SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING UTILITY CONSUMPTION AS SHOWN ON PERIODIC UTILITY BILLS AND ASSOCIATED CARBON EMISSIONS

• US 20090055299A1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emeter (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Emeter (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: King, Christopher Slaboszewicz
• Granted Patent: US 9,117,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

Utility usage data of a customer in numeric form provided by the utility meter data collection system in usage intervals of not less frequent than daily intervals is received, along with billing-related data of the customer. The received utility usage data of the customer is converted from numeric form to a graphical form that shows the total daily usage information for a calendar period that matches that for the printed utility bill of the customer. The graphical form is printed on the printed utility bill or on a paper suitable for use as an insert accompanying the printed utility bill to be mailed to the customer. In another embodiment, electricity usage data of the customer is received, along with electricity generation data regarding quantity and percentages of a utility'"'"'s total electricity generation attributable to at least two the following electricity generation sources: Natural Gas-Baseload, Natural Gas-Peaking, Coal, Hydro, Nuclear, and Renewable. Information is derived regarding proportion of the customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation from the electricity generation data and the electricity usage data. Preferably, the carbon emissions attributable to the customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage is calculated and presented to the customer.

Claims

1. A data management system comprising:

an interface connected to a utility meter data collection system for receiving utility usage data of at least one customer in numeric form provided by the utility meter data collection system in usage intervals of not less frequent than daily intervals;

an interface connected to a utility billing system for receiving billing-related data of said at least one customer, said billing-related data of said at least one customer being suitable for use in preparation of a utility bill of said at least one customer for a calendar period;

a first application converting the received utility usage data of said at least one customer from numeric form to a first graphical form that shows the total daily usage information for a calendar period that matches that for the utility bill of said at least one customer; and

means for delivering the first graphical form to the at least one customer.

2. The data management system of claim 1, said utility usage data of the at least one customer including electricity usage data of the at least one customer and the total daily usage information includes total daily electricity usage of the at least one customer, said data management system further comprising:

an interface connected to an information provider for receiving from said provider electricity generation data regarding quantity and percentages of a utility'"'"'s total electricity generation attributable to at least two the following electricity generation sources;

Natural Gas-Baseload, Natural Gas-Peaking, Coal, Hydro, Nuclear, and Renewable;

a second application deriving information regarding proportion of the at least one customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation by said utility from said electricity generation data and the total daily electricity usage of the at least one customer'"'"'s; and

a third application creating from said information regarding proportion of at least one customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation by said utility a second graphical form that shows the proportion of the at least one customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation of said utility.

3. The data management system of claim 2, wherein said electricity generation data include data regarding quantities of carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated associated with the utility'"'"'s electricity generation sources, said data management system further comprising a fourth application deriving quantities of carbon emissions attributable to the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage from said electricity generation data and the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage data.

4. The data management system of claim 3, wherein the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage data and said electricity generation data are for time intervals not less frequent than daily intervals, and said fourth application generates said quantities of carbon emissions attributable to the at least one customer'"'"'s daily electricity usage in a third graphical form.

5. The data management system of claim 4, wherein the third graphical form is in one or more colors, shadings or markings to indicate the quantities of carbon emissions attributable to the at least one customer'"'"'s daily electricity usage.

6. The data management system of claim 2, said interface connected to a utility meter data collection system receiving natural gas usage data of the at least one customer, said data management system further comprising a fourth application deriving in graphical form quantities of carbon emissions caused by the at least one customer'"'"'s natural gas usage from the at least one customer'"'"'s natural gas electricity usage data.

7. The data management system of claim 2, wherein the second graphical form displays the proportion of the at least one customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage in one or more colors, shadings or markings to indicate the proportion of the at least one customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage produced by the sources of electricity generation of said utility.

8. The data management system of claim 1, utility usage data of said at least one customer including one or more of the following:

water, electricity and natural gas, said data management system further comprising a second application converting the received utility usage data of said at least one customer from numeric form to a second graphical form, wherein said printing means prints said second graphical form on said printed utility bill or on said paper.

