Abstract:
Utility usage data of a customer in numeric form provided by the utility meter data collection system in usage intervals of not less frequent than daily intervals is received, along with billing-related data of the customer. The received utility usage data of the customer is converted from numeric form to a graphical form that shows the total daily usage information for a calendar period that matches that for the printed utility bill of the customer. The graphical form is printed on the printed utility bill or on a paper suitable for use as an insert accompanying the printed utility bill to be mailed to the customer. In another embodiment, electricity usage data of the customer is received, along with electricity generation data regarding quantity and percentages of a utility&#39;s total electricity generation attributable to at least two the following electricity generation sources: Natural Gas-Baseload, Natural Gas-Peaking, Coal, Hydro, Nuclear, and Renewable. Information is derived regarding proportion of the customer&#39;s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation from the electricity generation data and the electricity usage data. Preferably, the carbon emissions attributable to the customer&#39;s actual electricity usage is calculated and presented to the customer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/964,382, filed Aug. 13, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to delivery of utility usage related information to customers, and in particular to a system and method for delivery of utility usage information that is helpful to the customer in managing their utility usage. 
         [0003]    Utilities traditionally collect commodity usage data once during each billing period, which is usually either monthly or bimonthly for electricity, natural gas, and water. This is done typically by sending persons to the customer location to read a utility meter in a process known as “meter read.” For most customers, this data is limited to a single figure for total consumption. For others, the data includes different values for peak and off-peak usage during the billing period, also limited to a single figure for total consumption at the relevant price (for example, peak) during the billing period. 
         [0004]    More recently, advanced metering systems make it possible to obtain daily or more detailed usage data for customers, where the meters are capable of sending their readings to the metering system headend using radio or other remote communications and without the need for manually reading the meters. In addition to the utility reading provided by the meter read process, advanced metering systems also are programmable to provide more frequent periodic usage data for customers, such as hourly readings of the utility meters. These readings can be set to be taken at any time of the day or night. 
         [0005]    In billing customers, utilities have provided the billing period totals with bills, whether printed or electronic. Many utilities often also provide a twelve-month history of the monthly consumption or a comparison of the past month&#39;s usage with usage in the same month of the prior year. 
         [0006]    More detailed usage information is presented on many utility websites. U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,459 describes such a system. However, the detailed usage is not synchronized with or linked to the periodic utility bill. It is therefore desirable to provide a link between the detailed usage data and the bill associated with the usage that is useful to customers, such as by providing such information on or with customer utility bills. 
         [0007]    The link between utility usage and climate change has been recognized by the public. This has led to a general awareness that every person on the planet should reduce the carbon emission footprint imposed by him or her. It is thus desirable to provide consumers a link between the individualized usage data with quantities of carbon emissions caused by individualized usage of electricity or natural gas. In this way consumers can understand the direct connection between their energy usage behavior and climate change. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    One embodiment of one aspect of the invention is directed to a data management system. The system receives utility usage data of at least one customer in numeric form provided by the utility meter data collection system in usage intervals of not less frequent than daily intervals, and billing-related data of at least one customer. The billing-related data of the at least one customer is suitable for use in preparation of a utility bill of the at least one customer for a calendar period. The system may include an interface connected to a utility meter data collection system and an interface connected to a utility billing system for these purposes. The received utility usage data of the at least one customer is converted from numeric form to a first graphical form that shows the total daily usage information by day for a precise calendar period that matches that for the utility bill of the at least one customer. An application of the system may be used for this purpose. The first graphical form is then delivered to the customer with the utility bill. This can be done by printing the first graphical form on the printed utility bill or on a paper suitable for use as an insert accompanying the printed utility bill to be mailed to the at least one customer. Alternatively, the first graphical form is delivered with the utility bill electronically to the customer. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a data management system receives electricity usage data of at least one customer and electricity generation data regarding quantity and percentages of a utility&#39;s total electricity generation attributable to at least two the following electricity generation sources: Natural Gas-Baseload, Natural Gas-Peaking, Coal, Hydro, Nuclear, and Renewable. An interface connected to a utility meter data collection system and an interface connected to an information provider may be used for such purposes. Information is derived regarding proportion of the at least one customer&#39;s actual electricity usage attributable to the sources of electricity generation from the electricity generation data and the electricity usage data. 
