Electric meter collar adaptor to divert power to distributed power generation resources

Abstract

A meter collar is an adapter that may be inserted between a meter socket box and the meter. The meter collar may include a housing that is provided with first contacts to facilitate a mechanical and electrical connection with utility-side contacts of the meter socket box and second contacts to facilitate a mechanical and electrical connection with customer-side contacts of the meter socket box.

1 . A power management system meter socket adapter configured to be connected between a meter socket and a utility meter, comprising:
 first contacts to mechanically and electrically connect with utility supply-side contacts of a meter socket enclosure;   second contacts to mechanically and electrically connect with consumer load-side contacts of the meter socket enclosure;   third contacts to mechanically and electrically connect with an external circuit and   a bypass switch, wherein the bypass switch in a closed state directs power directly from a utility side to a consumer side of the meter socket adapter, and wherein the bypass switch in an open state directs power from the utility side to the consumer side of the meter socket adapter via an external circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The meter socket adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the meter socket adapter is configured to be removably connected to the external circuit. 
     
     
         3 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The meter socket adapter of  claim 2 , further comprising a receptacle configured to receive a plug of the external circuit, wherein the plug includes an integral actuator configured to open the bypass switch when the external circuit is removably attached to the meter socket adapter. 
     
     
         10 . The meter socket adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the bypass switch is provided in series with the consumer load-side service conductor of the utility meter. 
     
     
         11 . The meter socket adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the bypass switch is provided in series with the utility line-side service conductor of the utility meter. 
     
     
         12 . A method of diverting power flow using a meter socket adapter, the meter socket adapter comprising first contacts to mechanically and electrically connect with utility supply-side contacts of a meter socket enclosure, second contacts to mechanically and electrically connect with consumer load-side contacts of the meter socket enclosure, and third contacts to mechanically and electrically connect to an external circuit on a supply side or load side of the utility meter, wherein the method comprises:
 connecting the external circuit to the meter socket adapter to open a bypass switch in the meter socket adapter, wherein the meter socket adapter, when the bypass switch is open, diverts power out of the meter socket adapter to the external circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 disconnecting the external circuit from the meter socket adapter to close the bypass switch in   the meter socket adapter, wherein the meter socket adapter, when the bypass switch is closed, directs power from the supply side to the load side of the utility meter.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the meter socket adapter comprises a receptacle configured to receive a plug of the external circuit, wherein the plug includes an integral actuator configured to open the bypass switch when the external circuit is connected to the meter socket adapter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bypass switch is provided in series with the consumer load-side service conductor of the utility meter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bypass switch is provided in series with the utility line-side service conductor of the utility meter. 
     
     
         17 . An energy management system comprising:
 a plug including an integral actuator configured to open a bypass switch of a meter socket adapter when the plug is connected to the meter socket adapter such that power flows from a utility side of the meter socket adapter to a consumer side of the meter socket adapter via the energy management system.