Load reduction based on percentage change in energy price
First Claim
1. A thermostatic controller for curtailing load of one or more energy consuming appliances when energy price rate is high, the thermostatic controller comprising:
- a receiver device configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period;
an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the receiver device are stored; and
a microprocessor in communication with the receiver device and electronic memory, the microprocessor configured to control operation of an energy consuming appliance to maintain a set point temperature, the microprocessor including a memory encoded with an instruction operable to select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate, and further encoded with an instruction operable to determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate;
wherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by selecting a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage or multiplier factor and changing the set point temperature by the first temperature offset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermostatic controller is configured for curtailing load when energy price rate is high. One or more energy price rates received by a receiver device are stored in an electronic memory. A microprocessor is operable to select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate. The microprocessor is operable to determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate. In response to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor, the microprocessor is configured to select a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage or multiplier factor and change the set point temperature by the first temperature offset.
12 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A thermostatic controller for curtailing load of one or more energy consuming appliances when energy price rate is high, the thermostatic controller comprising:
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a receiver device configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period; an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the receiver device are stored; and a microprocessor in communication with the receiver device and electronic memory, the microprocessor configured to control operation of an energy consuming appliance to maintain a set point temperature, the microprocessor including a memory encoded with an instruction operable to select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate, and further encoded with an instruction operable to determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; wherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by selecting a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage or multiplier factor and changing the set point temperature by the first temperature offset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of using a thermostatic controller to curtail load when energy price rate is high, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period; storing one or more energy price rates in an electronic memory; selecting a lowest energy price rate received within a given period of time from the one or more energy price rates stored in the electronic memory by using a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory, for establishing a base energy price rate; determining, using the microprocessor, if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and responding to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by selecting, using the microprocessor, a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage or multiplier factor and adjusting a set point temperature of an energy consuming appliance by the first temperature offset to thereby reduce energy consumption. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification