System and method for providing more efficient communications between energy suppliers, energy purchasers and transportation providers as necessary for an efficient and non-discriminatory energy market

• US 5,794,212 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dominion Resources Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dominion Resources Incorporated
• Inventors: Mistr, Alfred F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Jagdish
• Application Number:
  US08/630,783
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/412, 705/1, 705/37, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A method for providing more efficient communication between energy suppliers, energy purchasers, and transportation providers and having an administrator to assist in the transmission of energy as necessary for providing timely movement of energy. The method includes the steps of connecting an energy supplier, a buyer, a transmission supplier and the administrator through a network, and providing a program-controlled processor for receiving energy information from the buyer, the energy supplier and the transmission supplier. The processor is adapted to process and store the energy information, and communicate the energy information via the network to all the parties. The method includes the steps of verifying the reliability of the transportation of energy, providing access to the buyer to the energy information stored in a data base connected to the processor to assist the buyer in negotiating for the transportation of energy, and communicating the acceptance by the buyer to the energy supplier and to the transmission supplier. The method can further include the steps of sending invoices for the transmission of energy and paying the energy supplier and the transmission supplier for the transmission.

Claims

1. A method for providing efficient and orderly communication between at least a first user, an energy producer, and a transmission supplier, and for providing timely transmission of power, said method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting said first user, said producer and said transmission supplier through a network to a computer means having a data base;

b. receiving by said computer means energy information from said producer and said transmission supplier via said network, said energy information including an indication of available power by said producer, and a means of transmission by said transmission supplier;

c. processing and storing said energy information in said data base;

d. receiving by said computer means from said first user via said network a request for said energy information;

e. transmitting to said first user by said computer means via said network said energy information from said data base;

f. transmitting via said network by said first user to said producer and said transmission supplier a first proposal for the transmission of an amount of said available power;

g. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission;

h. transmitting to said first user via said network a supply price for said available power by said producer and a first transmission cost by said transmission supplier;

i. transmitting via said network a first acceptance of said supply price and said first transmission cost by said user to said producer and said transmission supplier; and

j. updating said data base with information about said first acceptance.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

a. finding by said first user an indication of no reliable transmission for said amount of said available power;

b. connecting a second user to said network;

c. receiving by said computer means an indication from said second user of willingness to free up transmission capacity of said means of transmission;

d. processing and storing said indication from said second user with said energy information in said data base;

e. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission with said additional transmission capacity;

f. transmitting via said network by said first user a second proposal to said second user, said producer and said transmission supplier for the transmission of said amount of said available power;

g. transmitting via said network to said first user said supply price by said producer, an additional cost for said additional transmission capacity by said second user, and a second transmission cost by said transmission supplier;

h. transmitting by said first user via said network a second acceptance of said first supply price, said second transmission cost and said additional cost to said producer, said second user and said transmission supplier; and

i. updating said data base with information about said second acceptance transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

a. transmitting an invoice by an administrator assisting in the transmission of power to said first user for payment for said transmission of said available power and sending an appropriate portion of said payment to said producer and said transmission supplier.

4. The method of claim 2, further including the step of:

a. sending an appropriate amount of said payment to said second user for said additional transmission capacity.

5. A method for providing efficient and orderly communication between at least a first user, a second user, an energy producer, and a transmission supplier, and for providing timely transmission of power, said method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting said first and second users, said producer and said transmission supplier through a network to a computer means having a data base;

b. receiving energy information from said first and second users, said producer and said transmission supplier via said network, said energy information including an indication of available power by said producer, a means of transmission by said transmission supplier, and an indication from said second user of willingness to free up transmission capacity of said means of transmission;

c. processing and storing said energy information in said data base;

d. receiving by said computer means from said first user via said network a request for said energy information;

e. transmitting by said computer means to said first user via said network said energy information from said data base;

f. transmitting by said first user to said producer and said transmission supplier a first proposal for the transmission of an amount of said available power;

g. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission from said producer to said first user;

h. transmitting to said first user via said network a supply price for said available power by said producer and a first transmission cost by said transmission supplier;

i. transmitting via said network a first acceptance of said supply price and said first transmission cost by said first user to said producer and said transmission supplier;

j. communicating said energy information and said first acceptance to an administrator assisting in the transmission of said available power; and

k. updating said data base with information about said first acceptance.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the steps of:

a. receiving by said first user via said network an indication of no reliable transmission for said amount of said available power;

b. transmitting via said network by said first user a second proposal to said second user, said producer and said transmission supplier for the transmission of said amount of available power with said additional transmission capacity;

c. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission with said additional transmission capacity;

d. transmitting via said network to said first user said supply price by said producer, an additional cost for said additional transmission capacity by said second user and a second transmission cost by said transmission supplier;

e. transmitting via said network a second acceptance by said first user to said producer, said second user and said transmission supplier of said supply price, said second transmission cost and said additional cost; and

f. updating said data base with information about said second acceptance.

