System and method for managing utility resources based on normalized utility usage

• US 8,359,215 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ENGIE Insight Services, Inc. (ENGIE SA)
• Original Assignee: Ecova Inc (ENGIE SA)
• Inventors: Robbins, Michael S., Hart, Robert L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US12/171,885
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/30
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A system comprises a memory that stores weather data associated with a site. The system further comprises a processor that determines a balance point of the site based at least in part on the weather data. The processor may determine an amount of utility usage at the site during a particular time period. The processor may normalize the amount of utility usage based at least in part on the balance point and the weather data. The processor may generate a graphical user interface that displays the balance point and the normalized amount of utility usage.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores;

historical weather data associated with a site, the historical weather data comprising a number of degree-days at the site for each of a plurality of previous time periods; and

historical usage data associated with the site, the historical usage data comprising an amount of utility usage at the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods; and

a processor that;

determines a normalization formula based on the relationship between the number of degree days for each of the plurality of previous time periods and the amount of utility usage at the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods;

determines, based on the normalization formula, a balance point of the site, the balance point representing an amount of utility usage at the site during a time period having zero degree-days;

normalizes an actual amount of utility usage at the site during a particular time period based at least in part on the balance point and a number of degree-days at the site for the particular time period to generate a normalized amount of utility usage at the site during the particular time period; and

generates a graphical user interface that displays the balance point and the normalized amount of utility usage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the actual amount of utility usage represents an amount of a utility resource consumed at the site, the utility resource comprising at least one of:

electricity;

natural gas;

oil;

coal; and

water.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the determination of the normalization formula is based at least in part on a regression of the historical weather data and the historical usage data for the plurality of previous time periods.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the regression comprises one of the following:

a linear regression method;

a least squares method;

an errors-in-variables method;

a weighted least squares method;

a robust regression method.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

normalizing the actual amount of utility usage at the site during the particular time period comprises determining an expected amount of the utility usage during the particular time period based at least in part on the determined normalization formula and the number of degree-days at the site for the particular time period.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the graphical user interface comprises a graph displaying the balance point as a first line and the normalized amount of utility usage as a second line.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first line and the second line in the graph represents a particular factor that affected the actual amount of utility usage at the site during the particular time period, the particular factor comprising at least one of:

a change of an operating parameter associated with the site;

a change in efficiency of equipment at the site; and

a malfunction of equipment at the site.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the processor determines an amount of pollutants that are associated with the site, the determination based at least in part on the normalized amount of utility usage.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines the number of degree-days at the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods by:

accessing temperature data for the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods; and

determining, for each of the plurality of previous time periods, a difference between the accessed temperature data for the site and a base temperature for the site.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the base temperature for the site is between fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit and seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of previous time periods includes at least a portion of the particular time period.

12. A method, comprising:

accessing historical weather data associated with a site, the historical weather data comprising a number of degree-days at the site for each of a plurality of previous time periods;

accessing historical usage data associated with the site, the historical usage data comprising an amount of utility usage at the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods;

determining, using a computer processor, a normalization formula based on the relationship between the number of degree days for each of the plurality of previous time periods and the amount of utility usage at the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods;

determining, based on the normalization formula, a balance point of the site, the balance point representing an amount of utility usage at the site during a time period having zero degree-days;

normalizing, using the computer processor, an actual amount of utility usage at the site during a particular time period based at least in part on the balance point and a number of degree-days at the site for the particular time period to generate a normalized amount of utility usage at the site during the particular time period; and

generating a graphical user interface that displays the balance point and the normalized amount of utility usage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the determination of the normalization formula is based at least in part on a regression of the historical weather data and the historical usage data for the plurality of previous time periods.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the regression comprises one of the following:

a linear regression method;

a least squares method;

an errors-in-variables method;

a weighted least squares method;

a robust regression method.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

normalizing the actual amount of utility usage at the site during the particular time period comprises determining an expected amount of the utility usage during the particular time period based at least in part on the determined normalization formula and the number of degree-days at the site for the particular time period.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the graphical user interface comprises a graph displaying the balance point as a first line and the normalized amount of utility usage as a second line.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a distance between the first line and the second line in the graph represents a particular factor that affected the actual amount of utility usage at the site during the particular time period, the particular factor comprising at least one of:

a change of an operating parameter associated with the site;

a change in efficiency of equipment at the site; and

a malfunction of equipment at the site.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the number of degree-days at the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods by:

accessing temperature data for the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods; and

determining, for each of the plurality of previous time periods, a difference between the accessed temperature data for the site and a base temperature for the site.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the base temperature for the site is between fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit and seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of previous time periods includes at least a portion of the particular time period.

21. A graphical user interface, comprising:

an interface screen that displays;

a first line representing a balance point of a site, the balance point representing an amount of utility usage at the site during a time period having zero degree-days, the balance point determined based at least in part on;

historical weather data associated with the site, the historical weather data comprising a number of degree-days at the site for each of a plurality of previous time periods;

historical usage data associated with the site, the historical usage data comprising an amount of utility usage at the site for each of the plurality of previous time periods; and

a second line representing a normalized amount of utility usage at the site during a particular time period, the normalized amount of utility usage determined based at least in part on;

an actual amount of utility usage during the particular time period;

the balance point; and

particular weather data for the site, the particular weather data comprising a number of degree-days at the site for the particular time period.

22. The graphical user interface of claim 21, further comprising a usage graph displaying the relationship between the historical weather data and the historical usage data.

23. The graphical user interface of claim 21, wherein the plurality of previous time periods includes at least a portion of the particular time period.