Automated optimization tool for electric utility sypply services

• US 20040117236A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Subramanian, Dharmashankar, Gopal, Vipin, Mathur, Anoop K.
• Application Number:
  US10/319,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

In order to determine a lowest utility cost relative to a plurality of utility rate structures and a Contract Base Load, a plurality of utility costs are computed such that each of the utility costs corresponds to a different combination of one of rate structures and the Contract Base Load. These computations are based on an objective function. A rate structure and Contract Base Load combination corresponding to the lowest utility cost is presented to a utility customer who may then negotiate a utility contract based on the present information. If desired, the computations may also be based on various on-site generation options.

Claims

1. A method of determining a lowest utility cost relative to a plurality of utility rate structures, to an estimated customer load, and to a temporal resolution of a Contract Base Load comprising:

computing a plurality of utility costs based on combinations of each of the rate structures, the estimated customer load, and the temporal resolution of the Contract Base Load; and

,

selecting the rate structure and Contract Base Load producing the lowest utility cost.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function having a first variable corresponding to the rate structures and a second variable corresponding to the Contract Base Load.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function having a first variable corresponding to the rate structures, a second variable corresponding to the Contract Base Load, and a third variable corresponding to the estimated customer load.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon a demand charge and a higher of the Contract Base Load and the estimated customer load, and a third component dependent upon a real time price and a difference between the Contract Base Load and the estimated customer load.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon C_lm and h_lmn, a second component dependent upon D_lS(k) and a higher value between d_i and h_lS(k)n, and a third component dependent upon R_i and a difference between d_i and h_lmn, wherein C_lm comprises an energy charge, wherein h_lmn comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein D_lS(k) comprises a demand charge, wherein d_i comprises the estimated customer load, wherein h_lS(k)n comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein R_i comprises a real time price of energy, wherein l represents a time period of a day, wherein m represents time of year, wherein n represents day of week, wherein i represents a time bucket of predetermined duration, and wherein S(k) maps month k to the time of year m.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, and a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises the highest estimate demand in a period l, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, and wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, a fourth component dependent upon g_ijkq and A_ijkq, and a fifth component dependent upon F_i and Gas_Cap, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises the highest estimated demand in a period l, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein g_ijkq comprises on-site generation operational usage, wherein A_ijkq comprises a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, wherein F_i comprises cost of capital depreciation and maintenance of on-site generation equipment, wherein Gas_Cap comprises on-site generation capacity of the on-site generation equipment, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time-of-use Contract Base Load, wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon a time-of-use energy charge and the time-of-use Contract Base Load, a second component dependent upon a time related demand charge and a higher value between the estimated customer load and the time-of-use Contract Base Load, and a third component dependent upon a real time price of energy and a difference between the estimated customer load and the time-of-use Contract Base Load.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time-of-use Contract Base Load, wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the time-of-use Contract Base Load, a time-of-use energy charge, and a temporal occurrence, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, and a third component dependent upon a time related estimated highest demand and a time related demand charge.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time-of-use Contract Base Load, wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the time-of-use Contract Base Load, a time-of-use energy charge, and a temporal occurrence, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a time related estimated highest demand and a time related demand charge, a fourth component dependent upon time related on-site generation operational usage and a time related cost of the on-site generation operational usage, and a fifth component dependent upon time dependent capital depreciation and maintenance and on-site generation capacity.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a highest estimated demand and a demand charge, a fourth component dependent upon on-site generation operational usage and a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, and a fifth component dependent upon capital depreciation and maintenance and on-site generation capacity.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing a heuristic search for inputs based on the utility rate structures and the Contract Base Load;

computing the utility costs based on the inputs as supplied by the heuristic search; and

,

applying a simulation to the computed utility costs.

13. A computer implemented method of determining a lowest utility cost relative to a plurality of utility rate structures and an estimated customer load comprising:

computing a plurality of utility costs based on the plurality of utility rate structures and the estimated customer load such that each of the utility costs corresponds to a different combination of one of the utility rate structures and a Contract Base Load, wherein the computing of the plurality of utility costs is further based on a minimization of an objective function; and

