SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A UTILITY BILL
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a meter for monitoring energy consumed by an energy consumer;
a first computer coupled to said meter, said first computer configured to receive from said meter a plurality of measurements representative of energy consumed during a billing period;
a second computer configured to generate a signal representative of a critical peak pricing rate for energy consumed during a critical peak pricing event; and
a third computer coupled to said first computer and to said second computer, said third computer configured to;
calculate a first consumption amount representative of energy consumed during the critical peak pricing event from the plurality of measurements;
calculate a second consumption amount representative of energy consumed other than during the critical peak pricing event from the plurality of measurements; and
,generate a bill, wherein the bill includes a flat pricing rate for the second consumption amount and the critical peak pricing rate for the first consumption amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a meter for monitoring energy consumed by an energy consumer and a first computer coupled to the meter. The first computer receives from the meter a plurality of measurements representative of energy consumed during a billing period. The system also includes a second computer that generates a signal representative of a critical peak pricing rate for energy consumed during a critical peak pricing event, and a third computer coupled to the first computer and to the second computer. The third computer calculates a first consumption amount representative of energy consumed during the critical peak pricing event, calculates a second consumption amount representative of energy consumed other than during the critical peak pricing event, and generates a bill including a flat pricing rate for the second consumption amount and the critical peak pricing rate for the first consumption amount.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a meter for monitoring energy consumed by an energy consumer; a first computer coupled to said meter, said first computer configured to receive from said meter a plurality of measurements representative of energy consumed during a billing period; a second computer configured to generate a signal representative of a critical peak pricing rate for energy consumed during a critical peak pricing event; and a third computer coupled to said first computer and to said second computer, said third computer configured to; calculate a first consumption amount representative of energy consumed during the critical peak pricing event from the plurality of measurements; calculate a second consumption amount representative of energy consumed other than during the critical peak pricing event from the plurality of measurements; and
,generate a bill, wherein the bill includes a flat pricing rate for the second consumption amount and the critical peak pricing rate for the first consumption amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A billing system, comprising:
a processor configured to; receive a plurality of measurements representative of energy consumed during a billing period; receive a signal representative of a critical peak pricing rate for energy consumed during a critical peak pricing event; calculate a first consumption amount representative of energy consumed by an energy consumer during the critical peak pricing event from the plurality of measurements; calculate a second consumption amount representative of energy consumed by the energy consumer other than during the critical peak pricing event from the plurality of measurements; and generate a bill, wherein the bill includes a flat pricing rate for the second consumption amount and the critical peak pricing rate for the first consumption amount. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for generating a bill, said method comprising:
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receiving a signal representative of a critical peak pricing rate for energy consumed during a critical peak pricing event, via a processor; determining a first amount of energy consumed by an energy consumer during the critical peak pricing event, via the processor; determining a second amount of energy consumed by the energy consumer other than during the critical peak pricing event, via the processor; and generating a bill, via the processor, wherein the bill includes a flat pricing rate for the first amount and the critical peak pricing rate for the second amount. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification