Methods, apparatus, media, and signals for billing utility usage
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for outputting billing values of utility service usage at a consumer site, the site having a plurality of load devices, each respective load using at least one of a plurality of utility services supplied to the consumer site by a plurality of utility service suppliers, the method comprising:
- providing a billing system at the consumer site, the billing system being configured to allow the consumer to see the bill out usage of the at least one utility service by each respective load;
providing a computer system at the consumer site having at least one computer processor for executing instructions and performing a variety of operations;
providing at the consumer site an output device in communication with the computer system for outputting billing values generated by the computer system;
receiving in the computer system a measurement of usage of the at least one utility service by each load for a period of time;
receiving in the computer system at least one rate information from a remote server wherein rate information relates to one or both of at least an input value, and at least one value of a least one product produced by each load;
storing in the computer system a user-defined usage range representation for each load, wherein the user-defined usage range representation identifies a user'"'"'s preference of rate and time of the usage for the load and a type of utility service provider, and wherein the user-defined usage range representation represents a range of values of at least one or both of utility input, and product produced by each load;
applying for each load the rate information to the measurement of usage by the load to produce at least one billing value for at least one of the utility service suppliers;
outputting for each load a billing value using the output device, the output being configured to be monitored by the consumer;
comparing for each load the measurement of usage with the user-defined usage range representation; and
creating for each load the billing of the at least one utility service based on the user-defined usage range representation and on the rate.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, computer readable media, and signals for managing utility usage are disclosed. Generally, each involves receiving a representation of a utility service usage at a load, receiving and storing a usage range representation, and producing a control signal for use by a utility service interrupter, when the usage is outside of the usage range representation. The control signal is operable to cause the utility service interrupter to interrupt a supply of the utility service to the load. Each also involves receiving a control signal indicating that a usage of the utility service at the load is outside of a usage range representation, and interrupting the supply of the utility service to the load in response to the control signal. Systems and methods for monitoring subscriber usage of a utility service and for billing a subscriber for utility service usage are also disclosed.
86 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for outputting billing values of utility service usage at a consumer site, the site having a plurality of load devices, each respective load using at least one of a plurality of utility services supplied to the consumer site by a plurality of utility service suppliers, the method comprising:
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providing a billing system at the consumer site, the billing system being configured to allow the consumer to see the bill out usage of the at least one utility service by each respective load; providing a computer system at the consumer site having at least one computer processor for executing instructions and performing a variety of operations; providing at the consumer site an output device in communication with the computer system for outputting billing values generated by the computer system; receiving in the computer system a measurement of usage of the at least one utility service by each load for a period of time; receiving in the computer system at least one rate information from a remote server wherein rate information relates to one or both of at least an input value, and at least one value of a least one product produced by each load; storing in the computer system a user-defined usage range representation for each load, wherein the user-defined usage range representation identifies a user'"'"'s preference of rate and time of the usage for the load and a type of utility service provider, and wherein the user-defined usage range representation represents a range of values of at least one or both of utility input, and product produced by each load; applying for each load the rate information to the measurement of usage by the load to produce at least one billing value for at least one of the utility service suppliers; outputting for each load a billing value using the output device, the output being configured to be monitored by the consumer; comparing for each load the measurement of usage with the user-defined usage range representation; and creating for each load the billing of the at least one utility service based on the user-defined usage range representation and on the rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus located in a consumer site for billing a consumer for utility service usage, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of utility service measurement devices located at a consumer site, wherein the utility measurement devices measure usage of utility services by multiple different loads located at a consumer site, wherein the utility services are supplied to at least one of the different loads by at least one of a plurality of different utility service suppliers at different time periods and with different rates, and wherein the utility measurement devices provide measurement of one or both of at least one input value of utility service supplied to each load and at least one product value produced by each load; a user-defined usage range representation for each load, wherein the user-defined usage range representation identifies a user'"'"'s preference of rate and time of the usage for the load, and a type of utility service provider, and wherein the user-defined usage range representation represents a range of values of one or both of the input of utility service supplied to the load, and the product produced by the load; a communications device that receives rate information about the utility services received from each of a the different utility service suppliers and wherein the communication device receives information about one load or a group of loads and wherein rate information relates to one or both of the input value of utility service supplied to the load, and the product produced by the load; a processor circuit that bills use of the utility services by each of the loads in accordance with the user-defined range representation; and wherein the processor circuit is in communication with said communications device, and applies at least one rate information to said at least one measurement for the load to produce at least one billing value and to generate generates a billing signal representing a bill bearing said billing value, for use by an output device at a consumer site for producing a bill at said consumer site or at a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification