Systems and methods for market-based financial settlement in an electric power grid are disclosed. A settlement processor is constructed and configured for IP-based communication with at least one active grid element via at least one coordinator. The at least one active grid element is registered with the at least one coordinator to participate within the electric power grid. The at least one coordinator tracks the at least one active grid element in the electric power grid. The at least one active grid element transmits at least one IP-based settlement message to the settlement processor via the at least one coordinator. The at least one IP-based settlement message comprises at least one kilowatt packet (KWP) unit, and the at least one KWP unit is based on measurement data for a participation of the at least one active grid element in the electric power grid. The settlement processor provides a market-based financial settlement for the participation of the at least one active grid element based on the at least one KWP unit in real time or near real time.