         [0010]    All patents, patent applications, articles, books, specifications, other publications, documents and things referenced herein are hereby incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for all purposes. To the extent of any inconsistency or conflict in the definition or use of a term between any of the incorporated publications, documents or things and the text of the present document, the definition or use of the term in the present document shall prevail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of a Usage Reporting System useful for illustrating embodiments of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an example of a computer system for implementing the meter data management computer system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a graphical plot of a Sample Daily Electrical Usage Data Graphical Form useful for illustrating embodiments of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a graphical plot of a Sample Source Generation Graphical Form useful for illustrating embodiments of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a graphical plot of a Sample Carbon Emissions Graphical Form useful for illustrating embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In one embodiment of the invention, a data management system for providing daily usage information alongside the utility bill has some or all of the following seven elements, which may be independent or combined in some fashion: 
         [0017]    1) An interface to a data collection system to receive detailed metered usage data, 
         [0018]    2) An interface to a utility system to provide customer and billing information, 
         [0019]    3) An application that links the usage and billing data 
         [0020]    4) An application that links the usage and source generation data or carbon emissions data 
         [0021]    5) An application that converts the data from numerical to graphical form, 
         [0022]    6) An application that prints the graphical form in hardcopy or electronically, and 
         [0023]    7) An application that coordinates delivery of the graphical form to the customer on or alongside the bill. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a Usage Reporting System useful for illustrating embodiments of the invention containing at least some of the above seven components. An interface  12  to the meter data collection system  16  (or a repository that stores data from such a system) receives the detailed usage data. Another interface  18  receives information, typically from the utility billing system  20 , that specifies the starting and ending timestamps for the usage data used to calculate the bill. An application among the Daily Usage Report Applications  22  uses this information to produce a graphical report of the detailed usage that corresponds to the billing period. The graphical report is then delivered to the utility&#39;s system (or the system of other retailers of utility commodities) that prints and mails bills or presents the bills to customers electronically. For example, this can be done either on the utility&#39;s website or delivered as a file (such as a html file) by electronic mail through the internet.  FIG. 2  shows a sample graphical report. 
         [0025]    The interface  12  comprises software that performs multiple functions. First, it receives the data from the data collection system  16  in the native format of such system and translates the data into the format used by the software application referred to above for producing a graphical report of the detailed usage that corresponds to the billing period. Second, it includes the transport layer to receive the data files themselves over some medium, generally the Internet, through a secure connection. Third, the interface software manages the communication of the data as needed, such as requesting the data at particular times, recording the data as it is received, verifying that the data sent by the data collection system has been received by the interface software, and similar functions. Interface  18  performs functions similar to interface  12 , except that it does so with respect to processing the utility billing data from the utility billing system  20  instead of processing usage data. 
         [0026]    Interface  32  performs functions similar to interface  12 , except that it does so with respect to processing the production and emission data from the utility billing system  34  instead of processing usage data. Reports are printed on bills or papers suitable for use as inserts to be mailed with bills as controlled by the software application  42  by means of a printer  80  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Application  42  also controls the mailing process of bills (e.g. sorting out billing information and names and addresses of customers  44  to be printed, and printing the appropriate billing information, customer name and mailing address). Alternatively, the graphical report is then delivered along with the utility bill to customers electronically through electronic means  46 . For example, electronic means  46  of  FIG. 2  can include the utility&#39;s website on the internet which will allow access by customers through a log in procedure. Or the graphical report may be delivered along with the utility bill as a file (such as a html file) by electronic mail through the internet. In this case the electronics means  46  includes a browser application and the internet. One of the applications  22  will first convert the graphical report and the utility bill into the appropriate file format before they are delivered electronically. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementing the data management computer system of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the computer system  50  includes a computer bus  14 . The various applications  22 ,  42  and/or  46  are software stored in the mass storage device  70 . Processor  64  reads the application software from device  70  into the main memory  66  and executes the code in the software in a manner known to those skilled in the art to perform the various functions described herein. Utility usage data, billing data and production and emissions data may reside in the mass storage device  70 . The computer system  50  may be operated by the user via keyboard  74  and cursor control device  76 . Computer system  50  communicates with external systems such as external systems  16 ,  20  and  34  (as well as the customer in the case of electronic delivery) in  FIG. 1  through communication device  78 , which may be a modem or a wireless communication device such as WI-FI, Blue Tooth, infrared systems, or radio waves systems. Display  72  and printer  80  may be used to print or display information present on the bus  14 , such as graphical reports. Such printed or displayed information will enable the operator to perform various functions. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a graphical plot of a Sample Daily Electrical Usage Data Graphical Form useful for illustrating embodiments of the invention. One of the applications  22  determines from the utility usage data received through interface  12  from system  16 , a particular customer&#39;s daily utility usage during four different periods, or some subset thereof: critical peak, on peak, mid-peak and off peak. The utility usage data received includes periodic utility meter readings of a frequency not less frequent than daily, such as meter readings every hour, half hour or fifteen minutes, for example. The twenty four hour period of each day is then separated into the four different time zones (or subset thereof): critical peak, on peak, mid-peak and off peak. Then the utility usage data within each day of a billing reporting period is obtained by computing the utility usage data within each of the four different time zones of each day. Another one of the applications  22  then converts this information into a graphical plot, such as the one shown in  FIG. 3 . A graphical form (similar to  FIG. 3 , except that the ordinate will show costs instead of electricity used) may also be provided to display daily cost of the utility usage data of the customer in one or more colors, shadings or markings to indicate portion of cost occurring at different prices for the utility used. 
