METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACTIVELY MANAGING CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLIED BY ONE OR MORE ELECTRIC UTILITIES

• US 20110258022A1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: BCIP Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Webb, Joel L., Forbes, Joseph W. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.39
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A system, which includes a system controller and client devices, manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Electric power flow to the consuming devices is controlled by controllable devices, which are controlled by the client devices. The controller includes an event manager, a database, and a client device manager. The event manager generates event instructions, including instructions requiring a reduction of consumed electric power. The database stores, on a per client device basis and/or a per electric utility basis, information relating to power consumed by the consuming devices. The client device manager selects, based on the database information and responsive to a power reduction event instruction, at least one client device to which to communicate a message indicating a power reduction amount and/or identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable power flow to associated consuming devices.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A system controller for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to the plurality of power consuming devices is enabled and disabled by a plurality of controllable devices and wherein the plurality of controllable devices operate under the control of one or more client devices, the system controller comprising:

an event manager operable to generate power control event instructions, at least one of the power control event instructions requiring a reduction of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

a database operable to store, on at least one of a per client device basis and a per electric utility basis, information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices; and

a client device manager operable to select, based on the information stored in the database and responsive to a power control event instruction requiring a reduction of electric power, at least one client device to which to communicate a power control message, the power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.

37. The system controller of claim 36, wherein the system controller is a server.

38. The system controller of claim 36, further comprising:

a command processor operable to receive power control commands from the at least one electric utility and generate power control event messages responsive thereto, at least one of the power control event messages requiring a reduction of electric power consumed by at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices;

wherein the event manager is operable to generate power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages.

39. The system controller of claim 38, wherein the power control commands include a power inquiry command prompting the system controller to determine an amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced from a supply of power provided by an electric utility, the system controller further comprising:

a utility database operable to store power usage information for the at least one electric utility,

wherein the event manager is further operable to access the utility database responsive to a power control event message generated by the command processor in response to the power inquiry command and communicate a response to the power inquiry command indicating the amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced based on the power usage information.

40. The system controller of claim 36, further comprising:

a client device interface that facilitates communication of the power control message to the at least one client device and facilitates receipt of at least one power consumption indicator and at least one power management status from the at least one client device.

41. The system controller of claim 36, wherein the database further includes information, on at least one of a per controllable device basis and a per client device basis, relating to a maximum amount of time during which a flow of electric power may be disabled by a controllable device.

42. The system controller of claim 36, wherein the event manager is further operable to issue a power control event instruction identifying one or more client devices to which to issue a second power control message instructing the one or more client devices to enable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device which had a flow of electric power disabled responsive to a prior power control message, and wherein the client device manager is further operable to:

determine, from the database, at least one replacement client device to which to issue a third power control message indicating at least one replacement power consuming device to which to disable a flow of electric power, wherein an amount of electric power consumed by the at least one replacement power consuming device is at least a portion of an amount of power to be consumed by the at least one power consuming device after a flow of power is enabled to the at least one power consuming device;

send the second power control message to the one or more client devices to thereby enable a flow of power to the at least one power consuming device; and

send the third power control message to the at least one replacement client device to thereby disable a flow of electric power to the at least one replacement power consuming device.

43. A method for a system controller to manage a flow of power supplied by at least one electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, the method comprising:

determining a group of one or more client devices to which to communicate a power control message, each client device of the group of client devices controlling at least one controllable device, each controllable device controlling a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices, the power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of one or more controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices; and

communicating the power control message to the group of client devices.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a power control command from an electric utility, the power control command requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by power consuming devices in a geographic area serviced by the electric utility;

wherein the group of client devices to which to communicate the power control message is determined responsive to the power control command.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the plurality of power consuming devices are operated by at least one customer of the at least one electric utility and wherein the system controller includes an Internet-accessible application for receiving customer preferences, the method further comprising:

receiving load management preferences from the at least one customer via the Internet-accessible application, wherein the load management preferences include parameters for managing on and off states for the plurality of power consuming devices during power management events.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a status message from each client device of the group of client devices, the status message indicating an operational status of the client device and power consumption information for each power consuming device controlled by the client device; and

storing the operational status of the client device and the power consumption information for use in determining the group of client devices to which to communicate the power control message.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a status message from each client device of the group of client devices, the status message indicating an operational status of the client device and cumulative power consumption information for all power consuming devices controlled by the client device; and

storing the operational status of the client device and the power consumption information for use in determining the group of client devices to which to communicate the power control message.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining an amount of power saved by an electric utility as a result of communicating the power control message; and

storing an indication of the amount of power saved by the electric utility.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

correlating the amount of power saved to at least one of an amount of carbon credits, an amount of nitrogen dioxide credits, and an amount of sulfur dioxide credits based at least on a location of the electric utility.

50. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining an amount of power saved by a user of a client device to which the power control message was communicated;

storing an indication of the amount of power saved by the user; and

providing a reward incentive based on amounts of power saved by the user over a period of time.

51. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a report message from a first client device of a plurality of client devices, the report message including an indication of an amount of power consumed by at least a first power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices;

storing the indication in association with a user of the first client device; and

using the indication to determine the group of client devices to which to communicate the power control message.

52. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a power inquiry command from an electric utility, the power inquiry command requesting an indication of an amount of power that can be at least temporarily reduced from a supply of power provided by the electric utility;

determining the amount of power that can be at least temporarily reduced based on usage information for the electric utility; and

reporting the indication of the amount of power that can be at least temporarily reduced to the electric utility.

53. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining that at least one client device of the group of client devices is to be commanded to instruct one or more controllable devices to enable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device which has a flow of electric power disabled, the disabled flow of electric power saving a first amount of power;

determining a second group of one or more client devices to which to communicate a second power control message, the second group of client devices controlling one or more controllable devices that are operable to control a flow of a second amount of electric power to one or more power consuming devices of the plurality of power consuming devices, wherein the second amount of electric power is at least a portion of the first amount of electric power;

communicating a third power control message to the at least one client device of the group of client devices, the third power control message commanding the at least one client device to instruct one or more controllable devices under control of the at least one client device to enable a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device which has a flow of electric power disabled; and

communicating the second power control message to the second group of client devices.

54. A system for managing consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, the system comprising:

one or more client devices, each client device being responsive to received power control messages and including;

at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of power control instructions to at least one controllable device, each controllable device controlling a flow of electric power to a power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices responsive to the power control instructions; and

a device control manager operable to generate the power control instructions responsive to the received power control messages; and

a system controller communicatively coupled to the at least one electric utility and the one or more client devices, the system controller including;

an event manager operable to generate power control event instructions, at least one of the power control event instructions requiring a reduction of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

a database operable to store, on at least one of a per client device basis and a per electric utility basis, information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices; and

a client device manager operable to select, based on the information stored in the database and responsive to a power control event instruction requiring a reduction of electric power, at least one client device to which to communicate a power control message, the power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the client device manager receives from each client device at least one power consumption indicator and at least one power management status.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the at least one power consumption indicator includes a power consumption indicator associated with each controllable device under control of a particular client device and wherein the at least one power management status includes a power management status associated with each controllable device under control of a particular client device.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the database further includes information, on a per controllable device basis, relating to a maximum amount of time during which flow of electric power may be disabled by a particular controllable device.

58. The system of claim 54, wherein the database further includes information, on a per client device basis, relating to a maximum amount of time during which flow of electric power may be disabled by the at least one controllable device.

59. The system of claim 54, wherein the system controller further includes a power savings application that computes an amount of electric power saved for each customer participating in the system during a power reduction event affecting the customer.

60. The system of claim 54, wherein the system controller further includes a client interface that facilitates communication of power control messages to the one or more client devices and wherein each client device further includes a communications interface that facilitates reception of the power control messages.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the client interface and the communications interface comprise IP-based interfaces.

62. The system of claim 54, wherein the at least one controllable device includes at least one smart appliance and wherein the at least one controllable device interface includes a smart device interface that facilitates communication of one or more power control instructions to the at least one smart appliance.

63. The system of claim 54, wherein the system controller further includes:

a command processor operable to receive power control commands from the at least one electric utility and generate power control event messages responsive thereto, at least one of the power control event messages requiring a reduction of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

wherein the event manager is operable to generate power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the power control commands include a power inquiry command prompting the system controller to determine an amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced from a supply of power provided by an electric utility, and wherein the system controller further includes:

a utility database operable to store power usage information for the at least one electric utility,

wherein the event manager is further operable to access the utility database responsive to a power control event message generated by the command processor in response to the power inquiry command and communicate a response to the power inquiry command indicating the amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced based on the power usage information.

65. The system of claim 54, wherein each client device includes dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) functionality to enable the client device to dynamically request Internet Protocol addresses for the client device and the at least one controllable device from a DHCP server on a host network facilitating communications between the client device and the system controller.

66. The system of claim 54, wherein each controllable device has an address associated therewith, wherein the at least one controllable device interface facilitates addressed-based communication of power control instructions to the at least one controllable device, and wherein each power control instruction is addressed to at least one controllable device.

67. A method for a system to manage consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, the system including a system controller and at least one client device, the system controller being communicatively coupled to the at least one electric utility and the at least one client device, the method comprising:

determining, by the system controller, a group of one or more client devices to which to communicate a power control message, each client device of the group of client devices controlling at least one controllable device, each controllable device controlling a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices, the power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of one or more controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices;

communicating, by the system controller, the power control message to the group of client devices;

receiving, by at least one client device of the group of client devices, the power control message; and

responsive to the power control message, communicating, by the at least one client device of the group of client devices, a power control instruction to a controllable device, thereby causing the controllable device to which the power control instruction was issued to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein each controllable device has an address associated therewith and wherein the step of communicating a power control instruction to a controllable device comprises:

communicating, by the at least one client device of the group of client devices, a power control instruction to a controllable device using addressed-based communication, wherein the power control instruction is addressed to the controllable device.

69. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

receiving, by the system controller, a power control command from an electric utility, the power control command requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by power consuming devices in a geographic area serviced by the electric utility;

wherein the group of one or more client devices to which to communicate the power control message is determined responsive to the power control command.

70. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

receiving a power inquiry command from an electric utility, the power inquiry command requesting an indication of an amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced from a supply of electric power provided by the electric utility;

determining the amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced based on usage information for the electric utility; and

reporting the indication of the amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced to the electric utility.

71. A method for a system to manage consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, the system including a system controller and at least one client device, the system controller being communicatively coupled to the at least one electric utility and the at least one client device, the method comprising:

determining, by the system controller, a group of one or more client devices to which to communicate a power control message, each client device of the group of client devices controlling at least one controllable device, each controllable device controlling a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices, the power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of one or more controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices;

communicating, by the system controller, the power control message to the group of client devices;

receiving, by a client device of the group of client devices, the power control message; and

disabling a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device responsive to receipt of the power control message.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

receiving, by the system controller, a power control command from an electric utility, the power control command requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by power consuming devices in a geographic area serviced by the electric utility;

wherein the group of one or more client devices to which to communicate the power control message is determined responsive to the power control command.

73. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

receiving, by the system controller, a power inquiry command from an electric utility, the power inquiry command requesting an indication of an amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced from a supply of electric power provided by the electric utility;

determining the amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced based on stored usage information for the electric utility; and

reporting the indication of the amount of electric power that can be at least temporarily reduced to the electric utility.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein disabling a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device comprises:

issuing, by the client device, a power management command to disable a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the power management command is communicated to a controllable device and causes the controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device.

76. The method of claim 71, wherein the power control message is associated with a power reduction event, the method further comprising:

subsequent to a flow of electric power being disabled to the at least one power consuming device, communicating, by the system controller, a second power control message indicating an end of the power reduction event;

receiving, by the client device, the second power control message; and

responsive to the second power control message, enabling a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device.

77. The method of claim 71, wherein disabling a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device comprises:

disabling a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device based on the power control message.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the power control message includes an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device and wherein disabling a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device comprises:

issuing, by the client device, a power management command to the at least one controllable device, the power management command causing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the power control message includes an amount of electric power to be reduced and wherein disabling a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device comprises:

disabling a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device so as to reduce electric power consumption by the amount included in the power control message.

80. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

communicating, by the client device, a report message to the system controller, the report message including an indication of an amount of power consumed by the at least one power consuming device; and

using, by the system controller, the indication to determine the group of client devices to which to communicate the power control message.

81. A method for a system controller to manage a flow of power supplied by at least one electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, the method comprising:

receiving status messages from a plurality of client devices, each status message including power consumption information for at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices;

storing the received power consumption information in a database in association with respective client devices;

determining a group of one or more client devices to which to communicate a power control message based on the stored power consumption information, the power control message requiring a reduction in power consumed by one or more power consuming devices; and

communicating the power control message to the group of client devices.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to the one or more power consuming devices.

83. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

determining an amount of power saved by an electric utility as a result of communicating the power control message; and

storing an indication of the amount of power saved by the electric utility.

84. The method of claim 83, further comprising:

correlating the amount of power saved to at least one of an amount of carbon credits, an amount of nitrogen dioxide credits, and an amount of sulfur dioxide credits based at least on a location of the electric utility.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein determining an amount of power saved by an electric utility as a result of communicating the power control message comprises:

determining the amount of power saved by the electric utility based on the stored power consumption information.

86. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

receiving a power control command from an electric utility, the power control command requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by power consuming devices in a geographic area serviced by the electric utility;

wherein the group of client devices to which to communicate the power control message is determined responsive to the power control command.

87. The method of claim 81, wherein the power control message is associated with a power reduction event, the method further comprising:

communicating a second power control message to the group of client devices indicating an end of the power reduction event.

88. The method of claim 81, wherein receiving status messages from a plurality of client devices comprises:

periodically receiving status messages from the plurality of client devices.

89. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

communicating polling messages to the plurality of client devices, wherein the status messages are received in response to the polling messages.

90. A system controller for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to the plurality of power consuming devices is controlled by a plurality of client devices, the system controller comprising:

an event manager operable to generate power control event instructions, at least one of the power control event instructions requiring a reduction of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

a client device interface that facilitates communication of power control messages to the plurality of client devices and facilitates receipt of status messages from the plurality of client devices, wherein each status message includes power consumption information for at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices;

a database operable to store, on at least one of a per client device basis and a per electric utility basis, power consumption information received through the client device interface for the plurality of power consuming devices; and

a client device manager operable to select, based on the stored power consumption information in the database and responsive to a power control event instruction requiring a reduction of electric power, at least one client device to which to communicate a power control message through the client device interface, the power control message requiring a reduction in power consumed by one or more power consuming devices