System and Methods for Actively Managing Electric Power Over an Electric Power Grid

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing power on an electric power grid including a server for communicating IP-based messages over a network with distributed power consuming devices and/or power supplying devices, the IP-based messages including information including a change in state of the power consuming device(s), a directive for a change in state of the power consuming device(s), a priority message, an alert, a status, an update, a location with respect to the electric power grid, a function, device attributes, and combinations thereof.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing power on an electric power grid, comprising:
 a server including a processor coupled with a memory, wherein the server is constructed and configured for communicating Internet Protocol (IP)-based messages with a plurality of distributed power consuming devices and a plurality of distributed power supplying devices; and   a database including an amount of power consumed by each of the plurality of distributed power consuming devices, an amount of power available to be reduced to each of the plurality of distributed power consuming devices, and an amount of power available to be supplied by the plurality of distributed power supplying devices;   wherein the server is operable to communicate with the plurality of distributed power consuming devices and the plurality of distributed power supplying devices in near real-time over a wireless network;   wherein the database generates a curtailment value based on at least one of historical consumption data, real-time consumption data, or baseline consumption data for each of the plurality of distributed power consuming devices;   wherein, in response to a power curtailment event, the server receives or initiates power control commands requiring a reduction in power consumed by the plurality of distributed power consuming devices;   wherein the power control commands include the curtailment value;   wherein the power control commands cause a reduction in power consumption for the plurality of distributed power consuming devices and a reduced supply of power from the plurality of distributed power supplying devices based on the curtailment value;   wherein, after the power curtailment event, the curtailment value is confirmed by measurement and verification of the reduction in power consumption as a requirement for providing power supply; and   wherein the system provides operating reserves based upon the curtailment value.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one smart thermostat is operable to control the plurality of distributed power consuming devices using at least one IP-based message. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of consumer profiles corresponding to the plurality of distributed power consuming devices, wherein the plurality of consumer profiles include load management preference data, and wherein the power control commands are based on the load management preference data of the plurality of consumer profiles. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the load management preference data for the plurality of consumer profiles includes control points for a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system specifying high and low temperature ranges for a structure. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the power control commands include set points for a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the IP-based messages include status information for the plurality of distributed power consuming devices. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is WI-FI, a cellular network, or Advanced Metering Infrastructure. 
     
     
         8 . A system for managing power on an electric power grid, comprising:
 a server including a processor coupled with a memory, wherein the server is constructed and configured for communicating Internet Protocol (IP)-based messages related to at least one distributed power consuming device and at least one distributed power supplying device over a wireless network;   a database including an amount of power consumed by the at least one distributed power consuming device, an amount of power available to be reduced to the at least one distributed power consuming device, and an amount of power available to be supplied by the at least one distributed power supplying device; and   at least one consumer profile associated with the at least one distributed power consuming device;   wherein the database generates an energy consumption pattern for the at least one consumer profile;   wherein, based on the energy consumption pattern for the at least one consumer profile, the database generates curtailment values for a plurality of times; and   wherein the server transmits at least one IP-based power reduction message to cause a reduction of the amount of power to the at least one distributed power consuming device based on the curtailment value at the time of a power curtailment event.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reduction of the amount of power to the at least one distributed power consuming device is based on IP-based messages sent by the server to at least one smart thermostat. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one smart thermostat is associated with one or more of the at least one consumer profile. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one distributed power consuming device includes a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system for a structure, and wherein the energy consumption pattern for the at least one consumer profile includes high and low temperature ranges for the structure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one consumer profile further includes permitted time intervals in which load control is allowed, dates during which load control is permitted or prohibited, or priorities of devices. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the energy consumption pattern for the at least one consumer profile is based on one or more variability factors, and wherein the one or more variability factors include outside temperature, sunlight, humidity, wind speed and direction, and/or elevation above sea level. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is operable to communicate with at least one active load client device in near real-time over a wireless network. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless network is a cellular network, WI-FI, or Advanced Metering Infrastructure. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to the power curtailment event, the at least one distributed power consuming device sends an IP-based message to the server including information about a status of the at least one distributed power consuming device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to the power curtailment event, the at least one distributed power consuming device sends an IP-based message to the server via a smart meter including measurement and verification of the reduction of the amount of power to the at least one distributed power consuming device. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for managing power on an electric power grid, comprising:
 a server including a processor coupled with a memory, wherein the server is constructed and configured for communicating Internet Protocol (IP)-based messages over a network with at least one power consuming device and at least one power supplying device;   wherein an amount of power supplied to the at least one power consuming device is reduced based on a curtailment value corresponding to the at least one power consuming device and/or in response to at least one IP-based power reduction message;   wherein the at least one IP-based power reduction message specifies an amount of electric power to be reduced to the at least one power consuming device and an amount of power to be supplied by the at least on power supplying device;   wherein the server receives or initiates power control commands requiring a change in an amount of electric power consumed by the at least one power consuming device and a change in the amount of power supplied by the at least one power supplying device;   wherein the at least one power consuming device is configured to reduce power consumption in response to the power control commands.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein, in response to a power curtailment event, the at least one power consuming device sends an IP-based message to the server including information about a status of the at least one power consuming device. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the curtailment value is further based on permitted time intervals in which load control is allowed or dates during which load control is permitted or prohibited.