UTILITY PORTALS FOR MANAGING DEMAND-RESPONSE EVENTS

• US 20140277795A1
• Filed: 04/19/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Matthew Lee, Sloo, David, McGaraghan, Scott A., Korz, Samuel Ward, Matsuoka, Yoky, Fadell, Anthony Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,807,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Various utility portals that enable utility companies to manage demand-response events are disclosed. The disclosed utility portals include several different options for enabling utility companies to communicate information to and received information from an energy management system. The energy management system can host the portal and can carry out a demand response event via intelligent, network-connected devices based on information provided by the utility company.

Claims

1. A utility portal interface for use by a utility company for managing demand response events, comprising:

a customer management module operable to enable a utility operator to assign at least one parameter to each energy consumer that is enrolled to participate in a demand response program, wherein the at least one parameter associates each energy consumer with at least one of a plurality of groups; and

a scheduling module operable to;

enable the utility operator to define at least one attribute of a future demand response event, wherein the at least one attribute comprises at least one of a date at which the future demand response event is to begin, a demand response event period, and an identity of at least one of the groups of energy consumers for potential inclusion in the future demand response event;

display information associated with at least one of the identified groups, wherein the information comprises an indication as to whether the identified group is available for inclusion in the future demand response event; and

enable the utility operator to selectively include at least one of the available identified groups for participation in the future demand response event.

2. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the scheduling module is further operable to limit the number of times a particular one of the groups can be included in a future demand response event within a predetermined time period.

3. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the scheduling module is further operable to impose a submission deadline by when the utility operator must submit a request for the future demand response event.

4. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the scheduling module comprises a utility operating parameters region operable to:

enable the utility operator to enter at least one of an energy production capacity and an energy demand profile; and

display a graph that comprises a graphical representation of the at least one of the energy production capacity and the energy demand profile.

5. The utility portal interface of claim 4, wherein the graph further comprises a graphical representation of a demand response energy profile, and wherein the graphical representation of the demand response energy profile is dynamically updated as each selectively included group is included by the utility operator.

6. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the scheduling module is further operable to display active demand response events, wherein each displayed active demand response event comprises information identifying group information, date and event period information, and statistical information associated with customer premises control units involved in the active demand response event.

7. The utility portal interface of claim 6, wherein the statistical information comprises confirmation statistics of customer premises control units that have successfully received a signal corresponding to the future demand response event.

8. The utility portal interface of claim 7, wherein the confirmation statistics are updated on one of a real-time basis and a periodic basis.

9. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the scheduling module is further operable to display previously implemented demand response events, wherein each displayed previously implemented demand response event comprises information identifying group information, date and event period information, and statistical information associated with customer premises control units involved in the active demand response event.

10. The utility portal interface of claim 9, wherein the statistical information comprises confirmation statistics for customer premises control units that have successfully received a signal corresponding to the future demand response event

11. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the demand response event period has one of a predefined fixed period of duration and user definable period of duration.

12. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the scheduling module is further operable to:

display aggregated statistical information for each group identified for potential inclusion in the future demand response period event; and

display an interactive demand response request button selectable by the utility operator to include each identified group in the future demand response event.

13. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter comprises one of an approved status to participate in the demand response program and a not approved status to participate in the demand response program, and wherein each energy consumer is assigned one of the approved status and the non-approved status.

14. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the parameters assigned to each energy customer are provided to an energy management system that communicates with a population of structures comprising environmental cooling systems controlled by a respective population of network-controlled thermostats, and wherein a subset of the population of structures comprises the energy consumers that are enrolled to participate in the demand response program.

15. The utility portal interface of claim 1, wherein the customer module is further operable to:

download data from an energy management system, the data comprising information for a plurality of energy consumers enrolled to participate in the demand response program;

enable the utility operator to change the data for at least one of the plurality of energy consumers; and

upload the data to the energy management system.

16. The utility portal interface of claim 15, wherein, after the data is uploaded to the energy management system, the customer module is further operable to display summary information.

17. A method for enabling a utility company to request a demand response event using a utility portal, the utility portal hosted by an energy management system that manages demand response events for a population of structures having environmental cooling systems controlled by a respective population of network-connected thermostats, the method comprising:

displaying, in a parameter defining region of the utility portal, parameter acquisition elements that enable the utility company to specify a plurality of parameters for a demand response request, the plurality of parameters comprising an energy reduction amount, a date, and a time period;

receiving parameter data from the utility company that specifies the energy reduction amount, the date, and the time period;

receiving a request for a demand response solution based on the received parameter data;

displaying, in a solution region of the portal, the demand response solution in response to the received request; and

receiving a confirmation from the utility company to execute a demand response event based on the demand response solution.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the demand response solution is determined by the energy management system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the demand response solution comprises a proposed energy reduction amount, a proposed date, and a proposed time period.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the demand response solution further identifies at least one group of energy customers that are able to participate in the demand response event, and wherein the method further comprises enabling the utility company to selectively remove at least one of the groups prior to the confirmation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the proposed energy reduction amount displayed in the solution region dynamically changes when the utility company removes the at least one group.

22. A method for enabling a utility company to request a demand response event using a utility portal, the utility portal hosted by an energy management system that manages demand response events for a population of structures having environmental cooling systems controlled by a respective population of network-connected thermostats, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of selectable modules comprising at least a schedule module and a suggestion module, wherein the suggestion module comprises an notification element indicating a number of suggested demand response events, each suggested demand response event being associated with a respective subgroup of the population of network-connected thermostats;

in response to receiving a selection of the suggestion module, displaying at least one suggested demand response event in a suggestions region of the utility portal, wherein each suggested demand response event comprises event specific information;

enabling the utility company to select at least one of the displayed suggested demand response events; and

receiving an instruction to commence each selected suggested demand response event.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the event specific information comprises a date and an event period.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the event specific information comprises savings information associated with the shifting of energy usage out of an applicable event time interval.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the energy management system generates the suggested demand response events.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management system carries out each selected suggested demand response event by communicating with each of the network-connected thermostats in the respective subgroups associated therewith.