Method of timing demand and time-of-use functionality with external clock source

Abstract

A method of associating chronological time with energy consumption includes a step of storing in a utility meter a plurality of energy consumption values, each energy consumption value corresponding to a time interval of a first type. The method also includes obtaining from a source external to the utility meter chronological time information regarding at least one of the plurality of energy consumption values. The method further includes associating each of the energy consumption values with a time interval of the second type, each time interval of the second type associated with at least one chronological time value.

1 . A method of associating chronological time with energy consumption, comprising: 
 a) storing in a utility meter a plurality of energy consumption values, each energy consumption value corresponding to a time interval of a first type;    b) obtaining from a source external to the utility meter chronological time information regarding one of the plurality of energy consumption values,    c) associating each of the energy consumption values with a time interval of the second type, each time interval of the second type associated with at least one chronological time value.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 d) accumulating, for each time interval of the second type, energy consumption values associated with each chronological time value.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step a) further comprises: 
 storing the plurality of energy consumption values in a manner such that a time order in which the energy consumption values were created may be reproduced.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step c) further comprises associating each of the energy consumption values with the time interval of the second type at a device external from the meter.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step c) further comprises associating each of the energy consumption values with the time interval of the second type within the meter.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 performing step a) only after an interruption of power to the meter.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each time interval of the first type has a first duration and each time interval of the second type has a second duration, the first duration less than the second duration.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first duration is less than one minute.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second duration is more than five minutes.  
   
   
       10 . An arrangement for associating chronological time with energy consumption, comprising: 
 a measurement circuit operable to generate energy consumption data, and further operable to provide the energy consumption data to the processing circuit;    a processing circuit operable to: 
 obtain the energy consumption data, and generate energy consumption values based thereon, each energy consumption value corresponding to a time interval of a first type;  
 store in a utility meter the plurality of energy consumption values;  
 obtain from a source external to the utility meter chronological time information regarding one of the plurality of energy consumption values,  
 associate each of the energy consumption values with a time interval of the second type, each time interval of the second type associated with at least one chronological time value.  
   
   
   
       11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the energy consumption consumption data is representative of energy consumption for a time interval of a third type.  
   
   
       12 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is further operable to accumulate, for each time interval of the second type, energy consumption values associated with each chronological time value.  
   
   
       13 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is further operable to store the plurality of energy consumption values in a manner such that a time order in which the energy consumption values were created may be reproduced.  
   
   
       14 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein each time interval of the first type has a first duration and each time interval of the second type has a second duration, the first duration less than the second duration.  
   
   
       15 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the first duration is less than one minute.  
   
   
       16 . The arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the second duration is more than five minutes.  
   
   
       17 . An arrangement for associating chronological time with energy consumption, comprising: 
 a first processing circuit operable to generate a plurality of energy consumption values, each energy consumption value corresponding to a time interval of a first type, the first processing circuit further operable to store the plurality of energy consumption values within a utility meter, the first processing circuit further operable to cause the stored plurality of energy consumption values to be communicated external to the utility meter;    a second processing circuit operable to receive the stored plurality of energy consumption values, the second processing circuit operable to associate each of the energy consumption values with a time interval of the second type, each time interval of the second type associated with at least one chronological time value.    
   
   
       18 . The arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the second processing circuit is further operable to accumulate, for each time interval of the second type, energy consumption values associated with each chronological time value.  
   
   
       19 . The arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the first processing circuit is further operable to communicate the plurality of energy consumption values in a manner such that a time order in which the energy consumption values were created may be reproduced.  
   
   
       20 . The arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein each time interval of the first type has a first duration and each time interval of the second type has a second duration, the first duration less than the second duration.  
   
   
       21 . The arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein the first duration is less than one minute.  
   
   
       22 . The arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein the second duration is more than five minutes.