AUTOMATED PEAK DEMAND CONTROLLER
First Claim
1. A control system for managing electrical energy output by a power utility facility to a customer facility, the system comprising:
- a first computing device configured to control electrical energy output by the power utility facility by monitoring energy demand and by requesting the customer facility to reduce energy consumption when the energy demand by the customer facility exceeds a predetermined peak energy consumption setpoint;
a first power meter communicatively coupled to the first computing device, the first power meter configured to measure energy consumption by the power utility facility and to communicate measured energy consumption to the first computing device;
a second computing device connected to the first computing device, the second computing device configured to manage energy consumption by the customer facility and to communicate with the first computing device; and
a second power meter communicatively coupled to the second computing device, the second power meter configured to measure energy consumption by the customer facility and to communicate measured energy consumption to the second computing device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for managing electrical energy output by a power utility facility are disclosed. The system comprises a computing device associated with a power utility facility that is connected to a computing device operating at a customer facility. The power meters linked to the computing devices provide readings of energy consumption by the customer facility and energy output by the utility. The computing device associated with the utility is configured to control electrical energy output by the power utility facility by predicting a peak energy demand and by requesting the computing device associated with the customer facility to reduce energy consumption when the predicted peak energy demand by the customer facility exceeds a predetermined peak energy consumption setpoint. If the peak energy demand still exceeds the setpoint after the customer reduced its energy consumption, the utility dynamically adjusts the setpoint to match the demand.
74 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A control system for managing electrical energy output by a power utility facility to a customer facility, the system comprising:
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a first computing device configured to control electrical energy output by the power utility facility by monitoring energy demand and by requesting the customer facility to reduce energy consumption when the energy demand by the customer facility exceeds a predetermined peak energy consumption setpoint; a first power meter communicatively coupled to the first computing device, the first power meter configured to measure energy consumption by the power utility facility and to communicate measured energy consumption to the first computing device; a second computing device connected to the first computing device, the second computing device configured to manage energy consumption by the customer facility and to communicate with the first computing device; and a second power meter communicatively coupled to the second computing device, the second power meter configured to measure energy consumption by the customer facility and to communicate measured energy consumption to the second computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method of managing electrical energy output by a power utility facility during a billing period, the method comprising:
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setting a peak energy consumption setpoint for the billing period to a predetermined value; predicting peak energy demand for the power utility facility based on the readings of a present energy output; and if the predicted peak energy demand exceeds the peak energy consumption setpoint, requesting a customer facility to reduce energy consumption. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method of managing electric loads at a customer facility during a billing period, the method comprising:
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setting a peak energy consumption setpoint for the billing period to a predetermined value; predicting a peak energy demand for the customer facility based on readings of a present energy consumption by the customer facility; if the predicted peak energy demand exceeds the peak energy consumption setpoint, reducing electric load at the customer facility; and in response to a request to reduce energy consumption communicated by a power utility facility, adjusting the peak energy consumption setpoint in accordance with the request and reducing electric load in accordance with the adjusted peak energy consumption setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which, when executed on a processor:
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set a peak energy consumption setpoint for a billing period to a predetermined value; predict peak energy demand for the power utility facility based on the readings of a present energy output; and if the predicted peak energy demand exceeds the peak energy consumption setpoint, request a customer facility to reduce energy consumption. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which, when executed on a processor:
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set a peak energy consumption setpoint for a billing period to a predetermined value; predict peak energy demand for the customer facility based on readings of a present energy consumption by the customer facility; if the predicted peak energy demand exceeds the peak energy consumption setpoint, reducing electric load at the customer facility; and in response to a request to reduce energy consumption communicated by a power utility facility, adjusting the peak energy consumption setpoint in accordance with the request and reducing electric load in accordance with the adjusted peak energy consumption setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification