Element management system for managing line-powered network elements

A method of managing power at an element management system for a power sourcing network element and a power sinking network element of an access network is provided. The method includes identifying a set of primitives for managing power usage at the power sinking network element associated with providing a provisioned service, provisioning at least one instance of a line power manager for the service with the set of primitives, provisioning at least one instance of an associated line power controller at each of the power sourcing network element and the power sinking network element, associating at least one conductive medium with the line power controller, the at least one conductive medium coupled between the power sourcing network element and the power sinking network element, and passing selected ones of the set of primitives to the power sourcing network element and the power sinking network element for use by at least one line power control function of the power sourcing and the power sinking network elements.