Method and apparatus for providing a virtual electric utility
First Claim
1. A method for providing a virtual electric utility, the method comprising:
- entering into an agreement to acquire electric power from an electric power generating entity;
during a term of the agreement, intentionally refraining from receiving at least some of the electric power to produce deferred electric power; and
at least offering to supply the deferred electric power to at least one of an electric power supplier and an electric power consumer.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for virtually generating electricity for use by electric utilities provide a virtual electric utility. In one embodiment, a non-power generating electric utility enters into a supply agreement to acquire electric power from an electric power generating entity. During a term of the agreement, the non-power generating utility intentionally refrains from receiving at least some of the electric power to which it is entitled under the agreement to produce deferred electric power. The non-power generating utility offers to supply the deferred electric power to third party, such as an electric power supplier or an electric power consumer. The power deferment is preferably achieved through issuance of power control commands to a load management system. In another embodiment, an independent third party controls the load management system to function as an alternative energy supplier by virtually supplying deferred electric power back to a power grid.
375 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for providing a virtual electric utility, the method comprising:
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entering into an agreement to acquire electric power from an electric power generating entity; during a term of the agreement, intentionally refraining from receiving at least some of the electric power to produce deferred electric power; and at least offering to supply the deferred electric power to at least one of an electric power supplier and an electric power consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for implementing a virtual electric utility, the method comprising:
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issuing a power control command to a load management system, the load management system positively controlling power consumed by a plurality of remotely located and controllable load devices, the power control command instructing the load management system to temporarily reduce electrical power consumption by at least some of the controllable load devices; responsive to issuance of the power control command, receiving a report from the load control management system that includes at least an amount of electric power deferred as a result of execution of the power control command; and at least offering to sell the deferred amount of electric power to at least one of an electric utility and an electric power consumer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A virtual electric utility that supplies electrical power to other electric utilities through conveyance of entitlements to electric power sourced by a power generating entity, the virtual electric utility comprising:
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a processor operable to receive requests from the other electric utilities to purchase electrical power and to issue power control commands to a load management system that controls a plurality of power consuming devices, the load management system including a plurality of remotely located and controllable client devices that each controls one or more of the plurality of power consuming devices;
at least one of the power control commands requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;a database for storing, on a per client device basis, information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices during operation of the plurality of power consuming devices; a load reduction report generator, operably coupled to the database and responsive to the processor, for creating a load reduction report that includes a total amount of power saved through execution of a power reduction control command, an identifier for each client device controlling power consuming devices that had electrical power consumption reduced as a result of the power reduction control command, and an amount of power deferred in connection with each client device participating in the load management system; and a communication interface, operably coupled to the processor, for communicating with the other electric utilities to at least offer to sell an entitlement to the total amount of power saved through execution of the power reduction control command.
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25. A method for acquiring power from a virtual electric utility on an as-needed basis, the method comprising:
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requesting electric power from the virtual electric utility; receiving, from the virtual electric utility, an offer to sell an entitlement to electric power generated by at least one power generating entity; and purchasing the entitlement from the virtual electric utility.
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26. A method for providing a virtual electric utility, the method comprising:
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remotely interrupting a flow of electric power to a plurality of power consuming devices; determining an amount of power conserved as a result of the interruption of the flow of electric power to the plurality of power consuming devices to produce deferred electric power; and at least offering to sell at least a portion of the deferred electric power to at least one of an entity that generates electric power, an entity that distributes electric power, and an entity that consumes electric power. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification