Patent ID: 8738186
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: G05D,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A thermostatic controller for curtailing load of one or more energy consuming appliances when energy price rate is high, the thermostatic controller comprising: a receiver device configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period; an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the receiver device are stored; and a microprocessor in communication with the receiver device and electronic memory, the microprocessor configured to control operation of an energy consuming appliance to maintain a set point temperature, the microprocessor including a memory encoded with an instruction operable to select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate, and further encoded with an instruction operable to determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; wherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by selecting a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage or multiplier factor and changing the set point temperature by the first temperature offset.