9. The data management system of claim 1, further comprising a second application producing an electronic copy of the first graphical form and provides the electronic copy to said at least one customer electronically.

10. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the first graphical form displays data differently for weekdays compared to weekend days.

11. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the first graphical form displays data differently for holidays compared to other days.

12. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the first graphical form displays daily cost of the utility usage data of said at least one customer in one or more colors, shadings or markings to indicate portion of cost occurring at different prices for the utility used.

13. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the first application synchronizes the utility usage data to the calendar period of the printed utility bill to obtain said total daily usage information.

14. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the first application employs interpolation in the synchronization.

15. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the delivering means includes a printer printing the first graphical form on said printed utility bill or on a paper suitable for use as an insert accompanying said printed utility bill to be mailed.

16. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the delivering means includes means for delivering the first graphical form with the utility bill electronically to the at least one customer.

17. A data management system comprising:

an interface connected to a utility meter data collection system for receiving electricity usage data of at least one customer;

an interface connected to an information provider for receiving from said provider electricity generation data regarding quantity and percentages of a utility'"'"'s total electricity generation attributable to at least two the following electricity generation sources;

Natural Gas-Baseload, Natural Gas-Peaking, Coal, Hydro, Nuclear, and Renewable; and

a first application deriving information regarding proportion of the at least one customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation from said electricity generation data and the electricity usage data.

18. The data management system of claim 17, wherein said electricity generation data include data regarding quantities of carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated associated with the electricity generation sources, said data management system further comprising a second application deriving quantities of carbon emissions attributable to a customer'"'"'s electricity usage from said electricity generation data and the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage data.

19. The data management system of claim 18, wherein the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage data and said electricity generation data are for time intervals not less frequent than daily intervals, and said second application generates said quantities of carbon emissions attributable to a customer'"'"'s daily electricity usage in graphical form.

20. The data management system of claim 19, wherein the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage data contains data regarding usage data during critical peak, on peak, mid-peak and off peaks times of time periods, and the electricity generation data include data regarding which one or more of the sources of electricity generation were used for electricity generation during said critical peak, on peak, mid-peak and off peaks times, said second application deriving quantities of carbon emissions attributable to a customer'"'"'s electricity usage by taking into account the carbon emissions associated with the one or more sources of electricity generation used for electricity generation and the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage during said critical peak, on peak, mid-peak and off peaks times.

21. The data management system of claim 19, said interface connected to a utility meter data collection system receiving natural gas usage data of the at least one customer, said data management system further comprising a second application deriving in graphical form quantities of carbon emissions attributable to a customer'"'"'s natural gas usage from the at least one customer'"'"'s natural gas electricity usage data.

22. A data management method comprising:

receiving utility usage data of at least one customer in numeric form provided by the utility meter data collection system in usage intervals of not less frequent than daily intervals;

receiving billing-related data of said at least one customer, said billing-related data of said at least one customer being suitable for use in preparation of a printed utility bill of said at least one customer for a calendar period;

converting the received utility usage data of said at least one customer from numeric form to a graphical form that shows the total daily usage information for a calendar period that matches that for the printed utility bill of said at least one customer; and

printing the graphical form on said printed utility bill or on a paper suitable for use as an insert accompanying said printed utility bill to be mailed to the at least one customer.

23. A data management method comprising:

receiving electricity usage data of at least one customer;

receiving from said provider electricity generation data regarding quantity and percentages of a utility'"'"'s total electricity generation attributable to at least two the following electricity generation sources;

Natural Gas-Baseload, Natural Gas-Peaking, Coal, Hydro, Nuclear, and Renewable; and

deriving information regarding proportion of the at least one customer'"'"'s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation from said electricity generation data and the electricity usage data.

24. The data management method of claim 23, wherein said electricity generation data include data regarding quantities of carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated associated with the electricity generation sources, said data management method further comprising calculating quantities of carbon emissions attributable to a customer'"'"'s electricity usage from said electricity generation data and the at least one customer'"'"'s electricity usage data.