,

providing to a utility customer a rate structure and Contract Base Load combination corresponding to the lowest utility cost.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon a demand charge and a higher of the Contract Base Load and the estimated customer load, and a third component dependent upon a real time price and a difference between the Contract Base Load and the estimated customer load.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon C_lm and h_lmn, a second component dependent upon D_lS(k) and a higher value between d_i and h_lS(k)n, and a third component dependent upon R_i and a difference between d_i and h_lmn, wherein C_lm comprises an energy charge, wherein h_lmn comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein D_lS(k) comprises a demand charge, wherein d_i comprises the estimated customer load, wherein h_lS(k)n comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein R_i comprises a real time price of energy, wherein l represents a time period of a day, wherein m represents time of year, wherein n represents day of week, wherein i represents a time bucket of predetermined duration, and wherein S(k) maps month k to the time of year m.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, and a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises a highest estimated demand, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, a fourth component dependent upon g_ijkq and A_ijkq, and a fifth component dependent upon F_i and Gas_Cap, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises a highest estimated demand, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein g_ijkq comprises on-site generation operational usage, wherein A_ijkq comprises a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, wherein F_i comprises cost of capital depreciation and maintenance, wherein Gas_Cap comprises on-site generation capacity, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time related Contract Base Load, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon a time related energy charge and the time related Contract Base Load, a second component dependent upon a time related demand charge and a higher value between the estimated customer load and the time related Contract Base Load, and a third component dependent upon a real time price of energy and a difference between the estimated customer load and the time related Contract Base Load.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time related Contract Base Load, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the time related Contract Base Load, a time related energy charge, and a temporal occurrence, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, and a third component dependent upon a time related highest estimated demand and a time related demand charge.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time related Contract Base Load, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the time related Contract Base Load, a time related energy charge, and a temporal occurrence, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a time related highest estimated demand and a time related demand charge, a fourth component dependent upon time related on-site generation operational usage and a time related cost of the on-site generation operational usage, and a fifth component dependent upon time dependent capital depreciation and maintenance and on-site generation capacity.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a highest estimated demand and a demand charge, a fourth component dependent upon on-site generation operational usage and a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, and a fifth component dependent upon capital depreciation and maintenance and on-site generation capacity.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

implementing a heuristic search for inputs to the objective function based on the utility rate structures and the Contract Base Load;

computing the utility costs by way of the objective function based on the inputs as supplied by the heuristic search; and

,

applying a simulation to the computed utility costs.

23. A computer implemented method of determining a lowest utility cost relative to a plurality of utility rate structures, to an estimated customer load, to a plurality of on-site generation options, and to a temporal resolution of a Contract Base Load, the method comprising:

computing a plurality of utility costs such that each of the utility costs corresponds to a different combination of one of rate structures, a Contract Base Load, and one of the on-site generations options, wherein the computing of the plurality of utility costs is based on an objective function; and

,

presenting to a utility customer a rate structure, a Contract Base Load, and on-site generation option combination corresponding to the lowest utility cost.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon a demand charge and a higher of the Contract Base Load and the estimated customer load, a third component dependent upon a real time price and a difference between the Contract Base Load and the estimated customer load, and a fourth component dependent on on-site generation.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon C_lm and h_lmn, a second component dependent upon D_lS(k) and a higher value between d_i and h_lS(k)n, a third component dependent upon R_i and a difference between d_i and h_lmn, and a fourth component dependent on on-site generation, wherein C_lm comprises an energy charge, wherein h_lmn comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein D_lS(k) comprises a demand charge, wherein d_i comprises the estimated customer load, wherein h_lS(k)n comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein R_i comprises a real time price of energy, wherein l represents a time period of a day, wherein m represents time of year, wherein n represents day of week, wherein i represents a time bucket of predetermined duration, and wherein S(k) maps month k to the time of year m.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, and a fourth component dependent on on-site generation, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises a highest estimated demand, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, a fourth component dependent upon g_ijkq and A_ijkq, and a fifth component dependent upon F_i and Gas_Cap, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises a highest estimated demand, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein g_ijkq comprises on-site generation operational usage, wherein A_ijkq comprises a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, wherein F_i comprises cost of capital depreciation and maintenance, wherein Gas_Cap comprises on-site generation capacity, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time related Contract Base Load, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon a time related energy charge and the time related Contract Base Load, a second component dependent upon a time related demand charge and a higher value between the estimated customer load and the time related Contract Base Load, a third component dependent upon a real time price of energy and a difference between the estimated customer load and the time related Contract Base Load, and a fourth component dependent on on-site generation.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time related Contract Base Load, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the time related Contract Base Load, a time related energy charge, and a temporal occurrence, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a time related highest estimated demand and a time related demand charge, and a fourth component dependent on on-site generation.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein the Contract Base Load comprises a time related Contract Base Load, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the time related Contract Base Load, a time related energy charge, and a temporal occurrence, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a time related highest estimated demand and a time related demand charge, a fourth component dependent upon time related on-site generation operational usage and a time related cost of the on-site generation operational usage, and a fifth component dependent upon time dependent capital depreciation and maintenance and on-site generation capacity.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a highest estimated demand and a demand charge, a fourth component dependent upon on-site generation operational usage and a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, and a fifth component dependent upon capital depreciation and maintenance and on-site generation capacity.

32. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

implementing a heuristic search for inputs to the objective function based on the utility rate structures and the Contract Base Load;

computing the utility costs by way of the objective function based on the inputs as supplied by the heuristic search; and

,

applying a simulation to the computed utility costs.

33. A method of determining a lowest utility cost for a plurality of customers relative to a plurality of utility rate structures, to a total estimated load corresponding to the plurality of customers, and to a temporal resolution of a Contract Base Load comprising:

computing a plurality of utility costs based on combinations of each of the rate structures, the estimated total customer load, and the temporal resolution of the Contract Base Load; and

,

selecting the rate structure and Contract Base Load producing the lowest utility cost.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on each of the rate structures, the estimated total customer load, the temporal resolution of the Contract Base Load, and one of a plurality of on-site generations options, and wherein the selecting of the rate structure and Contract Base Load producing the lowest utility cost comprises selecting a utility customer a rate structure, a Contract Base Load, and on-site generation option combination corresponding to the lowest utility cost.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function having a first variable corresponding to the rate structures, a second variable corresponding to the Contract Base Load, and a third variable corresponding to on-site generation.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function having a first variable corresponding to the rate structures and a second variable corresponding to the Contract Base Load.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function having a first variable corresponding to the rate structures, a second variable corresponding to the Contract Base Load, and a third variable corresponding to the estimated total customer load.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon a demand charge and a higher of the Contract Base Load and the estimated total customer load, and a third component dependent upon a real time price and a difference between the Contract Base Load and the estimated customer load.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon C_lm and h_lmn, a second component dependent upon D_lS(k) and a higher value between d_i and h_lS(k)n, and a third component dependent upon R_i and a difference between d_i and h_lmn wherein C_lm comprises an energy charge, wherein h_lmn comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein D_lS(k) comprises a demand charge, wherein d_i comprises the estimated total customer load, wherein h_lS(k)n comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein R_i comprises a real time price of energy, wherein l represents a time period of a day, wherein m represents time of year, wherein n represents day of week, wherein i represents a time bucket of predetermined duration, and wherein S(k) maps month k to the time of year m.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, and a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated total customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises the highest estimate demand in a period l, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, and wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon h_ijk, E_ijk, and Q_ijk, a second component dependent upon d_ijkq and R_ijkq, a third component dependent upon z_il and P_il, a fourth component dependent upon g_ijkq and A_ijkq, and a fifth component dependent upon F_i and Gas_Cap, wherein h_ijk comprises the Contract Base Load, wherein E_ijk comprises an energy charge, wherein Q_ijk comprises a set of temporal occurrences of any given (i,j,k), wherein d_ijkq comprises an amount of the estimated total customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price R_ijkq, wherein z_il comprises the highest estimated demand in a period l, wherein P_il comprises a demand charge, wherein g_ijkq comprises on-site generation operational usage, wherein A_ijkq comprises a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, wherein F_i comprises cost of capital depreciation and maintenance of on-site generation equipment, wherein Gas_Cap comprises on-site generation capacity of the on-site generation equipment, wherein i designates month, wherein j designates day, wherein k designates hour, wherein q designates a temporal occurrence of day j, during hour k, in month i.

42. The method of claim 33 wherein the computing of a plurality of utility costs comprises computing a plurality of utility costs based on an objective function, and wherein the objective function comprises a first component dependent upon the Contract Base Load and an energy charge, a second component dependent upon an amount of the estimated total customer load purchased at a corresponding real time price, a third component dependent upon a highest estimated demand and a demand charge, a fourth component dependent upon on-site generation operational usage and a cost of the on-site generation operational usage, and a fifth component dependent upon capital depreciation and maintenance and on-site generation capacity.

43. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

implementing a heuristic search for inputs based on the utility rate structures and the Contract Base Load;

computing the utility costs based on the inputs as supplied by the heuristic search; and

,

applying a simulation to the computed utility costs.