Patent ID: 6828695
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G01R,H02J,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
A system to monitor and control power usage where:a) there is a power provider which provides power to a plurality of power user facilities in an operating area of the power provider; b) a plurality of participating power user facilities each having a facility power distribution network which comprises a main power receiving connection to receive power from the power provider and deliver power to a plurality of outlet locations of the participating power user facility; and, c) there are at least at some of said outlet locations power using components to receive power from its facility power distribution network at such power locations; said system comprising: a) each of said participating facilities having a plurality of monitoring/switching units, each of which has an operative connection to the power distribution network for a related outlet location, and being arranged to receive control signals to stop or permit current flow from its related location outlet, each monitoring/switching unit also being arranged to monitor current flow from its related outlet location and to transmit information signal(s) related to said current flow; b) a power provider control section arranged to transmit provider control signals to of each participating facility to selectively stop current flow or permit current flow at one or more selected outlet locations, and to receive information from each participating facility relating to electric power usage in the participating power user facility. c) each of said participating facilities having a monitoring/control section having operative connections to said monitoring/switching units and to said power provider control section said monitoring/control section being arranged to be able to: i. to receive information relating to current flow at each of said monitoring switching units: ii. to present at said monitoring control section said information relating to current flow at each monitoring/switching unit so as to be selectively observable at said monitoring/control section relative power usage and time periods of usage; iii. to communicate with said power provider control section to acquire information relating to power delivered and/or to be delivered at the participating facility in a manner that the information from the power provider control section is observable at the participating facility; iv. to be able to be operated to initiate at each of said monitoring control section control signals relating to initiating and terminating periods during which current is to be delivered to selected monitoring/switching units.