Energy coordination system

Abstract

A system for scheduling the generation of energy in an energy distribution network having a plurality of customers and a plurality of energy sources, wherein the customer chooses an energy provider from which to receive its energy. The system comprises memory in communication with the input. The memory is configured to store a schedule for each customer, the schedule setting forth the predicted energy consumption for that customer over a predetermined period of time. A processor is in communication with the memory. The processor is configured to sum the schedules for each energy provider thereby creating a load schedule for each energy provider. An output interface is in communication with the processor. The output interface is configured to output each of the load schedules.

The claimed invention is:  
     
         1 . A system 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 system comprising: 
 memory in communication with the input, the memory configured to store at least one schedule for each energy user, each schedule setting forth the predicted energy usage over a predetermined period of time; and    a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to sum the schedules of a predetermined set of energy users thereby creating a net schedule.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein schedules relate energy usage to a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein each schedule sets forth the energy user's predicted consumption of energy from a predetermined energy provider.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein a plurality of schedules correspond to the predicted energy usage of the energy user, at least one of the schedules setting forth the energy user's predicted consumption of energy from a first predetermined energy provider and at least one of the schedules setting forth the energy user's predicted consumption of energy from a second predetermined energy provider.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each schedule is a preschedule, each preschedule covering a future period of time.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to recalculate the net schedule for each energy provider after a predetermined interval.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the interval between recalculations is less than about one hour.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising an interface in communication with the processor, the interface configured to receive temperature forecasts, wherein: 
 the memory is configured to store temperature coefficients, each temperature coefficient corresponding to a particular energy user; and  
 the processor is configured to retrieve the temperature coefficient for a particular energy user and adjust the schedules by the temperature coefficients thereby creating adjusted schedules, and to form a net adjusted schedule, the net adjusted schedule being the sum of the adjusted schedules.  
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 some of the customers are metered by short-interval meters, the short interval meters being configured to generate load-profiles; and  
 at least some of the schedules are load-profiles.  
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein some of the customers are metered by after-the-fact interval meters, the after-the-fact interval meters being configured to generate load-profiles.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the energy is electricity.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the system further comprising an interface configured and arranged to output the net schedule.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the predetermined set of energy users corresponds to a predetermined generator.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the predetermined set of energy users corresponds to a predetermined load-following generator.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the predetermined set of energy users corresponds to a predetermined DISCO.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the predetermined set of energy users corresponds to a predetermined independent energy provider.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the predetermined set of energy users corresponds to a predetermined control area.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising means for outputting the net schedules.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is a microprocessor.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is a microcomputer.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the energy distribution system includes generators and energy providers and the memory includes a database relating each customer to at least one of the energy providers.  
     
     
         22 . A system for allocating the deviation between an energy user's predicted energy usage and the energy user's actual energy usage, the system comprising: 
 means for receiving a meter reading of actual energy consumption for the energy user;    memory in communication with the means for receiving a meter reading, the memory being configured to store a schedule of anticipated energy usage for a predetermined period and to store the energy users' meter reading; and    a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to calculate the difference between the schedule and the meter reading thereby forming a deviation between anticipated energy use and actual energy use for each energy user.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein schedules relate energy usage to a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein each schedule sets forth the energy user's predicted consumption of energy from a predetermined energy provider.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein a plurality of schedules correspond to the predicted energy usage of the energy user, at least one of the schedules setting forth the energy user's predicted consumption of energy from a first predetermined energy provider and at least one of the schedules setting forth the energy user's predicted consumption of energy from a second predetermined energy provider.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the meter readings from at least some of the energy users include an actual usage profile generated by the energy user's meter.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the energy is electricity.  
     
     
         28 . 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.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  comprising the additional step of communicating the net schedule to the energy provider.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  comprising the additional step of recalculating the net schedule for each energy provider after a predetermined interval.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the interval between recalculations is less than about one hour.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the net schedules are net adjusted schedules, method comprising the additional steps of: 
 storing temperature coefficients, each temperature coefficient corresponding to a particular energy user;  
 retrieving the temperature coefficient for a particular energy user;  
 multiplying the schedules by the temperature coefficients, thereby creating adjusted schedules; and 
 wherein the step of summing the schedules of a predetermined set of energy users thereby creating a net schedule includes the step of summing the adjusted schedules of a predetermined set of energy users thereby creating the net adjusted schedules.  
 
 
     
     
         33 . A method for allocating the deviation between an energy user's predicted energy usage and the energy user's actual energy usage, the 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.    
     
     
         34 . A method of controlling the output of an energy provider, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a net schedule; and    adjusting the output of the energy provider so that the output is substantially equal to the energy usage specified in the schedule.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the energy provider is an electrical generator and the step of adjusting the output of the energy provider includes the step of increasing the electrical output of the generator.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the energy provider is an electrical generator and the step of adjusting the output of the energy provider includes the step of decreasing the electrical output of the generator.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the net schedule is a net adjusted schedule.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the memory is further configured to store temperature coefficients and the processor is further configured to adjust the schedule as a function of the temperature coefficient before calculating the difference between the schedule and the meter reading.  
     
     
         39 . A system for allocating the deviation between an energy user's predicted energy usage and the energy user's actual energy usage, the system comprising: 
 means for receiving a meter reading of actual energy consumption for the energy user;    memory in communication with the means for receiving a meter reading, the memory being configured to store a schedule of anticipated energy usage for a predetermined period and to store the energy users' meter reading; and    a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to create a reconciled schedule representative of actual energy usage, the total energy represented in the reconciled schedule being substantially equivalent to actual energy used by the energy user, the processor being further configured to calculate the difference between the schedule and the reconciled schedule thereby forming a deviation between anticipated energy use and actual energy use for each energy user.    
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38  wherein schedules and reconciled schedules relate energy usage to a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 38  wherein each reconciled schedule is further equivalent to total monthly consumption of the energy user.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the memory is further configured to store temperature coefficients and the processor is further configured to adjust the schedule as a function of the temperature coefficient before calculating the difference between the schedule and the reconciled schedule.