The capability of WS-calendar to take all of the parameters of an energy product and allocate the parameters to intervals and gluons is extremely useful in EMIX and EI. Carrying a price and/or quantity along with a start time and a pointer to a gluon makes for a simple package. A gluon can point to another gluon which can carry parameters that very less frequently.

And the link to conventional calendaring technology is also a big plus for interoperability, especially between the grid and customers.

However, there is a lot in ws-calendar that is not currently useful to energy markets. If a way can be found for EMIX and EI to expose only that of WS-Calendar that is needed by energy markets it would open up WS-Calendar, EMIX and EI to more users. And if the XML schemas based on WS-Calander can be simplified, (fewer layers) again that would be helpful.

I started out as an advocate for WS-Calendar, then I turned a skeptic when faced with the complexity including strange terms like gluon and a strange use of the term interval. I am now a supporter but simplification would help bring along others more quickly and expand its proper use in energy and the smart grid.