Billing and payment methods and systems enabling consumer premises equipment

• US 20080091625A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spruce IP Properties LLC (Spruce Power Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Clean Power Finance, Inc. (Spruce Power Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Kremen, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/16 Displaying of utility pricing or cost
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The present invention teaches a variety of systems and methods enabling renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) such as dual metering techniques. The present invention contemplates, among other things, supporting, by increasing a likelihood of meeting financing obligations, a consumer purchasing, leasing, installing and/or maintaining renewable energy CPE for power generation at a consumer premises. The renewable energy CPE may be attached to a structure on the consumer premises, disposed free standing on the consumer premises, or utilized through any other suitable means on the consumer premises.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the likelihood of repayment of a loan provided by a lender for the purchase of renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) by a consumer, the method comprising:

(a) coupling the CPE to a power grid operable to receive at least a portion of the power generated by the CPE;

(b) measuring power generated by the CPE and delivered onto the power grid; and

(c) processing receivables associated with the power generated to an entity at times corresponding to power measurement to fulfill the consumer'"'"'s obligation to repay the loan.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receivables includes cash flow.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein processing receivables includes distributing at least a portion of the receivables.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein processing receivables includes securing at least a portion of the receivables.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein processing receivables includes both distributing a first portion of the receivables and securing a second portion of the receivables.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein processing receivables occurs at time increments that are monthly, weekly, daily, by the minute or over any other period of time.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the power delivered onto the power grid is the excess power generated by the CPE that exceeds the power from the grid consumed by the consumer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the power is selectively measured directly off the CPE.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein receivables are selectively processed at times corresponding to power measured selectively off the CPE.

10. A business method of increasing a likelihood of repayment of a loan, lease or other financial instrument provided by a lender for purchase, lease, installation, and/or maintenance of renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) by a consumer, the method comprising:

(a) measuring excess power incrementally over a period of time generated by the CPE and delivered onto a power grid; and

(b) processing receivables associated with the excess power generated to the lender at increments corresponding to increments that the excess power is measured to fulfill the consumer'"'"'s obligation to repay the loan, lease or other financial instrument.

11. The business method of claim 10 wherein processing receivables includes distributing at least a portion of the receivables.

12. The business method of claim 10 wherein processing receivables includes securing at least a portion of the receivables.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein increments associated with the period of time are monthly, weekly, daily, by the minute or over any other period of time.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the measurements are taken at times in which excess power is delivered by the CPE onto the power grid.

15. A method of billing by a first entity for financing renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) installed on a consumer premises, the CPE capable of generating power, the power consumed by a consumer associated with the consumer premises, the method comprising:

(a) coupling the CPE to a power grid maintained by a second entity;

(b) distributing at least some of the power generated by the CPE to the power grid;

(c) giving a monetary value to the at least some power generated by the CPE and distributed to the power grid; and

(d) the second entity making payment directly to the first entity for the financing of the CPE in the amount of the monetary value for power generated by the CPE and delivered onto the power grid.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the power delivered onto the power grid is an amount of power generated by the CPE that exceeds the power from the grid consumed by the consumer.

17. A method of financing at a purchase price the purchase of consumer premises equipment (CPE) suitable for installation by a consumer and power generation or power use reduction at a consumer premises, the method comprising:

(a) identifying whether at least one credit or rebate is associated with the purchase and/or operation of the CPE by the consumer at the consumer premises;

(b) taking into consideration subtracting any associated credits or rebates from the purchase price of the CPE; and

(c) taking into consideration reselling of the CPE at a market rate, net any remarketing costs, in case of a default by the consumer.

18. The method of claim 17 further taking into consideration attributes associated with power generated by the CPE, the attributes include one or more of the following:

(a) emission reduction credits;

(b) tradable renewable credits;

(c) independent power production credits;

(d) grid congestion credits;

(e) royalty credits;

(f) green tag credits; and

(g) power production credits.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the credits include one or more:

(a) federal tax credits;

(b) state tax credits;

(c) utility credits; and

(d) third-party credits.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein such credits exist now or will exist in the future.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the attributes include royalty credits, and such royalty credits include one or more of the following:

(a) an option to purchase some or all of the CPE;

(b) a divided or undivided interest in the CPE;

(c) a right to receive a certain amount of power generated by the CPE; and

(d) royalty interests in the CPE.

22. A billing and payment system for financing purchase, lease, installation and/or maintenance of a renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) suitable for installation by a consumer and power generation at a consumer premises, the billing and payment system comprising:

(a) a power grid operable to distribute power to the consumer premises, the power grid further operable to receive power from the CPE;

(b) a power measuring device operable to measure power delivered to the consumer premises via the power grid, the power measuring device further operable to measure power delivered onto the power grid by the CPE;

(c) a billing mechanism operable to determine on a periodic basis any excess value of power generated via the CPE over power delivered to the consumer premises via the power grid; and

(d) wherein the billing mechanism credits any excess value generated by the CPE to an entity that financed the purchase, lease, installation and/or of the CPE up to an amount owed by the consumer to the entity during a relevant period.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the billing mechanism periodically bills the consumer for any obligation of the consumer to the entity beyond the excess value generated by the CPE.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the billing mechanism periodically pays or credits the consumer for any excess value generated by the CPE not obligated to the entity.

25. A system for enabling purchase, lease, installation and/or maintenance of solar power generation consumer premises equipment (CPE) suitable for installation by a consumer and for power generation at a consumer premises, the system comprising:

a financing mechanism that identifies any credits associated with the purchase, lease, installation, and/or maintenance of the solar power generation CPE, the financing mechanism generating financing for the purchase, lease, installation, and/or maintenance of the solar power generation CPE based upon any identified credits together with a resale value of the CPE;

a power grid operable to distribute power to the consumer premises, the power grid further operable to receive power from the CPE;

a power measuring device operable to measure power delivered to the consumer premises via the power grid, the power measuring device further operable to measure power delivered onto the power grid by the CPE; and

a billing mechanism operable to determine on a periodic basis any excess value of power generated via the CPE over power delivered to the consumer premises via the power grid, the billing mechanism further operable to credit any excess value generated by the CPE to an entity that financed the purchase, lease, installation and/or maintenance of the CPE up to an amount owed by the consumer to the entity during a relevant period.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the financing mechanism generates a specific financial instrument corresponding to the CPE, the system further comprising a market for trading a plurality of financial instruments such as the specific financial instrument.