         [0029]    The utility usage data received through interface  12  from system  16  may specify meter read times that are different from those needed to compile the report shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, the utility billing system  20  may receive usage data in a single monthly usage block starting at a random time on the first day of the billing month and ending at a random time on the last day of the billing month, whereas the detailed usage data specified are specified in terms of hourly intervals on the hour. The timestamps so specified would not conform to the billing period, since the start and stop times for the billing period are not on the hour. The graphical plot in  FIG. 3  shows a billing period of 31 whole days, from August 1 st  to August 31 st , without any partial days. Thus, one of the applications  22  will need to conform or synchronize the utility usage data with the different time zones, as well as with the billing time period of August 1 st  to August 31 st , before the data is ready to be converted and printed in graphical form such as the one shown in  FIG. 3 . Where the meter read times do not coincide with the start and end times of time zones, or of the billing time periods, the application performing the synchronization will interpolate the utility usage data obtained at the meter read times to obtain interpolated utility usage data at times that fit the time zone boundaries, or with the billing time period boundaries. In this manner the total daily usage data that conforms to the time zones, and with the billing time period is obtained. 
         [0030]    Once the data is in the right format, software  42  then causes printer  80  in  FIG. 2  to print the graphical plot on customer bills or papers suitable for use as inserts to be mailed with bills. Having the graphical plot on customer bills or inserts thereof is particularly convenient for customers, since they will be able to monitor their usage pattern along with the total utility costs for the billing period in one sitting, with no need to log onto any website, or to figure out how the data shown on the website correlates with their utility costs of the billing period. 
         [0031]    For easier reading, the usage for holidays or weekend days may be marked using a color, shading or other markings different from that for work days or week days. 
         [0032]    The link between utility usage and climate change has been recognized by the public. This has led to a general awareness that every person on the planet should reduce the carbon emission footprint imposed by him or her. Many consumers would like to know the individualized energy usage data with quantities of carbon emissions caused by individualized energy usage. In this way consumers can understand the direct connection between their energy usage behavior and climate change, and are in a position to reduce their carbon footprint by possibly changing their energy usage pattern. 
         [0033]    Thus, in another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the amounts of electricity produced by means of different energy sources at the utility serving a customer is provided by system or provider  34  to the applications  22  of computer  50 . It is then possible for one of the applications  22  to calculate, from this information from system  34  and the particular customer&#39;s usage data from system  20 , the amounts of electricity used by the particular customer during each day that are associated with each of two or more of the six energy sources: Natural Gas-Baseload, Natural Gas-Peaking (natural gas plants used only during the peak hours), Coal, Hydro, Nuclear, and Renewable, and the proportions of these amounts to the total amount. This can be done for each day of the billing period, and the result can be converted into graphical form such as the one shown in  FIG. 4 . Preferably, these amounts associated with different energy sources can be illustrated using different color, shading or other markings. As in the case of the graphical form such as the one shown in  FIG. 3 , the graphical form such as the one shown in  FIG. 4  can also be preferably printed on customer bills or papers suitable for use as inserts to be mailed with bills. The customer will then be able to review his or her electricity usage associated with the different energy sources to get an idea of how environmentally friendly is his or her electricity usage. 
         [0034]    In addition to the amounts of electricity produced by means of different energy sources at the utility serving a customer, system  34  can also provide to the applications  22  of computer  50  quantities of carbon emission associated with or attributable to the various methods of electricity generation. One of the applications  22  will then calculate, from such information and the data in  FIG. 4 , the amounts of carbon emission attributable to the electricity usage of the customer. In this manner, the customer can obtain a clear idea of his, hers or the family&#39;s carbon emission footprint. This information can be converted into graphical form such as the one shown in  FIG. 5 . It will be noted that there is no carbon emission associated with nuclear, hydro or renewable energy sources, so that the electricity use that is accounted for by these energy sources are not shown in  FIG. 5 . The above results can be refined by taking into account the carbon emissions associated with the one or more sources of electricity generation used for electricity generation and the at least one customer&#39;s electricity usage during the critical peak, on peak, mid-peak and off peaks times. 
         [0035]    As in the case of the graphical forms such as the one shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the graphical form such as the one shown in  FIG. 5  can also be preferably printed on customer bills or papers suitable for use as inserts to be mailed with bills. The customer will then be able to review his or her electricity usage and along with it his, hers or the family&#39;s corresponding carbon emission footprint. 
         [0036]    In addition to electricity usage, the systems  16  and  20  can also provide the same type of information regarding usage of natural gas and/or water usage and the associated billing information. Plots similar to that in  FIG. 3  may then be printed on customer bills or papers suitable for use as inserts to be mailed with bills. It is also possible to calculate the carbon emission by the customer when the customer burns the natural gas, and thus provide a graphical form such as the one shown in  FIG. 5  for natural gas usage by the customer. This form can be preferably printed on customer bills or papers suitable for use as inserts to be mailed with bills. The customer will then be able to review his or her gas usage and along with it his, hers or the family&#39;s corresponding carbon emission footprint. 
         [0037]    Use of the applications described herein enables utilities and other retailers of utility commodities to provide this information to their customers. Until this time, the data provided on bills has been limited to the only the aggregated data for the entire billing period, such as the total electricity use for a month. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is to be defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.