7. The method of claim 5, further including the step of:

a. transmitting an invoice by said administrator to said first user for payment for said transmission of said available power and sending the appropriate portion of said payment to said producer and said transmission supplier.

8. The method of claim 6, further including the step of:

a. transmitting an invoice by said administrator to said first user for said transmission of said available power and sending the appropriate portion of said payment to said provider, said second user and said transmission supplier.

9. A method for providing efficient and orderly communication between at least a first user, an energy producer, and an energy delivery supplier, and for providing for timely delivery of power, said method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting said first user, said producer and said delivery supplier through a network to a computer means having a data base, said data base having first, second and third data files;

b. receiving by said computer energy information from said producer and said delivery supplier via said network, said energy information including an indication of available power for guaranteed transmissions and for priority and non-priority non-guaranteed transmissions by said producer, a means of delivery for said guaranteed and said non-guaranteed transmissions by said delivery supplier;

c. processing and storing said energy information in said data base, information about said available power for said guaranteed, said priority and said non-priority non-guaranteed transmissions being stored in said first, second and third data files, respectively;

d. receiving by said computer means from said first user a request for said energy information for said guaranteed transmissions;

e. transmitting to said first user by said computer means said energy information from said data base;

f. transmitting by said first user to said producer and said delivery supplier via said network a first proposal for a guaranteed transmission of said amount of said available power;

g. verifying reliability of energy delivery along said means of delivery;

h. transmitting to said first user via said network a supply price and a first delivery cost for said first proposal;

i. transmitting via said network a first acceptance of said supply price and said first delivery cost by said first user to said producer and said delivery supplier;

j. updating said data base with information about said first acceptance;

k. delivering said amount of said available energy to said first user; and

l. transmitting by said administrator via said network an invoice to said first user for payment for said delivery and sending the appropriate portion of said payment to said producer and said delivery supplier.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the steps of:

a. receiving by said first user via said network an indication of no reliable transmission for said amount of said available power;

b. connecting a second user to said network;

c. receiving by said computer means an indication from said second user of a willingness to free up transmission capacity of said means of transmission;

d. processing and storing said information from said second user with said energy information in said data base;

e. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission with said additional transmission capacity;

f. transmitting by said first user a second proposal to said provider, said second user and said delivery supplier for a guaranteed transmission for said amount of available power with said additional transmission capacity;

g. transmitting to said first user said supply price by said producer, an additional cost for said additional transmission capacity by said second user and a second delivery cost by said delivery supplier;

h. transmitting via said network a second acceptance by said first user of said supply price, said delivery cost and said additional cost to said provider, said second user and said delivery supplier;

i. updating said data base with information about said second acceptance;

j. delivering said amount of said available power to said first user; and

k. sending a correct portion of said payment to said second user.

11. The method of claim 9, further including the steps of:

a. receiving by said computer means from said first user a request for said energy information for said priority non-guaranteed transmissions;

b. transmitting by said first user to said producer and said delivery supplier via said network a third proposal for a priority non-guaranteed transmission of said amount of said available power;

c. transmitting to said first user via said network said supply price and a third delivery cost for said third proposal;

d. transmitting via said network a third acceptance of said supply price and said third delivery cost by said first user to said producer and said delivery supplier; and

e. updating said data base with information about said third acceptance.

12. The method of claim 9, further including the steps of:

a. receiving by said computer means from said first user a request for said energy information for said non-priority non-guaranteed transmissions;

b. transmitting by said first user to said producer and said delivery supplier via said network a fourth proposal for a non-priority non-guaranteed transmission of said amount of said available power;

c. transmitting to said first user via said network said supply price and a fourth delivery cost for said fourth proposal;

d. transmitting via said network a fourth acceptance of said supply price and said fourth delivery cost by said first user to said producer and said delivery supplier; and

e. updating said data base with information about said fourth acceptance.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said second proposal is for a priority non-guaranteed transmission for said amount of available power.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said second proposal is for a non-priority non-guaranteed transmission for said amount of available power.

15. A method for providing efficient and orderly communication between at least a first user, an energy producer, an energy delivery supplier and an administrator assisting in the delivery of energy, and for providing timely delivery of energy, said method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting said first user, said producer, said delivery supplier and said administrator through a network to a computer having a data base;

b. receiving by said computer energy information from said producer and said delivery supplier via said network, said energy information including an indication of available energy by said producer and a means of energy delivery by said delivery supplier;

c. verifying the accuracy of said energy information from said delivery supplier;

d. processing and storing said energy information in said data base;

e. receiving by said computer from said first user a request for said energy information;

f. transmitting to said first user by said computer said energy information from said data base;

g. transmitting by said first user via said network to said producer and said delivery supplier a first proposal for the transmission of an amount of said available energy;

h. verifying reliability of energy delivery along said means of delivery from said producer to said first user;

i. transmitting to said first user via said network a supply price by said producer and a first delivery cost by said delivery supplier;

j. transmitting via said network a first acceptance by said first user of said supply price and said first delivery cost to said producer, said delivery supplier and said administrator;

k. updating said data base with information about said first acceptance;

l. delivering said amount of said available energy to said first user; and

m. requesting payment from said first user by said administrator for said energy delivery, and sending an appropriate portion of said payment to said energy producer and said delivery supplier.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of:

a. receiving by said first user an indication of no reliable transmission for said amount of said available energy;

b. connecting a second user to said network;

c. receiving by said computer information from said second user of additional transmission capacity if said second user forgoes a prior commitment;

d. processing and storing said information from said second user with said energy information in said data base;

e. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission with said additional transmission capacity;

f. transmitting by said first user via said network a second proposal to said producer, said second user and said delivery supplier for the delivery of said amount of available energy;

g. transmitting to said first user said supply price by said producer, an additional cost for said additional transmission capacity by said second user and a second delivery cost by said delivery supplier;

h. transmitting by said first user via said network a second acceptance by said first user of said supply price, said delivery cost and said additional cost to said second user, said producer and said delivery supplier;

i. updating said data base with information about said second acceptance; and

j. delivering said amount of available energy to said first user.

17. A method for providing efficient and orderly communication between a buyer of energy, an energy producer, a transmission supplier and an administrator to assist in the transmission of energy, and for providing timely transmission of energy, said method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting said buyer, said producer, said transmission supplier and said administrator through a network to a computer means having a data base;

b. receiving by said computer means energy information from said producer and said transmission supplier via said network, said energy information including an indication of available energy by said producer, a means of transmission and the physical characteristics and locations of said means of transmission by said transmission supplier;

c. verifying the accuracy of said energy information from said transmission supplier;

d. processing and storing said energy information in said data base;

e. causing a communication path to be established between said administrator, said buyer, said producer and said transmission supplier via said network;

f. communicating said energy information to said administrator, said buyer, said producer and said transmission supplier;

g. transmitting by said buyer a proposal for the transmission of an amount of available energy to said producer and said transmission supplier;

h. transmitting to said buyer a supply price and a transmission cost for said proposal by said producer and said transmission supplier;

i. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission;

j. transmitting by said buyer a first acceptance of said supply price and said transmission cost for transmission of said amount of said available energy to said producer, said transmission supplier and said administrator;

k. updating said data base with information about said first acceptance; and

l. transmitting said amount of said available energy to said buyer.

18. A method for providing efficient and orderly communication between at least a first utility, a second utility, and an energy delivery supplier, and for providing timely delivery of energy, said method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting said first and said second utilities, respectively, and said delivery supplier through a network to a program-controlled processor having a data base;

b. receiving by said processor energy information from said first and second utilities, and said delivery supplier, said energy information including an indication of available energy by said first utility, and a means of delivery by said delivery supplier;

c. verifying the accuracy of said energy information from said delivery supplier;

d. processing said energy information by said processor and communicating said energy information to an administrator assisting in the delivery of said suppliable energy to said second utility;

e. storing said energy information in said data base;

f. receiving by said processor from said second utility a request for access to said energy information;

g. transmitting to said second utility said energy information from said data base;

h. transmitting a proposal by said second utility to said first utility and said delivery supplier for delivery of an amount of said available energy;

i. verifying reliability by said processor of energy delivery along said means of delivery from said first utility to said second utility;

j. transmitting to said second utility a supply price by said first utility and a delivery cost by said delivery supplier;

k. transmitting a first acceptance of said supply price and said delivery cost by said second utility to said first utility, said delivery supplier and said administrator;

l. updating said data base with information about said first acceptance; and

m. delivering said amount of said available energy to said second utility.

19. The method of claim 18, further including the steps of:

a. receiving by said second utility an indication of no reliable transmission means for said amount of said available energy;

b. connecting an energy user to said network;

c. receiving by said processor information by said energy user of additional transmission capacity of said means of transmission if said energy user forgoes a prior commitment;

d. processing and storing said information from said energy user with said energy information in said data base;

e. verifying reliability of energy transmission along said means of transmission with said additional transmission capacity;

f. transmitting by said second utility a proposal to said first utility, said energy user and said delivery supplier for the delivery of said amount of available energy;

g. transmitting to said second utility said supply price by said first utility;

an additional cost for said additional transmission capacity by said energy user and a second delivery cost by said delivery supplier;

h. transmitting by said second utility a second acceptance of said supply price, said second delivery cost and said additional cost to said energy user, said administrator and said delivery supplier via said network;

i. storing information about said second acceptance in said data base; and

j. delivering said amount of available energy to said second utility.