Bundling of a utility payment with sale of a property

• US 20060218065A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spark Energy LP (Spark Energy, Inc.), Utility Resource Solutions LP
• Original Assignee: Spark Energy LP (Spark Energy, Inc.), Utility Resource Solutions LP
• Inventors: Maxwell, W. Keith III
• Application Number:
  US11/243,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method of bundling a purchase by a first party of a utility commodity provided over time by a second party with a property sold by a third party comprising: a) estimating a total cost for an amount of the utility commodity for a predetermined amount of time; b) obtaining from at least one fourth party lender, at least one loan for purchase of the property, the at least one loan providing legal tender to the first party in an amount needed to purchase the property and the amount of the utility commodity; c) conveying an amount of legal tender to the second party in amount corresponding to the total cost estimated in step a); d) conveying legal tender to the third party in an amount adequate to purchase the property; and e) delivering at least a first portion of the utility commodity to the property via a conduit.

Claims

1. A method of bundling a purchase by a first party of a desired amount of a utility commodity provided over time by a second party with a purchase of a property sold by a third party, comprising:

a) establishing a total cost for the desired amount of said utility commodity;

b) adding the total cost established in step a) to the price of the property; and

c) upon purchase of the property conveying an amount of legal tender to said second party in amount corresponding to said total cost established in step a).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired amount of the utility is based upon one year'"'"'s expected usage.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired amount of the utility is based upon five years'"'"' expected usage.

4. A method of bundling a purchase by a first party of a desired amount of a utility commodity provided over time by a second party with a purchase of a property sold by a third party comprising:

a) establishing a total cost for the desired amount of said utility commodity;

b) obtaining from at least one fourth party lender, at least one loan for the purchase of said property, said at least one loan providing legal tender to said first party in an amount sufficient to purchase said property and said amount of said utility commodity;

c) conveying an amount of legal tender to said second party in amount corresponding to said total cost established in step a);

d) conveying legal tender to said third party in an amount adequate to purchase said property; and

e) delivering at least a first portion of said utility commodity to said property via a conduit.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

calculating the cost of said first portion prior to said step of transferring, said step c), said calculating step being executed by a computer processor; and

deducting said cost for said first portion of said utility commodity from said total cost.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said deducting step yields a remaining value for said utility commodity owed to said first party, wherein said method further comprises sending to said first party a statement of said remaining value.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the transfer of said amount of legal tender to said second party is the sole transfer to said second party for said cost of said utility commodity.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said loan is secured by said property.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined amount of time is five years.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein said utility commodity is electricity.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein said utility commodity is water.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein said utility commodity is gas.

13. The method of claim 4 wherein said utility commodity includes a first utility commodity and a second utility commodity, said second utility commodity being estimated and included in said loan amount.

14. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of estimating is based on prior usage of said utility commodity by said first party.

15. A method of bundling a purchase by a first party of a desired amount of a utility commodity provided over time by a second party with the acquisition of a loan by said first party, comprising:

a) establishing a total cost for the desired amount of said utility commodity;

b) adding the total cost established in step a) to the amount of the loan; and

c) upon acquisition of the loan conveying an amount of legal tender to said second party in amount corresponding to said total cost established in step a).

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the desired amount of the utility is based upon one year'"'"'s expected usage.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the desired amount of the utility is based upon five years'"'"' expected usage.