System and method for manipulating controlled energy using devices to manage customer bills
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a power-consuming device at a service point to manage a customer'"'"'s electrical bills using a communications network between a server in communication with an electric utility and a client device at the service point, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a plurality of customer bill management settings to the server from the client device at the service point including at least a target energy usage for a specified billing period;
storing the plurality of customer bill management settings in a database for use in energy usage control events;
determining a current meter reading by the client device at the service point;
scheduling an energy usage control event for the power-consuming device at the service point based on the current meter reading and the target energy usage;
sending the energy usage control event to the power-consuming device at a scheduled time to control an energy usage at the service point;
determining the energy usage at the service point during a specified time interval;
comparing a projected energy usage, based on the energy usage during the specified time interval, with the target energy usage for the specified billing period; and
determining if the projected energy usage exceeds the target energy usage during the billing period.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system and method to create an Internet Protocol (IP) enabled automatic gain control loop for encasing a desired cost value in a utility derived consumer controlled pricing envelope. A customer uses a web browser to view billing estimates for the current month as well as related months. The customer can set limits on the actual billing amount for the upcoming month and make adjustments to this amount if it seems unrealistic in the coming month. Control event actions are carried out to limit power usage within preferences set by the customer.
-
Citations
44 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling a power-consuming device at a service point to manage a customer'"'"'s electrical bills using a communications network between a server in communication with an electric utility and a client device at the service point, comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting a plurality of customer bill management settings to the server from the client device at the service point including at least a target energy usage for a specified billing period; storing the plurality of customer bill management settings in a database for use in energy usage control events; determining a current meter reading by the client device at the service point; scheduling an energy usage control event for the power-consuming device at the service point based on the current meter reading and the target energy usage; sending the energy usage control event to the power-consuming device at a scheduled time to control an energy usage at the service point; determining the energy usage at the service point during a specified time interval; comparing a projected energy usage, based on the energy usage during the specified time interval, with the target energy usage for the specified billing period; and determining if the projected energy usage exceeds the target energy usage during the billing period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A system for controlling a power-consuming device at a service point to manage a customer'"'"'s electrical bills using a communications network between a server in communication with an electric utility and a client device at the service point, comprising:
-
a memory storing a database for use in energy usage control events containing a plurality of customer bill management settings including at least a target energy usage for a specified billing period; a processor, cooperative with the memory, and configured for managing the customer'"'"'s electrical bills using the communications network by; determining a current meter reading by the client device at the service point; scheduling an energy usage control event for the power-consuming device at the service point based on the current meter reading and the target energy usage; sending the energy usage control event to the power-consuming device at a scheduled time to control an energy usage at the service point; determining the energy usage at the service point during a specified time interval; comparing a projected energy usage, based on the energy usage during the specified time interval, with the target energy usage for the specified billing period; and determining if the projected energy usage exceeds the target energy usage during the billing period. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
Specification