method being performed by a computer and comprising:

creating a plurality of sequence skeletons including a first sequence skeleton and a second sequence skeleton, wherein

A) the first sequence skeleton identifies one or more of: i) a first set of one or more controllable devices that should be activated, ii) a first set of one or more controllable devices that should be inactivated, iii) a first set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated, and iv) a first set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated and

B) the second sequence skeleton identifies one or more of: i) a second set of one or more controllable devices that should be activated, ii) a second set of one or more controllable devices that should be inactivated, iii) a second set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated, and iv) a second set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated;

associating the first sequence skeleton with a first power consumption value;

associating the second sequence skeleton with a second power consumption value;

identifying a plurality of controllable devices connected to the electricity distribution network;

determining one or more capabilities of the plurality of controllable devices;

receiving an indication of a target power consumption value;

comparing the received target consumption value with the first power consumption value;

comparing the received target consumption value with the second power consumption value when the target power consumption value does not match the first power consumption value;

selecting the second sequence skeleton when the target power consumption value matches the second power consumption value;

sending instructions towards each controllable device identified by the selected sequence skeleton to meet the target power consumption value; and

calculating a plurality of sequence skeletons, wherein a sequence skeleton defines which of the plurality of controllable devices connected to the electricity distribution network should be activated and which should be inactivated to meet each of a respective plurality of possible target power consumption values.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving an alert indicating that a power consumption threshold within an area has been reached, wherein the identifying and determining steps are performed as a direct result of receiving the alert.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sending of instructions towards each controllable device comprises sending instructions to at least one advanced meter.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising calculating an order of activation and inactivation of the controllable devices.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein a sequence skeleton is calculated for responding to at least one of:

a failure of an element in the generation infrastructure giving a reduction in electricity generating capacity;

an increase in consumption of electricity from the electricity distribution network; and

a failure of a node of the distribution infrastructure.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the controllable devices is an electricity storage device.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein sending instructions towards each controllable device that should be activated and each controllable device that should be inactivated comprises:

transmitting a command to a selected one of the plurality of controllable devices that should be activated, wherein said selected controllable device is located within a first customer's premises, and said command configures the selected controllable device to provide electricity to the electricity distribution network for use by devices within a second customer's premises that is different than the first customer premise.

14. A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums storing instructions for:

creating a plurality of sequence skeletons including a first sequence skeleton and a second sequence skeleton, wherein

A) the first sequence skeleton identifies one or more of: i) a first set of one or more controllable devices that should be activated, ii) a first set of one or more controllable devices that should be inactivated, iii) a first set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated, and iv) a first set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated and

B) the second sequence skeleton identifies one or more of: i) a second set of one or more controllable devices that should be activated, ii) a second set of one or more controllable devices that should be inactivated, iii) a second set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated, and iv) a second set of one or more controllable device categories for identifying one more controllable devices that should be activated;

associating the first sequence skeleton with a first power consumption value;

associating the second sequence skeleton with a second power consumption value;

identifying a plurality of controllable devices connected to the electricity distribution network;

determining one or more capabilities of the plurality of controllable devices;

receiving an indication of a target power consumption value;

comparing the received target consumption value with the first power consumption value;

comparing the received target consumption value with the second power consumption value when the target power consumption value does not match the first power consumption value;

selecting the second sequence skeleton when the target power consumption value matches the second power consumption value;

sending instructions towards each controllable device identified by the selected sequence skeleton to meet the target power consumption value; and

calculating a plurality of sequence skeletons, wherein a sequence skeleton defines which of the plurality of controllable devices connected to the electricity distribution network should be activated and which should be inactivated to meet each of a respective plurality of possible target power consumption values.