Patent ID: 7149727
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: G01D,G06Q,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A computerized method for selecting an appropriate utility rate to provide cost savings for a consumer, comprising: defining a first database in a first computer; storing in the first database consumer information collected by a first party, and wherein the consumer consumes a utility for which it desires to manage and account; receiving in the first database utility consumption information relating to the consumer and which is collected by the first party, and whereas the utility consumption information has various portions; analyzing the utility consumption information of the consumer against predetermined tolerance parameters by the first party and determining whether the utility consumption information satisfies the predetermined tolerance parameters; defining a second database in a second computer, and wherein the second computer is coupled in data exchanging relation relative to the first computer; receiving into the second database from a second party a plurality of utility rate information which relates to a plurality of utility providers; receiving into the second computer selected portions of the utility consumption information relating to the consumer, and which satisfies the predetermined tolerance parameters, and processing the received utility consumption information by analyzing the utility consumption history relative to the utility rate information to identify a utility rate which provides potential cost savings to the consumer based upon the selected portions of utility consumption information which meets the predetermined tolerance parameters, and wherein the second computer cannot gain direct access to all of the customer consumer information stored in the first database, and the first computer cannot gain access to the utility rate information stored in the second database; receiving into the first computer the identified utility rate which provides the consumer with potential cost savings, and processing the utility consumption information which meets the predetermined tolerance parameters and the identified utility rate to provide usage-based, computer viewable data which is associated with the consumer's consumption of the utility and which is related to the identified utility rate; providing the consumer with computer access to the first computer to view the computer viewable data at a location which is remote relative to the first computer, and wherein the consumer views and considers the computer viewable data related to the consumption of the utility which is associated with the identified utility rate, and then affirmatively selects the identified utility rate which meets their needs; and establishing a compensation for the first and second parties for acting on the behalf of the consumer to provide the cost savings realized by the consumer by the affirmative selection of the identified utility rate, and wherein the consumer remits to the first and second parties a portion of the realized cost savings from affirmatively selecting the identified utility rate which provides cost savings.