System, apparatus and method for energy management, for usage by consumers of energy from electric utility service providers, and monitoring and management of same

Abstract

Embodiments provide systems, apparatus and methods for energy management.

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         13 . A system for controlling supply of electric utility for a building, the system comprising:
 a communication module for accomplishing bi-directional data communication over a data communication network with an electric utility service;   a processor in combination with memory, the processor operable to:
 access historical electric utility usage data of the building; 
 access a model of building electric utility consumption; 
 determine a forecast of electric utility usage for the building in relation for the model of building electric utility consumption in relation to the historical electric utility usage data of the building; 
 accessing rate plan models for an alternative electric utility service and for the electric utility service; 
 calculating a projected monetary cost of electric utility service for a future period for the alternative electric utility service and for the electric utility service; 
 terminating, via the communication module, the electric utility service via data communication with the electric utility supply on a changeover date when the projected monetary cost of electric utility service for a future period for the alternative electric utility service is forecast to be less than the projected monetary cost of electric utility service for the same future period for the electric utility service. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a smart appliance at the building, the smart appliance providing information regarding current usage of electric utility service for the building.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the processor operable to:
 predict a best path decision; 
 determine an initial decision consistent with the best path decision; 
 update the prediction to provide an updated best path model; 
 select a next decision consistent with the updated best path model.