Energy Alert Power System and Method

Abstract

An energy control system, helping to reduce energy consumption from an energy grid, includes a power meter which receives first power-save signal and generates a second power-save signal for receipt by a control device. The target temperature of a thermostat is changed for a period of time in response to the second power-save signal. The control device can create a third power-save signal for receipt by a power-save adapter for an associated energy-consuming unit to permit only limited operation of the energy-consuming unit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for temporarily reducing energy demand on an energy grid comprising:
 receiving, from a power company, a first power-save signal by a power meter of a user, the power meter being a remotely accessible power meter through which power is supplied to the user;   transmitting a second power-save signal from the power meter to a control device, the control device associated with a thermostat;   changing a target temperature of the thermostat to a power-save target temperature in response to the second power-save signal;   determining, by the power company, a start time for said target temperature changing step;   the first power save signal being received before the start time; and   restoring the thermostat to said target temperature by either (1) the passage of a period of time chosen by the power company, or (2) receiving a power-event-over signal from the power company by the power meter.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first power-save signal is a price event power-save signal; and
 optionally overriding the first power-save signal by the user.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first power-save signal is an emergency event power-save signal; and
 preventing the user from overriding the first power-save signal.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first power-save signal receiving step and the second power-save signal transmitting step are wireless signal receiving and transmitting steps. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second power-save signal transmitting step is carried out with the control device and the thermostat within a common housing. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing a user indication that a power-save condition exists by at least one of the thermostat, the control device, and the energy-consuming unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the period of time chosen by the power company is a fixed period of time. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the period of time chosen by the power company is a variable period of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a supplemental first power-save signal by the power meter after receiving the first power-save signal;   transmitting a supplemental second power-save signal from the power meter to the control device;   the supplemental first power-save signal changing one of the power-save target temperature and the start time.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a supplemental first power-save signal by the power meter after receiving the first power-save signal and before the start time;   transmitting a supplemental second power-save signal from the power meter to the control device;   the supplemental first power-save signal changing the start time.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a supplemental first power-save signal by the power meter after the start time;   transmitting a supplemental second power-save signal from the power meter to the control device;   the supplemental first power-save signal changing the target temperature.