Patent ID: 8145361
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling a power-consuming device at a service point to manage a customer's electrical bills using a communications network between a server in communication with an electric utility and a client device at the service point, comprising the steps of: transmitting a plurality of customer bill management settings to the server from the client device at the service point including at least a target energy usage for a specified billing period; storing the plurality of customer bill management settings in a database for use in energy usage control events; determining a current meter reading by the client device at the service point; scheduling an energy usage control event for the power-consuming device at the service point based on the current meter reading and the target energy usage; sending the energy usage control event to the power-consuming device at a scheduled time to control an energy usage at the service point; determining the energy usage at the service point during a specified time interval; comparing a projected energy usage, based on the energy usage during the specified time interval, with the target energy usage for the specified billing period; and determining if the projected energy usage exceeds the target energy usage during the billing period.