Billing and payment methods and systems enabling consumer premises equipment

• US 7,890,436 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spruce IP Properties LLC (Spruce Power Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Clean Power Finance, Inc. (Spruce Power Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Kremen, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Rutao
• Application Number:
  US11/653,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/16 Displaying of utility pricing or cost
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The present invention teaches a variety of systems and methods enabling renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) such as dual metering techniques. The present invention contemplates, among other things, supporting, by increasing a likelihood of meeting financing obligations, a consumer purchasing, leasing, installing and/or maintaining renewable energy CPE for power generation at a consumer premises. The renewable energy CPE may be attached to a structure on the consumer premises, disposed free standing on the consumer premises, or utilized through any other suitable means on the consumer premises.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the likelihood of repayment of a loan provided by a lender for the purchase of renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) by a consumer, the method comprising:

(a) coupling the CPE to a power grid operable to receive at least a portion of the power generated by the CPE;

(b) measuring power generated by the CPE and delivered onto the power grid of a utility; and

(c) processing receivables from the utility associated with the power generated and delivered onto the power grid directly to the lender at times corresponding to power measurement to fulfill the consumer'"'"'s obligation to repay the loan.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receivables includes cash flow.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein processing receivables includes distributing at least a portion of the receivables.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein processing receivables includes securing at least a portion of the receivables.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein processing receivables includes both distributing a first portion of the receivables and securing a second portion of the receivables.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein processing receivables occurs at time increments that are monthly, weekly, daily, by the minute or over any other period of time.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the power delivered onto the power grid is the excess power generated by the CPE that exceeds the power from the grid consumed by the consumer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the power is selectively measured directly off the CPE.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein receivables are selectively processed at times corresponding to power measured selectively off the CPE.

10. A business method of increasing a likelihood of repayment of a loan, lease or other financial instrument provided by a lender for purchase, lease, installation, and/or maintenance of renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) by a consumer, the method comprising:

(a) measuring excess power incrementally over a period of time generated by the CPE and delivered onto a power grid of a utility; and

(b) processing receivables from the utility associated with the excess power generated and delivered onto the power grid directly to the lender at increments corresponding to increments that the excess power is measured to fulfill the consumer'"'"'s obligation to repay the loan, lease, or other financial instrument.

11. The business method of claim 10 wherein processing receivables includes distributing at least a portion of the receivables.

12. The business method of claim 10 wherein processing receivables includes securing at least a portion of the receivables.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein increments associated with the period of time are monthly, weekly, daily, by the minute or over any other period of time.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the measurements are taken at times in which excess power is delivered by the CPE onto the power grid.

15. A method of billing by lender for financing renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) installed on a consumer premises, the CPE capable of generating power, the power consumed by a consumer associated with the consumer premises, the method comprising:

(a) coupling the CPE to a power grid of a utility;

(b) distributing at least some of the power generated by the CPE onto the power grid;

(c) giving a monetary value to the at least some power generated by the CPE and distributed onto the power grid; and

(d) the utility making payment directly to the lender in the amount of the monetary value for power generated by the CPE and delivered onto the power grid to fulfill the consumer'"'"'s obligation to repay the loan, lease or other financial instrument associated with the CPE.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the power delivered onto the power grid is an amount of power generated by the CPE that exceeds the power from the grid consumed by the consumer.