SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING BILLING INFORMATION FROM ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES WITH TRADITIONAL ENERGY SOURCES

• US 20100174643A1
• Filed: 01/06/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Also Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Also Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Schaefer, Robert J., Caine, Holden R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

The method and system of the present invention provides for data gathering of energy systems, calculation of billing information for the energy systems to include both traditional energy sources and renewable energy sources, and creation of various outputs to include various user interfaces applicable to overall management of the energy systems. The user interfaces can include integrated, real-time billings to a consumer that measure the cost of the primary energy as well as savings provided by renewable energy sources. The present invention also provides predictive analysis for various aspects of energy use in order to better manage particular facilities that may incorporate renewable energy sources. The gathered data and the various user interfaces enables a user to modify or adjust the use of the renewable energy sources at selected sites to maximize their impact on reducing the cost of the primary energy bill.

Claims

1. A method for providing an energy bill to a consumer that integrates a primary energy source and one or more renewable energy sources, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one computing device having a microprocessor for executing computer coded instructions, said computer coded instructions including instructions for a plurality of equations that calculate attributes of an energy bill;

obtaining rates that determine primary energy cost including energy demand rates, usage rates, and tax rates for predetermined time periods or consumption levels for the primary energy source;

obtaining a primary energy demand and usage for the period for the primary energy source;

calculating a value of a primary energy bill based upon demand and usage of the primary energy source;

obtaining a renewable energy demand and usage from the renewable energy source;

summing the renewable energy usage plus primary usage to calculate period consumption;

summing the renewable plus primary energy usage, plus period consumption to calculate a total period consumption wherein the total period consumption is required when a tiered billing structure is used;

summing the renewable demand plus primary energy demand to calculate a total demand;

calculating a value of a total energy bill;

calculating a renewable energy bill as a difference between the total energy bill and the primary energy bill; and

generating an output to a consumer in the form of at least one of a billing report or user interface detailing at least one of the renewable energy bill, the total energy bill and the primary energy bill.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output to the consumer includes an energy bill setting forth an incremental time basis for demand and energy usage, separated into demand and usage by the renewable energy sources and the primary energy source.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said primary energy demand and usage and said renewable energy demand and usage are provided as inputs to a data processing system and are calculated simultaneously in said data processing system to generate an integrated energy billing report.

4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said renewable energy sources include at least one of a solar collector and a wind turbine.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said output to the consumer is separated into preselected time period reports including at least one of (i) a minute-by-minute analysis (ii) an hour-by-hour analysis and (ii) a day-by-day analysis.

6. A data processing system for managing data for traditional and renewable energy sources and generating outputs to a user detailing energy consumption, demand, and costs, said data processing system comprising:

at least one computer having a microprocessor for computing data input to said computer;

at least one site management application including at least one of a software or firmware installation that provides computer coded instructions to said computer for managing data manipulated by said computer;

at least one database communicating with said computer for storing data regarding energy rates, consumption, and demand;

data inputs from a primary energy source to the computer detailing day/time energy rates, consumption, and demand;

data inputs from a renewable energy source to the computer detailing day/time, energy and power provided by the renewable energy source;

outputs generated by said data processing system to a user, said outputs including at least one of a billing to a consumer that delineates a renewable energy bill as a difference between a total energy bill and a primary energy bill, and at least one user interface displaying information regarding the renewable energy bill.

7. A system, as claimed in claim 6, further including:

a user interface generated by said data processing system including at least one of an organization summary, a campus summary, a building summary, a component summary and a billing summary, said summaries including a listing of energy savings by incorporation of the renewable energy source as compared to a cost of the energy if the renewable energy source was not used.

8. A system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said user interfaces include graphical data plotted over time illustrating energy savings by use of the renewable energy source.

9. A system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said user interfaces further include a component view detailing information about a selected renewable energy component installed at a site location, said component view including a graphical display of the energy produced by the component over a period of time.

10. A method for providing an energy bill to a consumer that integrates a primary energy source and at least one renewable energy source, said method comprising;

providing at least one computing device having a microprocessor for executing computer coded instructions, said computer coded instructions including instructions for a plurality of equations that calculate attributes of an energy bill;

obtaining data reflective of a primary energy cost for the primary energy source;

obtaining a primary energy demand and usage for the primary energy source;

calculating a value of a primary energy bill based upon demand and usage of the primary energy source;

obtaining a renewable energy demand and usage for the renewable energy source;

calculating a period consumption from the renewable energy usage and the primary energy usage;

summing the renewable energy demand plus the primary energy demand to calculate a total demand;

calculating a value of a total energy bill;

calculating a renewable energy bill as a difference between the total energy bill and the primary energy bill; and

generating an output to a consumer in the form of at least one of a billing report or user interface detailing the renewable energy bill.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 10, further including:

generating a user interface including at least one of an organization summary, a campus summary, a building summary, a component summary and a billing summary, said summaries including a listing of energy savings by incorporation of the renewable energy source as compared to a cost of the energy if the renewable energy source was not used.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said user interface further includes graphical data plotted over time illustrating energy savings by use of the renewable energy source.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said user interfaces further include a component view detailing information about a selected renewable energy component installed at a site location, said component view including a graphical display of the energy produced by the component over a period of time.