Patent ID: 8285419
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
1. A thermostat for curtailing air conditioner load when energy price rate is high, 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, and configured to control operation of an air conditioner system to maintain a set point temperature for a space, the microprocessor including a memory encoded with an instruction operable to select from said 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 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 by selecting a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage and increasing the set point temperature by the first temperature offset.