Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Electrical signal parameter measurement system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-28
2003-03-04
Hoff, Marc S. (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Electrical signal parameter measurement system
C702S057000, C702S060000, C702S062000, C702S106000, C702S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06529839
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is related to an energy coordination system, and more particularly, to an energy coordination system that facilitates a customer's ability to choose its energy provider.
BACKGROUND
The traditional model for electric utilities is shown in FIG.
1
. In this model, an electric utility serves energy users or customers
108
(i.e., load) with its own facilities
100
, which includes a generator
102
, a transmission network
104
, and a distribution network
106
. A transformer station
105
is connected between the transmission network
104
and the distribution network
106
. A customer
108
cannot choose between alternative sources of energy. The customer
108
must buy energy from the utility that operates in its geographic region.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, power grids
110
and
112
are organized into Control Areas
114
and
116
, respectively, which are electrical systems bounded by interconnection (i.e., tie-line) metering
118
and telemetry. The load between adjacent Control Areas
114
and
116
is balanced according to a predetermined schedule. If excess demand for electricity is generated in one Control Area
114
, it will receive electricity from adjacent Control Areas
116
, which disrupts the balance. Generators
120
and
122
in the Control Areas
114
and
116
must then adjust their generation to return the balance to zero. The Control Area
116
that is providing the excess electricity then bills the other Control Area
114
for expenses caused by the deviation.
A problem with this current model of electric utilities is that there is not currently any way to allocate the billings for the deviation in an amount proportional to the individual customer's deviation. Rather, the cost of the deviation is divided among all of the customers regardless of whether their usage exceeded a predictable amount. Another problem is that customers who do exceed their predicted load cannot freely choose the generator, or the Control Area, from which they receive electricity to meet their excess demand.
In an effort to stimulate competition and lower energy prices, the electric utility industry is being deregulated. In theory, deregulation will allow energy users to freely choose the provider from which they purchase energy. However, most models for the deregulated utility industry only permit limited customer choice. One reason is that full customer choice is not possible without a system and method of universally scheduling load and generation, controlling the distribution of energy, and accurately allocating deviations to the customers and generators that created them.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system that provides universal scheduling of energy generation and load. There also is a need for a system that provides universal control over the generation of energy. There is a related need for a system that allows customers to choose their energy providers, the type of metering that they use, the frequency at which they change energy suppliers, the number of simultaneous suppliers from which they receive electricity, and the load following providers that adjust their generation to compensate for the customers being above or below their preschedules or anticipated energy usage. There is yet another need for a system that permits customers to easily switch suppliers by telephone or computer. There is also a need for a system that can track customers' deviation between actual usage and scheduled usage.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to a system for scheduling the provision of energy in an energy distribution network having a plurality of energy users receiving energy from at least one of a plurality of energy sources. The system comprises memory in communication with the input. The memory is configured to store at least one schedule for each energy user. Each schedule sets forth the predicted energy usage over a predetermined period of time. A processor is in communication with the memory. The processor is configured to sum the schedules of a predetermined set of energy users thereby creating a net schedule.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for allocating the deviation between an energy user's predicted energy usage and the energy user's actual energy usage. The system comprises means for receiving meter readings of actual energy consumption for the energy user. Memory is in communication with the means for receiving meter readings. The memory is configured to store a schedule of anticipated energy usage for a predetermined period and to store the energy users' meter readings. A processor is in communication with the memory. The processor is configured to calculate the difference between the schedule and the meter readings thereby forming a deviation between anticipated energy use and actual energy use for each energy user.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method for scheduling the generation of energy in an energy distribution network having a plurality of energy users receiving energy from at least one of a plurality of energy sources. The method comprising the steps of: storing a schedule for each energy user, each schedule setting forth the predicted energy usage for that energy user over a predetermined period of time; and summing the schedules of a predetermined set of energy users thereby creating a net schedule.
Another method that embodies the present invention is for allocating the deviation between an energy user's predicted energy usage and the energy user's actual energy usage. This method comprising the steps of: receiving meter readings of actual energy consumption for the energy user; storing a schedule of anticipated energy usage for a predetermined period; storing the energy users' meter readings; and calculating the difference between the schedule and the meter readings thereby forming a deviation between anticipated energy use and actual energy use for each energy user.
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Brause Tom
Davenport Donald
Hanson Dale
Kugler Kirby
Larson Lawrence
Hoff Marc S.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Retx.com, Inc.
Tsai Carol S
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