Patent ID: 6343277
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A computer-assisted method of facilitating a retail energy transaction between one or more energy consumer-clients desiring retail energy contracts and energy suppliers, comprising:storing energy usage patterns for said one or more energy consumer-clients; aggregating energy demand for said one or more energy consumer-clients based upon at least one similar attribute; constructing an aggregated buy order that includes said usage patterns of said one or more energy-consumer clients; posting said aggregated buy order in order to satisfy said aggregated energy demand where said energy suppliers can access said buy order via a computer network; examining, by said energy suppliers, said usage patterns; receiving bids from said energy suppliers via said network, each of said bids comprising one of a fixed price bid and a variably priced bid based on a market index; ranking said bids based on one of a price difference between a highest bid and a lowest bid and a price difference relative to said market index; accepting one of said bids via said network when a precondition is met; and providing each of said one or more energy consumer-clients an account specific transaction.