ELECTRIC ENERGY BILL REDUCTION IN DYNAMIC PRICING ENVIRONMENTS
First Claim
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1. A method comprisingcollecting and storing historical data pertaining to time-dependent and load-specific usage of electrical energy by a system comprised of a plurality of electrical energy loads;
- projecting a first electrical energy usage by the plurality of electrical energy loads for a first time increment and a second electrical energy usage by the plurality of electrical energy loads for a second time increment using the historical data and converting the first electrical energy usage to a first predicted energy expense and the second electrical energy usage to a second predicted energy expense using a variable rate electrical energy pricing structure, the variable rate electrical energy pricing structure comprising marginal rates for electrical energy that vary based at least on a time of day and on an amount of electrical energy used in a given time period;
generating a load reduction and redistribution matrix that reduces a total electrical energy bill for a billing period by reducing a use of at least one of the plurality of electrical loads during the first tie increment and/or transfers a use of at least one of the plurality of electrical loads from the first time increment to the second time increment based on a predetermined prioritization pattern to lower; and
promoting the temporal load distribution matrix.
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Abstract
A system that can save energy and reduce electric utility costs is disclosed. The system may include one or more current measurement devices communicating with a processor as well as one or more switching devices for controlling power consumption in response to utility rate pricing systems.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising
collecting and storing historical data pertaining to time-dependent and load-specific usage of electrical energy by a system comprised of a plurality of electrical energy loads; -
projecting a first electrical energy usage by the plurality of electrical energy loads for a first time increment and a second electrical energy usage by the plurality of electrical energy loads for a second time increment using the historical data and converting the first electrical energy usage to a first predicted energy expense and the second electrical energy usage to a second predicted energy expense using a variable rate electrical energy pricing structure, the variable rate electrical energy pricing structure comprising marginal rates for electrical energy that vary based at least on a time of day and on an amount of electrical energy used in a given time period; generating a load reduction and redistribution matrix that reduces a total electrical energy bill for a billing period by reducing a use of at least one of the plurality of electrical loads during the first tie increment and/or transfers a use of at least one of the plurality of electrical loads from the first time increment to the second time increment based on a predetermined prioritization pattern to lower; and promoting the temporal load distribution matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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collecting total electrical energy usage data representing a total amount of electrical energy used by a system in a time increment and also collecting subcircuit-specific electrical energy usage data representing a subcircuit-specific amount of electrical energy used by each of a plurality of subcircuits in the time increment, the subcircuit-specific amounts of electrical energy contributing to the total amount of electrical energy used; identifying a target reduction in one of the subcircuit-specific amounts of electrical energy used to maintain the total amount of electrical energy used below a level that triggers an increase in a marginal rate for electrical energy pricing for the time increment, the target reduction comprising one or more of delaying operation of a device that contributes to the subcircuit-specific amount of electrical energy used and operating the device that contributes to the subcircuit-specific amount of electrical energy used at a lower electrical energy demand during at least part of the time increment; and promoting the target reduction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a plurality of electronic monitoring devices, each assigned to one of a plurality of electrical loads and each reporting electrical energy usage data for the assigned electrical load as a function of time; and a central controller executing software that receives the electrical energy usage data and also receives electrical energy pricing data, the central controller executing software that causes it to project a first electrical energy usage by the plurality of electrical energy loads for a first time increment and a second electrical energy usage by the plurality of electrical energy loads for a second time increment using the historical data and converting the first electrical energy usage to a first predicted energy expense and the second electrical energy usage to a second predicted energy expense using a variable rate electrical energy pricing structure, the variable rate electrical energy pricing structure comprising marginal rates for electrical energy that vary based at least on a time of day and on an amount of electrical energy used in a given time period; and generate a load reduction and redistribution matrix that transfers a use of at least one of the plurality of electrical loads from the first time increment to the second time increment based on a predetermined prioritization pattern to lower an total electrical energy bill for a billing period. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification