Method of energy procurement and system for employing

• US 7,853,516 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Direct Energy Business LLC (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Direct Energy Business LLC (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Puskar, Jennifer, Miller, Arthur, Giuliani, Keith, Kleinginna, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert; Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaikh; Mohammad Z
• Application Number:
  US12/130,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 42
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• 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

Abstract

A method and system of procuring energy for a consumer from a number of wholesale parties is provided. The method includes preparing and conducting an event. Conducting the event including registering the number of wholesale parties, providing for the reception and recording of a number of offers from the number of wholesale parties, receiving a number of best offers from the number of wholesale parties, providing a first display of the number of best offers to the number of wholesale parties, providing a second display of the number of best offers to the customer, and determining a number of final winning offers from the number of best offers. The method concludes with securing energy for the customer according to the number of final winning offers.

Claims

1. A method of procuring energy for a consumer by a host from a number of wholesale parties, the method comprising:

preparing an event;

conducting the event by the host via a computer, said conducting comprising;

registering the number of wholesale parties;

providing for the reception and recording of a number of offers from the number of wholesale parties;

receiving a number of best offers from the number of wholesale parties;

providing a first display of the number of best offers to the number of wholesale parties;

providing a second display of the number of best offers to the consumer; and

determining a number of final winning offers from the number of best offers; and

securing energy by the host for future consumption by the consumer according to the number of final winning offers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing an event comprises:

receiving a number of energy requirements from the consumer;

providing the number of energy requirements to the number of wholesale parties; and

providing the number of wholesale parties and the consumer with information pertaining to the event.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising prior to conducting the event, requiring the consumer to indicate acceptance of the energy requirements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein registering the number of wholesale parties comprises receiving a username and password from each of the number of wholesale parties.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of wholesale parties comprises at least two wholesale parties.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein setting up an event comprises determining a time, a location, and duration for the event.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display comprises a current winning (lowest) offer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display comprises a current winning offer and an indication of a maker of the winning offer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication comprises an indicator distinguishing the maker of the winning offer from other offerors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the number of offers comprise a price;

wherein the price is associated with a number of qualifications, the qualifications comprising a term and an indication of whether the offer is for a peak or an off peak time period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of energy requirements includes at least one member from the group consisting of:

type of energy;

a term;

a quantity;

a point of delivery;

an activity time; and

an activity duration.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the information pertaining to an event comprises the time and location of the event;

a duration of the event; and

information needed to gain access to the event.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing to the consumer and number of wholesale parties a result listing.

14. A method of procuring energy by a host from a number of whole sale parties for future consumption by a consumer the method comprising:

preparing an event;

conducting the event by the host via a computer, said conducting comprising;

registering the number of wholesale parties;

displaying an event clock to the number of wholesale counterparties, the event clock indicating the time remaining in the event;

starting the event clock counting down from a predetermined event duration time;

providing for the reception and recording of a number of offers from the number of wholesale parties;

receiving a number of best offers from the number of wholesale parties;

providing a first display of the number of best offers to the number of wholesale parties;

providing a second display of the number of best offers to the consumer;

determining that the remaining time on the event clock is less than or equal to a warning time and responsive thereto, providing an indication to the number of wholesale parties that the event is about to end;

determining via the computer that no time is left on the event clock and responsive thereto, concluding the event; and

determining via the computer a number of final winning offers from the number of best offers; and

securing energy by the host for future consumption by the consumer according to the number of final winning offers.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a best offer after determining that the remaining time on the event clock is less than or equal to a warning time and, responsive thereto, extending the event.