Electrical service monitoring system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- monitoring an electrical power usage of a plurality of electrical outlets at a residence using a power line communications (PLC) network;
determining a first electrical power usage of a first group of outlets of the plurality of electrical outlets;
determining a second electrical power usage of a second group of outlets of the plurality of electrical outlets; and
providing the monitored power usage including the first electrical power usage and the second electrical power usage on a web site where the web site is accessible to both an electrical utility and a customer of the electrical utility.
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Abstract
A system and method that allows a consumer to monitor the electrical power usage in a residence is disclosed. The electrical use may be monitored at the service level, the circuit level, or at the group level. The electrical usage is communicated to a power monitoring system using a power line communications network (PLC). The monitored electrical usage can be accessed by both the utility supplying the electricity and by the consumer or owner of the residence.
97 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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monitoring an electrical power usage of a plurality of electrical outlets at a residence using a power line communications (PLC) network; determining a first electrical power usage of a first group of outlets of the plurality of electrical outlets; determining a second electrical power usage of a second group of outlets of the plurality of electrical outlets; and providing the monitored power usage including the first electrical power usage and the second electrical power usage on a web site where the web site is accessible to both an electrical utility and a customer of the electrical utility. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method, comprising:
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monitoring a rate of electrical usage of a plurality of electrical outlets in a residence; communicating a first rate of electrical usage from a first group of outlets of the plurality of electrical outlets to a power monitor system using a power line communications network; and communicating a second rate of electrical usage from a second group of outlets of the plurality of electrical outlets to the power monitor system using the power line communications network. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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monitoring a rate of electrical usage of a plurality of electrical circuits in a residence; communicating a first rate of electrical usage from a first group of circuits of the plurality of electrical circuits to a power monitor system using a power line communications network; and communicating a second rate of electrical usage from a second group of circuits of the plurality of electrical circuits to a power monitor system using a power line communications network. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A power monitoring system, comprising:
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a plurality of power monitors; a power line communications network running on an electrical wiring of a residence where the power line communications network connects the plurality of power monitors; a computer system configured to communicate with the plurality of power monitors using the power line communications network such that an electrical use of a plurality of electrical outlets including a first group of outlets and a second group of outlets in the residence is monitored. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification