ELECTRICITY MONITORING SYSTEM

Abstract: An apparatus associated with a public electricity distribution network to determine charges for the supplied electricity where the period during which consumption is measured (the metered period) is longer than the period used for settling the price or value of the electricity (the settlements period) and where the charge can be determined for either the metered period or the settlements period. The apparatus further provides means for adjusting charges such that the total charges equals the total owed or that total minus a defined amount. Means are also provided whereby the apparatus does not require metered data from all consumers connected to the network. The apparatus also provides means for determining the value of the supplied electricity where a plurality of generation sites exists eah of which is separately valued.

Description: Electricity IVI-o r-k± o -r-± ngj S ystem It is becoming i ncreasingly desirable to enable the trading of electricity across either local, national or i nternational boundaries. At present a system exi sts within the U nited Ki ngdom to enable the tradi ng of electricity associated with a relatively small subset of consumers; this exi sting system is known as the Settlements system (or just Settlements). A general object of the present i nvention is to remove some of the technical barriers which are associated with the existing system and to provide a more flexible means to enable competition in supply to a greater set of consumers. The purpose of Settlements is to. calculate a f. - uncial charge for electricity consumed and determine the responsib ty for that .- arge. To do this the sys¬ tem utilises metering (.at the consumers and at various points within the distribu¬ tion network), communication to transfer information, and a means to determine the financial charges. Settlements may also be appropriate to the trading of other ser v i ces, commodities and uti li ties, i ncludi ng gas. Therefore, while the present system is explained with respect to electricity, it can also applied to the trading of other simi lar products such as gas. Accordi ng to the i nventi on there is prov i ded apparatus for monitoring an electricity distribution network hav ing a pl ural ity of consumers fed therefrom, comprising means for measuring the quantity of electricity supplied into the network, a d calculating means for calculating therefrom charge values (charges) for the consumers fed from the network. The present system relates to the means for determining a financial charge for consumed electri city. I n the present system, conventional means of metering the utility service (for example electricity) and suitable means for communicating metered data to the Settlements system are assumed. Metered data can be commu¬ nicated v ia modem and telephone l i nes if the meter i s equipped with a suitable communication port. Or smart cards, hand-held u nits, or manual rneter readings can be used with the data bei ng fed into the Settlements system v ia appropriate means such as a unit capable of i nterrogating smart cards or hand-held units or, i n the case of manual meter readi ng, a termi nal for data entry of the eter readings. Various further features of the i nvention wi ll become apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments thereof, given by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which: g. 1 shows the current Settlements system; g. 2 shows unit - 301 / 1 of Fi g. 1 ; g. 3 shows unit 300/ 1 of Fig. 1; g. 4 shows a development of the unit of Fig. 3; g. 5 shows means for determining supplier charges; g. 6 shows unit 302 of Fig. 5; g. 7 shows units 108 and 109 of Fig. 5; g. 8 shows a simple mode of operation for the Settlements system; g._ 9 shows a system with multiple units; g. 1 0 shows a system with latching between units; g. 1 1 shows a system with latching and convergent data paths; g. 12 shows a unit 300/3 for calculating total Value per period; g. 13 shows a modified form of unit 301 ; g. 1 4 shows a modified form of unit 300; g. 15 shows a further form of the present system; g. 1 6 shows a form of unit 304; g. 1 7 shows a further form of the present system; g. 18 shows means for adjustment for loss; g. 19 shows a further form of the present system; g. 20 shows circuitry for determining a quantity Mt; g. 1 shows an estimation mechanism for the system; g. 22 shows a unit 303/2 which is a modification of unit 303; g. 23 shows a modification of unit 208b; g. 24 shows a form of the system with a plurality of units 303/2; g. 25 shows a form of the system with some B consumers; g. 26 shows charge accumulation means; g. 27 shows a modified circuit including means for storing charge values; g. 28 shows an extension to the Fig. 27 system; and g. 29 shows one form of a complete system. The existing Settlements system works using defined periods (Settlement Periods) as its basis. Generally these are relati vely short periods, for example 1800 s (30 mi nutes). Also, the existi ng system only includes a small number of consumers and the method for determining the f inancial charges is relatively simple. Fig. 1 shows this system, in which there are units 301/1 to 301/n for the consumers. Separate to the Settlements system, another system (shown as a price unit 106 in Fig. 1) is used to determine a price for each Settlements Period. At present, in the case of electricity, this price is a per unit price. The present system is intended as an improved Settlements system. How¬ ever, the present system includes further extensions to replace some of the system currently used to determine price (unit 106) and in so doing enable a more flexible and powerful overall system which overcomes several of the limita¬ tions associated wjth the existing systems. Each consumer explicitly included within the Settlements system (herein referred to as an A consumer) is represented in the Fig. 1 by a unit 301. A plurality of such units will generally .exist, although as mentioned the number is at present relatively small. The purpose of unit 301 is to determine for each consumer the value of electricity consumed in a given Settlement Period. Fig. 2 shows the existing method for this (the implementation identified as 301/1). Metered data is generated by unit 100 the output of which, representing the consumer's metered consumption for a given period, is fed to unit 101. Unit 101 implements the function to determine the value of electricity. Metered data from each consumer is retrieved, commonly by means of tele¬ phone line and modems. Each unit 101 implements a function which is based upon metered data and price. Currently the function is: Consumption x Price (1) In this function either price or consumption is scaled by a constant to adjust for an estimated value of loss associated with the distribution, for example, of electricity. Unit 101 can therefore be implemented using a multiplier capable of multiplying the three values (consumption, price, and loss factor). Potentially, if the meters at consumers were provided with the price for each Settlement period, then unit 101 could be integrated within the meters. In Fig. 1 the output from each 301 unit (which is the value, or financial charge, for the associated consumer in a given period) is connected to. unit 102 which totals, for a period, the charges calculated by all 301 units (there being one per A consumer). The output of unit 102 represents the total value, for each period (or for a given period), of all consumers included within Settlements (all A consumers). Settlements is currently applied only to a relatively small number of consu¬ mers. The majority of consumers are therefore not accounted for on an indivi¬ dual basis by the Settlements system. They are therefore implicitly under the control of one supply company. The output of unit 102 is labelled "A" to denote the total of all consumers explicitly within Settlements. Beside the metering at consumers, there is also metering at certain points within the distribution network used to supply the consumers. it is generally possible to define a section of the distribution network (referred to herein as a Closure) where the points at which electricity is supplied into the Closure are all rnetered and where the outlets are known and usually metered (some consumption points are not rnetered because their consumption pattern is relatively constant and/or can be predicted an example commonly being street lighting). Closures can also be defined where an output from the closure is a point within the distribution network, such as a substation or transformer, which has suitable metering. Therefore Closure inputs and outputs can be points within the distribution network. However, the existing system is only applied to situations where the Closure output are consumers (ie they are not substations or transformers). In Fig. 1, unit 300 determines the total value V for a given period of elec¬ tricity supplied within a particular Closure. Currently unit 300 is implemented as shown in Fig. 3. Unit 103 represents the total metered data for the input(s) to the Closure for a given period. This data will be provided to the system by means of suitable conventional metering and communication technology. The out¬ put of unit 103 is connected to unit 104 which determines a corresponding value for the electricity. Unit 104 is similar, in the existing system, to unit 101, and implements the function: Consumption '< Price (2. but without the need for loss adjustment, since it is associated with the inputs to a Closure. This can therefore be implemented with a multiplier having two inputs. consumption (rnetered data; and price .obtained from unit 106). The existing system is only applied to the distribution network between high-voltage substations (G rid Supply Points, GSPs) and end consumers. In such situations the Closure for settlements is therefore the network connecting the GSPs to consumers (via intermediate transformers and substations as required). Frequently there will only by one input to a Closure (from a higher level voltage network). In the existing system for Settlements, multiple inputs could be combined as far as Settlements is concerned and treated as a single point (although the system is intended for situations where there is only one input). Unit .300/1 can therefore be extended to support multiple inputs to a Closure, as shown in Fig. 4. For a gi ven period the rnetered data from the units 103 (replicated for each i nput) is added using unit 1 1 0 and then a function applied by unit 104. This function is simply the total number, of units of electricity supplied into the network in a given period multiplied by the defined price per period. In the existing system, unit 104 in Fig. 4 is equivalent to the unit 104 in Fig. 3. It is also equivalent to the function implemented by unit 101 (except that it does not scale for loss;. In a gi ven Settlements Period it is relatively simple in the existing system to determine the charge for "B" consumers (all non-A consumers) as the differ¬ ence between the value V < utput of unit 300; and the charge for all A consu¬ mers " ,e output of unit 1 02). This is performed by unit 105 (Fi g. 1 ), whose output is the charge, for a gi ven period, for all B consumers ie all of those consumers not explicitly included i n Settlements and represented by a unit 301. The output of unit 105 i mplicitly contains an amount equal in magnitude to the error in the loss estimated for ail A consumers in each of the units 101. For B consumers a si ngle total charge is presently acceptable since they are all managed by a ngle supply company; therefore as far as Settlements is concerr-ed the cha> does not need to be further sub-di v ided or determi ned on an inαividual cons . *ιer basis. However, a number of supply companies could, in a competitive market, by responsible for A consumers. The output of unit 102 thus represents the total charge, per period, for all of these supply companies, and the system needs to also determine a charge for each company. Fig. 5 shows the exi sti ng method of determining a charge for i ndividual supply companies. Units 1 06 and 301 are those shown in Fig. 1. For each possible supplier there is a respective unit 302 which is fed with the outputs from each and every unit 301. The output of each unit 301 represents, for a given Settlement Period, the charge for the associated consumer. The purpose of unit 302 is to total those charges for consumers supplied by a particular company and produce the charge to that supplier. Fig. 6 shows a unit 302/1 implementing this. A supplied record SUP REC unit 108 provides a record of which consumers are supplied by the particular supply company. This information is fed to a plurality of units 109 each of which is associated with a consumer. The output of unit 109 is either zero, if the consumer isn't supplied by the associated supply company, or is the charge for the consumer (ie it equals the input to the unit generated by the associated unit 301). Unit 107 then totals all charges (the outputs of all units 109 in a particular unit 302; to produce a total, charge for the particular supply company. Fig. 7 shows one form of units 108 and 109. The supplier record is implemented as a number of memory cells M CELL 108 which can be programmed by some means. A 0 indicates that the associated consumer isn't supplied by that supply company, a I that the consumer is supplied by the company. Each memory cell is connected to a respective unit 109 which contains a simple switch ( or multiplexor ) the output of which is zero if the associated memory cell contains a 0; if the memory cell contains a 1 then the output of the associated unit 109 will be the consumer's charge. Finally, in the existing system, units 100 and 103 both record consumption information per Settlements period. However, they represent different locations within the distribution network. The distribution network is used to connect the inputs points and the consumption points. However, in doing so electrical losses will be incurred (in the case of an electricity distribution network). Also illegal abstraction can also occur from the distribution network. Thus even if all input and consumption points were metered for an identical period the total electricity supplied into the network would not equal that legally consumed from the network. To compensate for these losses, an adjustment is required, as referred to briefly above. It is currently achieved by scaling either (i) the output of units 101, or (ii) scaling units 102 and 107, by a defined constant. Alternatively, the price used in unit 101, or the output of unit 100, can be scaled by a sirni.. constant. The output of unit 300 in Fig. 1 is referred to as V and is the total value, for the associated Closure, of the electricity supplied into the Closure in a given period. The system described so far can, for a given Settlements Period, determine the charge for an individual A consumer, the total charge per supplier,, the total for all A consumers, and the total for all B consumers. To enable this the metered data for the given period needs to be available from units 100 and 103. Also the price for the electricity supplied in that period needs to be determined As will be explained later, the system can be extended to support multiple periods. Alternatively, an external means could be used to set-up the Settle¬ ments system with the required input data, allow the system to determine the charges, and then retrieve the results from the system. This external system could then support the storage of data for multiple periods and could, if required, use the Settlements system to re-determine the charges if, for some period, input data changed. Fig. ; * . shows a simple mode ut operation for the Settlements system. The units within the system simply operate on their instantaneous inputs 1/P to provide an output value O/P. No data or values need to be latched or stored within the system. The byt>teιn iii therefore be viewed as a large unctional unit into which input values are presented and from which results can be extrac¬ ted. In such a situation an external system can be used to collate the input and output data for each period, and then use the Fig. 3 system to determine charges for a given period using the available data. Using such a solution the data for a period can be provided to the system, which will then determine the output results for the same period. Therefore the system can be used to determine the charges a period at a time. If any input data for a period subsequently changes 'fur example the price determined by unit 106 is revised), then the sys¬ tem can be used to the generate new results for the particular period. a - Alternatively, logic can be duplicated to enable multiple periods to be supported si ultaneously. Potentially this would require the duplication of the circuitry at each stage, as partially shown in Fig. 9. If n periods are to be supported then each unit will have to be replicated n times. Rather than replicate all units, it may be possible in a particular configuration to merge or combine data at some points. Thus in Fig. 9 the multiple outputs of unit 102 could all be added together, by a unit not shown, to give a total for the associ¬ ated periods. Where the results for individual periods are not required in subsequent units this may save some circuitry and complexity. In specific implementations it may be necessary for the validity of data to be determined at some (or all) stages. Thus the connection between units may include additional signals to indicate the validity of data or even a value repre¬ senting the Settlement period for the. data. A simple validity signal could be represented as a single binary value. Where a unit uses multiple inputs to determine an output, then it may be that the validity signal for the output represents the wired-AND of the validity signals for the associated inputs. If the system is required to support a considerable number of periods, then it may not be practical to duplicate functional units and their interconnection. However,' it is reasonable to provide storage for the associated data in at least some stage of the system and then provide a means to enable (select) a particular stored 'value. Fig. 10 -D ws such a system. One stage (X) has a buffer, mem¬ ory, or latches capable of storing associated data for a number of periods. Another stage 'Y> is similarly constructed but with obvious regard to its own unctionality. Between the two stages there may be one or more intermediate stages; however, only H single instance of these intermediate units is required. A select signal SEL controls the two stages X and V. For stage X, the select signal will control the output of data and determine which memory, buffer, or latch location to read data from. For the last stage the select signal controls which location the input data is stored in. Obviously which units arc i rnplernerited as latched and which are simply tuii'-tionαl units is an implementation trade-off. If stage X stores data for various periods then it is also possible to arrange for stage X to signal to Control l gic the availability of data or that an existing value has been modified. The control logic can then, a some point, enable that data. In Fig. 10, Stage Y could have multiple inputs for each period (say inputs J and ). Input J could be implemented and controlled as shown in Fig. 10. However, for input K a plurality of signals could be provided, one per period, cs shown in Fig. 9. Iri such απ implementation Lhe select signal would be used l select the latched data in Stage X used to produce input J. Input K would be represented by a number of signals (or versions of the value) and the select signal can be used to determine which is enabled. This selection (enabling) can be achieved by a suitable multi lexor. Alter atively input K could also be a single input which can be used to represent any selected period, as in Fig. 10. The select signal will then control th latched data used Lo produce both inputs (J and K). In such a situation the select signals associated with each of the inputs to Stage Y need to select the same period in their respective stages, otherwise the result of stage Y would be meαni ngless. Fig. 10 implies that the data in a given storage location at a stage corres¬ ponds to the same Settlement Period as data in αιι equivalent location in another stage of the system. Storage address 1 in all stages should therefore be used for data epresenti g the same period. The alternative is to either tag stored data with a period identifier or for the mapping of periods to locations in each stage to be known (but possibly specific to the individual stages). Fig. 11 shows how validity (and possibly periodic information) may be used from each buffered unit to determine select signals generated by α control unit CO T. Fig. I 1 shows three stage X, Y, and Z. Stage Y has inputs which am directly or indirectly gener ated from stages X and Z. Therefore the control 'selection; of associated signals from X a d Z needs to ensure that the signals relate to the .sa e Settle ent period to ensure meaningful data at stage Y. ( Obviously this doesn't apply to signals which are constants or do not vary lιι-lweeιι particular [ιι-r in s.' The control -logic which generates the select signal can operate in a number of ways depending upon implementation requirements. If eac bu fered stage contains M locations then the buffers (or memory or latches' can be organised such that the buffer operates in a cyclic manner Lo store data for given periods. Thus, tor example, data for period 1 may be stored in location !, data lor period 2 stored in location 2, etc. Since the buffer in this example is • ycl , data for period 1 will also be stored in location 1, so any previous data in a location must be used and removed before n w data is stored in the location. If the storage is sufficiently large ( or represents a cache to α large storage unit) then it may be practical to provide storage for all periods (or at least those representing the recent past). The control logic can be designed to enable each period to be processed sequentially. It will therefore wait for data in location 1 in all source stages to be available (valid); the recipient stage will then use the input data and store the information (inputs and/or results) in its buffer before the control logic then selects location 2, and so on. In the example of a cyclic buffer being used then after location N the control logic will simply select location 1 again. Using this, the validity of the selected location in stage Y is simply the wired-AND of the validity signals for each of the inputs. The control logic can therefore use the validity signal of the selected stage Y location <or a signal specifically generated by stage Y) to indicate that it can now select the next location in the stages X, Z, and Y. In stage X and Z the effect of the select signal changing (ie from enabling one location to another) could cause the validity of the first location to be cleared, making the location free to accept new data. As mentioned, stage Y could generate an explicit signal to indicate to the control logic that it has performed any necessary processing of the current data and therefore that the control logic can now select the next period. This would mean the validity signal from stage Y isn't necessarily used for such purposes. Stage Y 'arid other stages) can therefore be modified to ensure that existing data isn't overwritten. Stage Y can process the currently selected period when all input signals are valid and the associated location in stage Y isn ' t valid lie it I *_. empty. Rather than process periods in order, the control logic can be modified to simply process periods (locations) when all source stages have valid data. This could be extended to be a condition of all source stages having valid data and the recipient stage having an empty ( invalid) associated location. If the stages buffer both data and the period information for the associated data, then the r quirement that data for a given period is stored in a specific location can also be removed. Then the control logic would have to ensure the selection of data from the sa e period. This could Lie done by a variety of techniques including logic decode of the stored period i formation or by using content-addressalnle memory. It is also possible to implement the present system where stages request inf rmation they require. Thus stage Y could request (from either the control logic or the source stages/ specific information such as the information for α particular period. Alternatively, source stages, such as X and Z, can pass period data to reci¬ pient stages (Y), with the recipient fie Stage Y in the figures ) being responsible for the storage of the received data. Then a stage would be responsible for storing input data required for its function. Whe it has all of the input values required for a particular period it can generate a result and pass this to other stages requiring that result. .Stage Y may or may not then store output values. In this implementation, stages w uid collate received data associated with individual periods and then determine output data which they then forward to dependent stages. Stages could also be < onnected to some backup system such that data was stored (archived) before (or just following) being removed from a stage buffer. The system as described so far provides a versatile structure to support consumers using metering capable of providing data for each settlement period. It also allows a "second" class, or tier, of consumer (the B consumers) who are grouped together and whose metering is not significant for settlements. A variety of means for implementing such α system have also been detailed above. However, it is desirable to provide greater flexibility and enable consumers with a greater diversity of metering, and metered periods, to be included within settlements rather than being accounted for on a collective basis by the value of B. It is also desirable Lo enable consumers with different metering, c>r metered periods, to be represented in the Settlements system. In the existing system, although multiple periods can be supported as detailed above, the logic associated with producing the results for each period is separate. Data associated with one period has no affect on the results for another period. Currently Settlements is only applied to situations where the consumption points are electricity consumers and the inputs to a given Closure are from high voltage networl s. If a generation plant directly fed into a Closure then it would be treated as an input node and accounted for in the same manner as a connection to the high-voltage network. The existing system relies on α single price being defined per period per unit of electricity, with this price being common to all input points to a Closure and hence, excepting network loss, all output points. As previously mentioned, the existing Settlements system • is only applied to the distribution network between Grid Supply Points (GSPs) and end consumers. The GSPs are outlets from the national distribution network (known in England as the National Grid). The generation sites for electricity ar connected to the National Grid. Cui — rently the single price of electricity, for a given period, is applied to all gener¬ ation ( except where premiums are required by nature of location or fuel; in such circumstances these premiums are handled separately from the unit price of elec¬ tricity;. For a Closure the present system for Settlements can be extended, as an e 'tension i the basic system, to calculate the value tor each input individually and then to add each ot the values to produce a total value. This is shown in Fig. 12, which shows a unit 300/3 for calculating total Value per period. Impor¬ tantly, the units 20U can Lie different for each input to α Closure and can include a fixed charge and α charge for volume (number of electricity units supplied/ which is non-linear. Thus the function implemented in unit 200 can be ot the general form: α + <b *■ T> + ' [ T'/il • c- - T- + S.I kl * d ■ T) + T>l3 A e ' T) ( .3. where α t<-> e and to k are all individually (per Closure input) defined con¬ stants 'per period), the square brackets C] define a function which is 0 if T and I if T 1 , T i s the number of etered units for that closure input, and U is the associated / constant/. Thus LT/i) will be U if if T < and 1 if T - l \ . Note that such a method ot determining the total value would not, in α specific situation, exclude either 'i) all inputs to a Closure being accounted for on a similar basis, (ii) having a single price per unit defined for all inputs, or ( in ) having the value determined as per the existing system. However, determin¬ ing V by a unit 300/3 where each unit 200 implements the above function and where the value associated with each input is determined individually overcomes several technical limitations of the existing Settlements system; notably, that a single price is determined outside of Settlements which is then applied to all inputs on a per unit basis. Thus even if a system is used to determine a price fnr all electricity generated on a national basis ( .as unit 106 does currently), the present system would allow small generation systems, connected to local distri¬ bution networks, to be priced differently. In function 3, any constant can be zero, and the function can be extended to provide any number of other * variables. Also, the constants in function 3 can be used to represent any number of factors. For example, the constant a can be used to include a number of fixed charges associated with .the Closure input such as the cost of operating systems, charges for constraints in the dis¬ tribution network supplying that Closure input, or for "cons' 'ning on" gener¬ ation stations (which is specific to the. example of electricity ε ,.>ply). The system described above is intended to support the values associated with individual inputs to a Closure. In the present system, other costs can also be defined and added per period either on a Closure basis or per node (input or output connection to) the Closure. Thus the cost of the distribution network, operating settlements, or other costs can be added to produce V for a given period. If a Settlements system embodying the present system is then applied to the National Grid (the inputs to the Closure being the generation sites, or Grid interconnects, and the outputs being the GSPs; it will allow, for a Settlements Period, each generation site to have a unique charge (price) defined. The result will then be that the effective price per unit at GSPs is an average ( weighted to number of units^ of the generation costs. This is_ discussed below in more detail. The present system is intended to enable multiple instances of the system to be applied to various Closures to provide a comprehensive solution. The effect of applying the present system to the National Grid is to provide a means to support, individually, the cost of generation and determine a value, in proportion to demand, at each supply point 'GSP ) . Where α second Settlements system is c associated with the distribution networ supplied by a GSP then the value, for a period, at the. GSP becomes an input value to the second Settlements system. in the present system, the circuit implementing unit 3U1 can also be replaced by a modified unit 303. Each A consumer, directly included in the system, will be represented by a unit 303 (although it is noted that data for multiple consumers could be aggregated and supported by a single unit or that a single unit could be multiplexed to support multiple consumers). The . basic implementation of unit 303 is shown as unit 303/1 in Fig. 13. In this unit, the periodic metered data is recorded and retrieved by conventional means shown as unit 100. In unit 301, periodic charges are determined using unit 101 as previously described. In unit 303, charges are determined by unit 202 which, rather than using metered data and a defined price per unit per pei — iod i from an external system), uses data derived from Closure inputs. In Fig. 13 unit 202 is shown having three inputs metered data from unit 100, C, and V. C represents the total consumption supplied to a given group, of consumers (which could be all consumers within the Closure), and V represents the corres¬ ponding value of the electricity (in the example of electricity distribution). In the existing system the price determined by unit 106 is set on a national basis for each Settlements Period. Therefore, the price for a given period is constant irrespective of local conditions, location, or demand (local or individual). The present system enables the price to be determined by means allowing each Closure (which can be local rather than national; to determine a unique value or price for each Settlements Period. Also, if consumer metered periods are longer than the Settlements Period, it enables them to be charged a value (or price per unit; which reflects weighted price accounting to the local or individual demand within the contained Settlement Periods. The present system will be explained, using the supply of electricity as an example, using reference to data for C .supplied electricity) and V (the value of supplied electricity;. Within the system, C and V can be produced for various periods for a whole Closure and also for groups of consumers or even individual consumers. Where data for C and V represent the same period, then the corres¬ ponding per unit price for electricity ( .at least for associated consumers) is obvi¬ ously C divided by V. The system could be implemented and operated to use a price per unit ( or similar;. However, the present system is predominantly explained herein using C and V in order to provide consistency in the explana¬ tion of different implementation options and for clarity when dealing with a variety of periods. Nevertheless, the present system and circuits could equally be implemented using price data rather than, or together with, C and V. Unit 303 and unit 202 can be explained by means of an example based upon using the Settlements Period for recording metered data C and V. For a given period, M (adjusted for network loss) divided by C will indicate the fraction of total consumption, during the period, which the associated consumer(s) was res¬ ponsible for. Unit 202 can then determine a charge X as a similar fraction of V. Thus if in a particular period a consumer used 1% of C (the total electri¬ city supplied) then I % of V (the total value of C; will be apportioned to them. This can be expressed as: f(M) * (V/C) (4) where the function of rnetered data f(M> can simply be the rnetered data multiplied by a loss factor. From Fig. 1 it can be seen that some or all of the units 301 can be replaced by units 303 if unit 300 is enhanced to also provide C (the total elec¬ tricity supplied to the Closure). Unit 300 can be modified as shown in Fig. 14, unit 300/4. This also includes a means to have a unique value determined for each Closure input by means of one or more units 200, as described above. Fig. 15 shows a form of the present system where unit 300 provides C and V for each period (for example using Settlement Periods). A number of units 303 then represent A consumers to determine associated charges. If the metei — ing for all A. consumers uses the equivalent periods as for C and V, then the system shown in Fig. 15 will operate in substantially the same manner as the existing system except for the implementation ot unit 202 (which replaces unit 101) and the modification to unit 300. The existing system uses a defined set of periods (the Settlement Periods;, which are currently all 30 minute periods. The operation of the present system does not require such a common set of periods for all A consumers. However, it is helpful, at least for explanation, to have a base set of periods. For this purpose the existing 30 minute Settlement Periods will be used as an example. It is possible to define some other pattern of periods from the Settlement Periods. This can be referred to as Time Set 1. It is essential that Time Set 1 ι.as for all other sets of periods; represents the whole period of interest even though individual periods in the Time Set may represent non-continuous time. It is desirable, but not essential, for each period in Time Set 1 to correspond to an integral number of Settlement Periods (or some other base set of periods); but as stated, it is not important for a Time Set 1 period to represent continuous time provided that all Time Set 1 periods collectively represent the whole period of interest If we have a Time Set 1 period which represents an integral number of Settlement Periods, C and V for Time Set 1 periods can be defined as Cl and VI. Then, Cl(ι) and Vl(ι) can be produced for the l-th Time Set 1 period (assuming that periods are numbered or identified in some manner) simply by calculating the total of C and V respectively for all Settlement Periods contained in the l-th Time Set I period. If a Time Set 1 period contains a fractional part of a Settlements Period, then a corresponding fractional part of C and V can be used in the associated calculation. This could assume that C and V during a Settle¬ ments Period are flat <ιe evenly distributed) and a fractional part therefore easily 'calculable. Alternatively, higher resolution data may be available or predictable (tor example from power stations) which can be used to calculate the corresponding fractional part ot C and V required to produce CI(ι) and Vld; In such situations C and/or V can be assumed, within the Settlements Period, to have the shape (profile; of the higher resolution data. We can use the notation Cn(ι; and Vn(ι> to represent C and V data for the l-th period of Time Set n. Using this notation we can refer to the base set of periods (which we have said could be the Settlements Periods) as Time Set 0. If aLI A consumers use metering which records consumption using Time Set 1, ' then the system shown in Fig. 15 can be modified such that unit 300 produces outputs for Time Set 1 periods, rather than Settlement Periods, even if price and/or Closure input metering is based upon Settlement Periods. This will therefore only require modification to unit 300 which may include buffering to store data tor Time Set 0 periods required to calculate the necessary outputs. In the present system, however, different A consumers can use different patterns ot metered periods. Thus one consumer could use Settlement Periods for metering purposes and another could use Time Set 1 It would also be pos¬ sible to defined a plurality ot other Time Sets in a similar way to the definition of Time Set 1. During the i-th Settlements Period, C0(i) will represent the total electricity supplied into a Closure and VOii) it's total value. Therefore, for each period, V0/C0 will be the unit price P for the period. However, the present system is intended to support a range of consumer metering, rnetered periods and consumer groups and therefore the relationship between C, V, and P may be more complex and will, in part, relate to total consumption within the Closure or a group of consumers. Initially, in a unit 303 of the present system, data for both C and V represents periods equal to the periods for the rnetered data available from unit 100. If C and/or V are available for periods shorter than the rnetered period then, given there are a finite number of such periods in a metered period, it is relatively easy to convert C and V to data values representing the required metered period as explained above. .Thus if the Settlements period is 30 min¬ utes, the metered period 4 times the Settlements period (2 hours), and C and V are available for Settlement Periods then, for a given 2 hour period, totalling C (and similarly for V) for each Settlement Period contained in the 2 hour period will provide a value for C for the longer metered period. This can be perfor¬ med, using appropriate logic, with individual units 300. If the C and V inputs to a unit 202 are expressed in terms of the rnetered period, then unit 202 can determine a charge as a fraction of V in proportion to the fraction of C represented by M (the metered data from unit 100). This can be expressed as: f(M) x (.V/C) (4) The function of rnetered data can also be used to implement an adjustment to account, in the example of electricity distribution, for network loss. Thus, a loss factor, L, can be defined and the charge determined by unit 202 then defined as: M * L V/C (.5) This will produce a charge X representing the charge for, in the example, elec¬ tricity consumed during the metered period. Alternatively, in the present system C and V could represent data for per¬ iods shorter than the metered period and charges could be determined for these periods (or permutations of them). For example, if C and V represent data for Settlement Periods Time Set 0; then unit 303 could determine a charge X for each of the Settlement Periods even though the rnetered data M is only available - Id for periods which are longer than the Settlements Period (where ideally the metered period equates to a integer number of Settlement Periods) for example Time Set 1 To achieve this, VI is modified such that VI for each Time Set 1 period contains a set of values with each being V for a contained sub-period Thus if Time Set 1 represented a 2-hour period then VI could be expressed in terms of Settlement Periods (Time Set 0) with each VI Time Set 1 value containing, in this example, four Time Set 0 values. Thus: Vi(ι) = la, b, c, d> Vl(ι,j) = a where j = 1 = b j = 2 = c j = 3 = d j = 4. In the case where VI is produced directly from V0 then Vl(ι,j) will equal a corresponding value of V0 Assuming consumer rnetered data for Time Set I, then Cl(ι) can be calculated as the total of CO for all Time Set 0 periods contained in the l-th Time Set 1 period. The function f(M ) * Vl(ι,j)/Cl(ι) (6) can then be used to determine a charge for each contained Time Set 0 sub-period ij;, contained in the i-th Time Set 1 period, for which V is available M and Cl(ι ) both correspond to the metered period (being a Time Set 1 period in this example ) . Function 6 can be used for each contained Time Set 0 period to apportion a percentage of V for that contained period The function f(M) can be M L to ad.ust for loss Function 6 can be generalised such that M, the rnetered data, can be in α period in any Time Set (n) as. fι.M) /•* Vnu,j;/Cn(ι) > 7 ) Using this function the unit 202 can determine α charge X for each Time Set 0 period contained in a metered period Obviously the same principle can be used to aeterrnine a charge for any other period contained in the metered period for which V is available or can be derived Assuming initially a situation where all A consumers have metering which records consumption for Settlement Periods <or at least some common period), then Fig 15 shows an implementation of the present system Unit 300 consists of a unit 300/4, as shown m Fig 1 , which produces c .the total electricity supplied into the Closure) and V (the total value for supplied electricity). C and V are fed to a plurality of units 303 which then determine charges for associated con¬ sumers. These charges are totalled using unit 102, as per Fig. 1, to produce A which can* then be subtracted by unit 105, again as per Fig. 1, to produce B. As described previously, suitable implementations of unit 303 can be used to support consumers where the rnetered period is longer than the Settlement Period (or at least the period represented by C and V). Also, even if the metered per¬ iod is longer than that for V, the charges X produced by unit 303 can be deter¬ mined for each period for which V is available (the V Periods). If suitable control or buffering is provided, it can be seen that individual units 303 can be used to support any metered period longer than that used for C and V (but ideally rnetered periods which contain integer number of V Periods). Thus, for example, C and V can be produced by unit 300 for each Settlement Period and these can, if necessary, be buffered or stored. Each unit 303 can then produce charges X for each Settlement Period irrespective of the metered period for their associated consurner(.s>. To achieve this within a basic implementation of the present system, a unit 303 can convert the Time Set 0 values for C and V to other Time Sets as appro¬ priate. Alternatively, groups of similarly metered consumers can be supported by a unit _ , 04 which includes associated unit 303 and which provides the cir¬ cuitry shared by all those units 303 to perform the required conversion and/or buffering of C and V. The effect of the above calculations needs to be considered. When unit 202 implements function 7, the effect is that for each Time Set 0 (Settlements Period) contained in the rnetered period, the consumer will be assumed to account for a similar fraction of V0. This is equivalent to the consumer having the consumption profile implicit i n Cn'.i>. Where Cr i; is derived from CO data then Cn(i; will have an implied profile for each Time Set 0 period. In function 7 the consumer assumes (inherits) this profile such that the volume equals their metered data. Where Cn(i> can be expressed as a set of values for contained sub-periods (where Cn(i,j> is the value for the j-th sub-period), then applying function is equivalent to the consumer having the consumption in the j-th sub- period defined by: M ■ - Cn(.i,j)/Cn ) (.8) where Cnd) is the total value of Cn for the l-th period in Time Set n and Cn f ι,j) is the value of C for the j-th contained sub-period. The system can determine this consumption and use the price per unit to determine charges for periods (for example. Settlement Periods) contained in the metered period. This would be equivalent to using function 7. However, func¬ tion 8 apportions M (the rnetered consumption) between contained sub-periods according to the profile of C. Determining charges using a price per unit and derived consumption enables the apportioning of M to sub-periods to be other than in accordance with the profile of C. This can be expressed as: M • f.Cl(ι,j;/Cl(ι). (9) It would also be possible to simply apportion a defined percentage of M to each sub-period. Using function 9 it is possible to have a defined means of varying the profile of C. A consequence the proposed system is that consumers, during their rnetered periods, implicitly inherit a profile (for charge purposes) equivalent to that of C used to determine their charges. Thus refining C by subtracting con¬ sumers with short rnetered periods helps to ensure that the implied profile for any consumer is a good estimate, and reflection, of their behaviour. Means for achieving this is described later with reference to Fig. 1 . However, during a consumer's rnetered period the degree to which they inherit the profile defined by "C can be varied Thus if a group of consumers (consisting of X consumers) all used the same pattern of metered periods, where a given period contains n sub-periods, then the relative responsibility of individual consumers for consumption in individual sub-periods can be defined. One way to achieve this is to define weighting for each sub-period for each consumer wherδ Wi is the weighting for the l-th sub-period for that consumer (weightings are unique for consumers or groups of consumers; Obviously the weightings for some con¬ sumers can be common. Ideally the total of the weightings for all consumers during a given sub-period should, for example, be 1.00 for some other known value;. The charge for a consumer for the l-th sub-period can be defined as .M x Wi * (Ci/Z). x Vi/Ci where Z = Σ(M * Wi ) (The function is given in this form because in this form, the first term is the portion ot M in a sub-period; the function can of course be simplified by cancelling Ci . Z is the total of weighted metered data for the sub-period for all consumers, Ci is the value of C in the sub-period, and Ci/Z is the factor by which the total weighted consumption needs to be scaled to equal Ci i n the sub-period. Theref ore, the weighted consumption of a consumer (M x Wi for that consumer) can be multi plied by the scaling factor. Multiplying this by V/C for the sub-period then produces a charge. This mechanism enables consumption, and hence a charge, to be determined during each Settlement period. This enables M for the metered period to be apportioned between contained Settlement periods i n a manner other than i n direct correlation to C (for the Settlement periods). The distribution of M to contained sub-periods (i) could be pre-defined (potentially with some time dependence), (ii; could be a combination of a consumer defined profile (or generic profi le) and the Closure prof i le, or (ii i) could relate to other consumers so as to ensure that at least some system parameters balance. As stated, it is possible in the present system to group a number of units 303 within a unit 304 in order to share some common circuitry and/or logic. Unit 304 can also support units 303 associated with consumers having si mi lar meter ed per iods. Theretore, i t ι_ and V are provided to unit 3U4 for some pat¬ tern of periods, for example Time Set 0, then these could be converted as neces¬ sary to represent other periods, for example another Ti me Set corresponding to the etered periods of associated consumers. Fig. 16 shows an implementation of unit 304 as unit 304/ 1. C and V are provi ded to the unit as per a unit 303. They are then converted as necessary by units 21 5 and 216 respectively to provide C and V. C and V may in a given implementation i nclude C and V the inputs to unit 304 (or buffered versions thereof) and values corresponding to the metered periods of con¬ sumers. These are then connected to a plurality of unit 303 and wi ll therefore be sufficient for a unit 303 either to implement function 4 (based on produci ng a charge for associated metered periods) or f unction 7 (thereby produci ng a charge f or sub-periods of metered periods). Unit 304 also prov ides a consistent approach for all units 303 and they theref ore all calculate outputs for either rnetered periods or defined sub-periods (pref erably the periods of input V). This enables the outputs of all units 303 to represent the same periods; the charges and rnetered data can therefore easily be totalled, as performed in Fig. 16 by units 21 1 and 213. It is noted for this purpose that the rnetered data i s obviously for rnetered periods and therefore it is likely that Mt wi ll be produced tor such periods. However, function 8 above provides a means to deri ve a value for consumption in sub-periods and therefore it is possi ble to produce Mt for sub-periods ot the rnetered periods, notably the periods of the C i nput. Unit 304 also i ncludes means to produce C and V outputs (labelled Co and Vo; usi ng units 21 2 and 2 1 4 respecti vely. Either of these can be expressed i n terms of rnetered periods or any other convenient set of periods (such as the periods of the associated C or V input to unit 304). Fig. 1 7 shows a form of the present system. Unit 106 can be used to determi ne a price per period tor electricity suppl ied to the associated Closure(s) t or the Settlements system. This i s ted to unit 300 which, using the meteri ng at Closure i nputs, determines C and V for suitable periods (for example for each Settlements Period;. An alternati ve would be for the value of electricity sup¬ plied to gi ven Closure inputs (and possibly the associated number of units) to be determined, possibly by another instance of the present system which is associ¬ ated with the distribution network supplying Closure i nputs, for each period. Unit 3U0 provides C and V outputs which represent per period the total supplied electricity, in the example ot electricity supply, and total value. C and V are then connected to a plurality ot units 304 (and/or units 303). Each unit 304 can support a plurality of units 303, ideally where they have the same pat¬ tern of rnetered peri ods (use the same Time Set). The units 303 (either connected directly to C and V from unit 300 or con¬ tai ned withi n a uni t 3U4) can produce charge outputs for either Settlement Per¬ iods (ie the periods used tor C and V from unit 300), their associated etered periods, or some other def i ned set of periods. The system can be implemented to support any of these options. For the purpose of explanation it is assumed that all unit 303 produce outputs tor Settlement Periods. This wi ll enable the outputs from all units 303 i n a unit 304 to be totalled in the unit 304 and then the outputs of ail units 304 to be totalled, as performed by unit 21 7 in .Fig. 1 7. Also, the total charges A for a particular Settlements Period can be subtracted — as i n the prior art system — f rom V (by unit 2 18) to produce B. The di f¬ f erence is that A is based upon charges derived from rnetered data corresponding to periods other than the Settlements Period. If all units do not provide results using a common period, then results for equivalent periods can be totalled as appropriate and can be converted to longer periods, or accumulated over time, in order to provide overall results. In the system shown in Fig. 1 , the values of C and V for each unit 303, i rrespecti ve of the rnetered period used, are deri ved from the C and V outputs of unit 300. More specifically if the metering for a unit 303 used Time Set n for its rnetered periods, the Cn(i) and Vn(i) are the total of C and V for con¬ tai ned sub-periods. A result of implementing the system as shown in Fig. 17, even if all consu¬ mers are i ncluded as A consumers, i s that A, for a gi ven Settlements Period, will i n general not equal V, from unit 300, even if the estimate (L) for loss was accu¬ rate. However, charges, including charges for suppliers can be -determined for Settlement Periods. In the present system, the calculated charges can be adjusted such that the total charges calculated (A) equals V from unit 300 (the total value supplied to the Closure). However, any adjustment also deals with any error in the esti mate of loss (L) used in the function of rnetered data. L is a constant defined to account for loss such that the total of M L for all consumers equals C. This may not be possible in reality and L may be an estimate with the i ntention that i deally M x L for all consumers equals C. Potentially, the value of L f or each consumer could be unique to that consumer. It may also be set such as to ensure that it either over- or undei — estimates loss or encourages energy eff iciency. For each period, L could be defined either on a Closure basis or per con¬ sumer. Scaling consumer rnetered data by L (as above) enables L to be uniquely defined for each consumer. Alternatively L could be removed from the function implemented in unit 202 and the output of unit 201 (shown in Fig. 1 4) simply scaled by a defined value representing overall L. (It is assumed for conveni¬ ence that the output of unit 201 represents the total electricity supplied into the Closure and the function implemented i n unit 202 adjusts for loss.) If all consumers are (i; included in settlements as A consumers and (ii; use an identical pattern of rnetered periods, (i i i) function 5 i s used to implement unit 202, and (i v) the esti mate of loss (L; was accurate then B, the output of unit 105, would equal zero and ther ef ore the total value (V; would be accurately accounted ≤ for by A, the output of unit 102 However, this is not true either if the esti¬ mate if loss is not accurate 'which is likely; o if, in Fig 17, consumers use different rnetered periods Therefore each supplier charge could be scaled by < f- + B;/A, or L could be re-adjusted and new charges determined, in order to achieve a system which financially balanced If some form of adjustment is not made, in order to account tor actual loss, then it must be decided who is respon¬ sible tor any error in the estimate of loss (L) and hence the value B. Fig 18 shows means for adjustment for actual loss. Unit 203 implements the above function to scale supplier charges (Unit 102 is fed with consumer charges ) A plurality of units 203 will be used, each being fed with a raw supplier charge determined for a particular supply company and producing an adjusted supplier charge A unit U3 could also be used to scale A to determine the total charges for all companies, but this would simply produce V In the present system each unit 203 can be integrated with the associated unit 107 used to determine the supplier charge It is alternatively possible to scale individual charges, calculated by each unit 202, but this would increase the logic or cii — cuitry required to implement the system, which may not be justified Alterna¬ tively the value of L, for α given period, (or some other constant) can be varied and charges re-calculated such that B is zero for the given period It should also be noted that the proposed method of adjustment can be applied to a y period ( not just Settlement Periods). If supplier charges A and β are determined for any period, then the circuit of Fig. 18 can be used to adjust charges The system as described so tar allows, it all consumers are explicitly included, loss to be accurately accounted tor and charges scaled to ensure a balanced system financially If all consumers within a Closure are not explicitly included within Settlements, then B will represent the charge for all of those excluded and also the error in loss apportioned to A. The above means of adjusting charges shown in Fig. I a can also be applied even if some consumers a e excluded from Settlements (and hence included in B, the output of unit 105), it the desired value of B is known, predicted or estimated (as discussed below). The system described so far also determines charges based upon the total consumption within a closure, rather than just the consumption of an individual consumer It further determines the total value tor the electricity supplied to a Closure using different price mechanisms for each i nput point rather than treat¬ i ng all i nputs together. The present system can also be applied to Closures which, at least in part, r epresent the National G rid or part thereof. The present system can be applied usi ng a Closure which represents the National G rid and therefore used to detei — mi ne a charge, for a gi ven period, for each G rid Supply Point. The ' present system can also be implemented so that, if all consumers are i ncl uded and the estimate of loss is accurate, B is zero without the need for adjustment. Hence the system i nherently balances. However, in practice errors i n the estimate for loss, minor ti ming differences between meters, recordi ng accuracy, etc wi ll mean that the system does not balance i n reality but can sti ll be adjusted to balance as just described. . Fig. 19 shows a modified structure for the present system. Fig. 1 6 shows the preferred implementation of unit 304 and this includes the means to deter¬ mine outputs for Co and Vo. These values equal, for each period, the input values of C and V respectively minus the total consumption and value apportioned to consumers supported within the unit 304. If the outputs are calculated, for example, for each Settlement Period, then Vo wi ll be the input value V (for the Settlements Period) mi nus the charge determi ned by each unit 303 for that Settle¬ ments Period. This i s ref erred to as the remaini ng value for that unit 304, and is the amount remai ning from the i nput which is not accounted for by the calcu¬ lations performed by that unit. Similarly Co is the remaining consumption from the i nput value (C) which is not accounted for by the metered data from con¬ tained unit 303. C o and Vo could alternati vely be calculated for each metered period (or any other appropriate period). The system in Fi g. 19 includes a p* ality of units 304. However, rather than the i nputs bei ng connected .* > C and . from ur. 300, they are connected to the Co and Vo of another unit 304 and the units 304 are connected in a series i n this manner. As prev iously detailed, the outputs, specifically the charge outputs X, can be produced for by appropriate means for any suitable period. Theref ore data may general ly be expressed throughout the system i n terms of Time Set 0 periods (Settlement Periods). However, if the metered periods sup¬ ported i n each unit 304 are combinations of the metered periods in the prior unit 304, then the system wil l, excludi ng unavoidable errors, balance. Thus in Fig. 19, unit 304(1) could support metering using Time Set 0 periods which could be 30 minute Settlement Periods, unit 304(2) could support metering using Time Set 1 periods which could be 2-hour periods, unit 304(2) could support metering using Time Set 2 periods which could be 4-hour periods, etc. This would then result in an accurate system but one which could still represent data internally (and in terms of its output) for a variety of periods including, but not limited, using Settlement Periods throughout. Figs. 17 and 19 show two forms of the system. In Fig. 17, the units 304 are all connected directly to unit 300, whereas in Fig. 19 they are connected in a chain from unit 304. A variety of hybrid forms are possible, in which the units 304 (or 303) form a tree structure connected to unit 300. The circuits described determine charges for consumers. Alternatively, data for multiple consumers can be aggregated and charges calculated for the group of consulers. This could include determining charges, based upon the above circuits, for suppliers using aggregated rnetered data (or derived or estimated metered data; tor associated consumers or subsets of consumers. In order to adjust for errors such as that resulting from the estimation of networl loss, the accuracy of meter measurement, etc, the circuit shown in Fig. 18 can be used One technical issue associated with the present system is that it requires metered data to be reliably provided on a regular basis. Preferably the present system additionally includes a mechanism which can estimate a charge for a consumer 'or even a group ot consumers; whilst their metered data, for a given period, is not available to the system Initially the means for estimation is explained with the assumption that all consumers are included in Settlements as A consumers and all use the Settlements Period for metering. For each consumer, a function E (which may be time dependent) can be defined. The simplest implementation will be E = I for all consumers for all periods However, E could be α constant (.other than 1) specific to individual consumers, a function of tune t(t>, or derived from historical information (poten¬ tially also with some time dependence; If some consumers are not explicitly included in the Settlements system, a value of E needs to be defined representing all excluded consumers. Again this could be time dependent and/or could be derived from historical data. Fig. 20 shows circuitry which enables, a given period the value Mt, the total rnetered consumption to be determined for those A consumers for which metered data is available. It is assumed i n Fig. 20 "that where a consumer's rnetered data is not avai lable, then the output of the associated unit 100 will be seen as 0. If this isn't the case, a mechanism can be easily added to force such a condition. Unit 205 simply adds together metered data for all A consumers. The units 204 simply adjust the rnetered data for loss by calculating M * L. If L is defined for the Closure then the units 204 can be omitted, with unit 205 then directly adding the outputs of units 100 and its output being suitably scaled. Mt is therefore the total metered consumption scaled for loss. Mt does not need to be scaled for loss, so unit 204 is not required, if the output of unit 201 is scaled. The circuitry of Fig. 20 implies that metered data is available for identical periods and therefore can be aggregated. Potentially this could be achieved, even if metered periods differ, by taking as the period the lowest common mul¬ tiple of all metered periods. Alternatively, function 8 defines a mechanism to apportion metered data for sub-periods which can be common to all consumers and therefore enable Mt to be produced. For a given period, Et will be the total, for all consumers whose rnetered data is not available (and therefore not included in Mt), of their values of E. It is therefore relatively easy for the present system to estimate a charge for a consumer. Fig. 21 shows an estimation mechanism for the system. For all con-' surπers for which in a given period metered data is not available, units 206 pro¬ vide values of E for the associated consumers. These are then totalled, for a gi ven period, by unit 207. For each consumer (or potentially on a supplier basis) a unit 208 then determines a charge as a function of E for that consumer, and Et. For an individual consumer, unit 208 can implement the function > E/Et) - >.C - Mt) * V/C ( 10) This determines the number of units of electricity not accounted for by consu¬ mers having metered data available (C - Mt) and the value that consumption represents (the remaining value, which is i.C - Mt) V/C). Then for the indi v i¬ dual consumer, or group of consumers, the unit 208 determines a charge as a fraction ot that remaining value in proportion to their value of E as a fraction of Et. The data used for this all relates to a particular period (although it need not be a Settlements Period;. The estimation mechanism can be incorporated into the present system. Fig. 22 shows a unit 303/2 (a modification of unit 303) which includes the cir¬ cuitry to both generate the value E for the associated consumer for a given per¬ iod (unit 206) and also, using an externally generated Et, calculate an estimated charge (.unit 208). The units 206 and 208 are equivalent to those shown in Fig. 21. Two switches or multiplexors 209 are controlled by a signal indicating whether, for the given period, metered data is available. The first switch determines the source of the charge associated with the particular consumer. The charge is either that derived from the rnetered data (using unit 202) or that using estimation (using unit 208). The second switch is used to select the value of E for the consumer as either 0 (if metered data is available) or that generated by unit 206 (.if metered data is not available). Another, similarly controlled, switch could be used to output a value for the calculation of Mt if necessary (see the discussion above of forcing M to 0 in Fig. 20). In Fig. 22, unit 208 uses C and V which are inputs to unit 303 Unit 208 can implement α function KE,V> which uses E and V This could simply involve taking the value of E as the fraction of the total value (V) which is to be apportioned to the associated consumer «,thus E could represent the fraction of V which will be apportioned to the associated consumer). E could still be a con¬ stant, a function ot time, based on historical information etc. Obviously such an implementation would not be intended to produce a balanced system financially (at least not while it contained estimates for a given period). However, that would not prevent the system being adjusted so that it balanced as explained above If unit 208 implements a function f(E, ), that means that Et and Mt are not required. This therefore means that the circuitry necessary to produce these values is not required. The estimation mechanism could therefore be expressed as E x V where E is a fraction of V Alternatively it could be (E > V)/C (I 1) where E represents α value ot consumption This is the same as function 4 with f'M; replaced by E. Alternatively Et could be replaced by Y to implement (E/Y) <C - Mt) x V/C (12) where Y can simply be a function of the total number of consumers not included in Mt. Using these alternatives, the estimation simply apportions a fraction of V, or the remaining value, to a consumer regardless of whether the total of all estimates in the period equals the remaining value (which the function originally proposed would do). The circuitry of Fi g. 22 could also be re-structured in various ways. For example,- unit 208 could be modified to estimate a value of consumption rather than a charge (the modified unit being referred to as unit 208b). The estimated consumption produced by unit 208b can be defined as (E/Et) (C - Mt) ( 13) Alternatively it can be an estimate of consumption based upon categorization of the consumer, historical data, prediction, or other means. A switch, similar to uni± 209 and controlled by the signal indicating the presence of actual metered data, can then be used to select the output from either unit 100 or unit 208b as the source of consumption data for unit 202 which, as before, is used to deter¬ mine a charge. Thus the unit 209 previously connected to the outputs of unit 202 and 208 can be removed and X (the charge for the associated consumer during a period; woul r; be the output of unit 202. This arrangement is sh .wn in Fig. 23. Unit 202 will operate as previously described. For the sake of clarity, the C and V inputs to unit 202 have been omitted. Further, unit 208b can be removed (as can the . -cuitry to produce Et) if E represents an estimate of actual consumption in the period and the output of unit 206 is fed directly to unit 209. There are two outputs from unit 303/2. One represents the charge for the associated consumer, and will be determined using either the actual metered data for a given period or an - estimate. The second output is a value for E (.which may not be required if Et is not required in the system). A third output which may be produced as required is the value of M associated with the consu¬ mer, which can then be used by the system to determi ne Mt. Fig. 24 shows a form of the present system utilising a plurality of units 303/2. The charges determined by each unit 303 are totalled by unit 102 to produce A (the total charge f or all A consumers;. The values of E from each unit 303/2 are totalled by unit 207 (as per Fig. 21 ) to produce Et. This is then feed back to each unit 303/2 (not shown; to enable the calculation of estimated charges. If units do not require Et to . determine estimated charges then unit 207 is not required. In the Fig. 24 system it is assumed that, in order for the estimation mecha¬ nism to operate properly, al l consumers are included in Settlements as A consu¬ mers. Fig. 25 shows a modified system where some consumers (or consumption points) are excluded from Settlements and therefore collectively accounted for by the value of B. " I n order for the estimation of charges for A consumers to properly operate, a value Eb, representi ng E for al l B consumers for a given period, needs to be generated. This is performed by unit 2 1 0. Unit 2 10 operates i n a similar manner to the unit 206 used for individual consumers. For a gi ven period it generates a val ue for Eb whi ch represents al l B consumers (al l consumers not di rectly represented in the system). The value of .Eb could simply be the number of B consumers (equivalent to E equalling (or on average equal ling) 1 for each individual consumer). Alternatively Eb could equate to a constant other than I per consumer, could be time dependent, or cou ld be deri ved from hi storical information. I n generati ng E for consumers, either i ndi vidually or for groups, (i ) constants can be used (for example E = 1 ), (i i) a ti me dependent function can be defined which reflects researched, predicted, or prior consum ption, (iii) a func¬ tion can be defined as a percentage of the remai ning value (C or V) associated with the consumer(s) or (iv) a function can be defined based upon other factors such as climatic conditions, daylight hours, etc. In the Fig. 25 system, estimation can be performed even though some consu¬ mers are excluded from di rect representation in the Settlements system. B then represents the charge associated with such consumers and Eb is used as the value of E for such consumers for estimation purposes. If function 10 is used for estimating charges for consumers, it is obvious that the charge which would be apportioned to all B consumers ' usi ng Eb) equals that determined by unit 105 and labelled B. This means that B consumers could be included in settlements and represented as a single A consumer without affect to the system. However, i n such circumstances, thei r consumption wi l l always be an estimate, based on Eb. Eiespite this the system can st i l l o perate and can be adjusted to balance as prev i¬ ously described with reference to Fi g. 3. In the present system the method of estimation, or the function implemented for estimation, can vary from consumer to consumer depending upon implementa¬ tion, the type of consumer, their demand, etc. Thus function 10 could be used for some whereas others use the Fig. 23 system (possibly removing unit 208b and having E as an estimate of actual consumption for ea .h period). An implicit assumption in the estimation technique discussed above is that all A consumers use Settlement Periods as their metered periods. Clearly for a Settlements Period it is of no relevance to the estimation whether the missing data i s f or the Settlements Period or a longer period. Thus for Settlements Periods the above estimation mechanism can be applied for each Settlements Period to all consumers irrespective of their rnetered periods. If consumption needs to be esti mated for a Settlements Period where some metered data i s avai lable for specific consumers for . longer periods encompassing the particular Settlements Period then, as discussed above, it is possible to apportion a value of consumption to periods (Settlement Periods) contained in the metered period. Function o enables this to be achieved. Therefore consumption in a Settlements Period can be calculated and this can be used in calculating Mt. Where estimation is required for a period longer than the Settlements Pei — l od (or Time Set 0 period if different), then estimates for contained Settlement Periods can be totalled to provide an estimate for the longer period. Alterna¬ t i vely the above methods t or esti mati on can be equal l y applied to any period. I f some consumers have metered data available for shorter periods then, if neces¬ sary for the estimation process, thi s metered data (or a combination Of metered data and estimates) can be totalled for the requi red period to provide M for such consumers f or the peri od, and this can, if required, then be used to calculate Mt. If other consumers have rnetered data for longer periods, then either this can be ignored and a value for E generated for those consumers or their rnetered data can be apportioned to shorter periods, including the period for which estimation is required. The above techniques can thus be applied to all consumers irres¬ pective of their metered periods and can estimate consumption or charges for rnetered periods, sub-periods of metered periods or any other appropriate pattern of periods. A.s prev iously disc ussed, there are a variety of ways that the proposed sys¬ tem could be implemented and could operate. Potentially, an external system could collate (and archive) data and use the present system to perform the des- i red calculations. Alternati vely, the present system could contain sufficient storage and circuitry to be self contained. The present system includes the means to perform estimation when rnetered data is not available. Following the end of a period it is possible that metered data for some, but not all, consumers is retrieved and available to the system. Estimation, as described above, can then be used for those without metered data. Potentially, the metered data which is not immediately available may only become available in stages. The system can (i) wait until all missing metered data for a period is retrieved before replacing estimated consumption and/or charges, (ii) calculate actual charges for indi viduals whenever their metered data becomes available, (iii) perform calculations on a periodic basis for consumers for which data has become avai lable, or (i v > wait unti l a number of consumers have metered data for processing. When metered data for a period is processed to determi ne a charge based upon metered data, rather than an estimate, there may still be other estimated charges remaining for the period (associated with other consumers). Either the previous estimates for these consumers can be kept or the estimated charges, or at least some of them, can also be recalculated using the revised value of Et, Mt or other parameters as required. As discussed above, the system can be adjusted such that it balances (B = 0). To implement this, the function: (A + B)/B ( 14) can be used to scale charges. This assumes that all charges are scaled equally, and it is suited to being applied to scaling supplier charges rather than indivi¬ dual consumer charges. Where the estimation mechanism used does not seek to simply apportion the remaining value, and hence result in B (the output of unit 105) being 0., the adjustment mechanism can be applied only to estimated charges or to estimated charges in different proportion to non-estimated charges. Also, this can be implemented in a modified unit 202. Assuming all charges are determined, for example, for Settlement Periods (even where the metered period is longer), then it is possible to determine the total of all estimated charges (referred to as Z). In Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 the charge output X can additionally be fed to a switch (similar to unit 209) the output of which is 0 if metered data is available or X if not. The total of all such values would equal the total estimated charges for the period (ie Z). Alternatively Z can be calculated using Mt if the method of determining charges is known for all consumers. If only estimated charges are to be adjusted then an estimated charge can be scaled using (Z + B)/Z ( 15) ' As mentioned, an alternative is that estimated and non-estimated charges are both adjusted but in different ratios. Estimated charges could be adjusted using: .Z + f(Z/A) x Bl/Z ( 16) and non-estimated charges by: <A - Z + ( 1 - f(Z/A)) x B>/(A - Z) ( 17) where the function f(Z/A) produces a value between 0 and 1. f(Z/A) B pro¬ duces a portion of B which, i n f unction 16, is then apportioned between estimated charges. The remaining portion of .B is then apportioned between non-estimated charges using Function 1 7. If f(Z/A) was simply Z/A then the adjustments would be similar for estimated and non-estimated. Modifying the function (for example taking the square, or the square-root, of Z/A) will affect the distribution of adjustments. Charges can also be adjusted by other means. In Fig. 19 each unit 304 is daisy-chained from the previous unit. This means that the metered periods sup¬ ported by each unit 304 are derived from the periods used to express the previ¬ ous, unit's output data. If loss is correctly accounted for (in the estimate of loss L) and all consumers included as A consumers (or B consumers accurately estimated and included in the system), then the system balances and A will equal V and therefore E, the output of unit 218, will be 0. If the loss estimate L is inaccurate then B will equal the corresponding magnitude of this error applied to the overall consumption. This could be adjusted for, or charges scaled, as previously described. Also, if the estimate for loss ovei — estimates actual loss, then Vo and Co of a unit 304 will contain an error equal to the error in the estimate of loss for those consumers already extracted in order to produce Vo and Co (ie those con¬ sumers supported by that unit 304 and prior units 304 used to produce the C and V inputs to that particular unit). This will also be true in the configura¬ tion of system shown in Fi g. 1 7 where Vo and Co from all unit 304 could be added together (if provided for, or converted to, similar periods), and these totals will contain an error equal to the aggregate error in charges for associ¬ ated consumers. Vo and Co could therefore be used, within a system, to re-adjust charges. As an example, in Fig. 19 if the Vo or Co outputs of a unit 304 became negative it could be assumed that an error at least equal to the value of Vo or Co exis¬ ted, and thus existing charges can be adjusted to make Vo and Co at least 0. During a given period, Vt can be defined as the total value determined by unit 300. If, during the period represented by Vt, we have determined a number of charges for consumers where the total of all consumer charges is Vc, then the value Vo will be Vo = Vt - Vc. ( 18) We can make an adjustment to a charge Vx for the same period using the func¬ tion Vx VtΛVt - Vo) ( 19) If all charges are adjusted using this function then the total wi ll equal Vt. The present system has been described as a system where charges and other information is determined for certain periods. Depending upon the implementa¬ tion, results can be produced for rnetered periods, Settlement Periods, or any other pattern of periods. Where a variety of metered periods are supported, then it may be necessary to provide means for buffering or storing data within units. The system can be extended to include management of payments for charges and also to perform this on an ongoi ng basis. Consider initially a single consumer where the outstanding balance is 0. After one Settlements period (or metered period), a charge can be determined or estimated for the consumer. The amount payable on behalf of that consumer after one period is therefore the charge for that period. After a second per¬ iod a 'charge can be determi ned, or estimated, for that second period. Assuming that no payment has been made, the total payable is then the sum of the charges for each of the prev ious periods. Extending this, the amount payable at any point in time is the sum of al l charges apportioned to that consumer minus the sum of all payments on behalf of the consumer. This same approach would also apply to a supplier rather than a consumer. Thus the amount payable by a sup- - 3. plier at any point in time is the total of all charges apportioned to the supplier, or consumers for which the supplier is responsible, minus all payments made by the supplier. Fig. 26 shows means for accumulating charges for a given consumer or sup¬ plier. Unit 232 is a latch which produces the total amount payable at its output. The value of new charges is fed to unit 233, which adds the new charge to the existing total. A signal indicating the validity of a new charge then causes the output of unit 233 to be loaded (latched) into unit 232. Either additional circuitry can be provided to support payments or payments can be represented as negati ve charges which cause the value in unit 232 to be reduced by the payment value. To support payments separately would require a unit capable of subtrac¬ ting the payment from the existing total and then causing the new total to be loaded into unit 232. Obviously this functionality can be integrated with unit 233. Alternati vely, charges and payments can be handled completely separately. Payments can then be accumulated by a separate circuit similar to that of Fig. 26. The difference between the output of the accumulated charges and the output of accumulated payment is then the current balance. Assuming a combined circuit for charges and payments, then the output of unit 232 will, at any instant, provide the current amount payable for the associ¬ ated consumer or supplier. However, some of the individual charges that the outstanding balance represents may be estimates or may be subject to adjustment or revision. The system may therefore ..jve a means to support such adjust¬ ments. When an adjustment is made, the new charge may be greater than or less than the original (or prev ious; charge. The difference could be simply fed to unit 233 as a new charge and the current balance therefore adjusted. In order to achieve this, the value of the previous charge needs to be stored or a means rήust be available to determi ne it. Potentially this could be achieved externally to the present system but it is preferred that the system includes a means to store data for periods while either an actual charge has not be determined or whi le the charge i s subject to revi sion or adjustment. Fig. 27 shows a modified circuit including a means for storing charge values. A storage unit 234 is used to store the charge previously apportioned for a period, together with an identif ier for the period. When a new charge is determined, it is provided with a period identifier or stored in such a way that the period can be derived. If unit 234 contains an entry for the period, then the difference between the previous charge, stored in unit 234, and the new charge is determined by unit 235. Unit 236 is a multiplexor and is used to select either the difference in charge (the output of unit 235) or payment information, under control of a signal indicating whether a payment or a charge is involved. The output of unit 236 is therefore the current adjustment to the amount owed, and is fed to unit 233, which adds it to the amount owed. Obviously the output of unit 236 can be positive or negative. Also, control logic (not shown) is required to sequence and manage payments and charges (or the circuit shown in Fig. 27 can be designed to support simultaneous updates). Simultaneous payment and charges could be supported by modifying unit 233 to implement Current amount - Payment + New charge. (20) This will then remove the need for unit 236. The new amount owed (output of unit 233) is stored in latch unit 232. When a charge is determined for a given period, then if unit 234 does not contain an entry for the period the output of unit 234 should be 0 or unit 235 should be desi gned to simply output the new charge without modification. The charges stored by unit 234 can be simply all previous charges, charges for the most recent periods, charges which have been estimated, charges likely to be adjusted, or some combination of these. As mentioned previously, charges and payments can be accumulated separately and the difference will be the current balance owing. Similarly it is possible to accumulate the total value of electricity supplied into associated Closure(s ) . This then permits a further means of adjusting the system. If all consumers are included in settlements (either directly as A consumers or using some form of estimation) then an adjustment can be made. If the total accumula¬ ted charge is J and the total value of supplied electricity is K, then a charge can be adjusted by ' multiplying it by /J. This is similar to the previous methods described for adjusting the system, and can similarly be modified to adjust estimated and non-estimated charge to differing degrees. Ideally the total adjustment obviously equals K - J. As previously described, it is possible to apportion this amount differently between estimated and non-estimated charges. Considering the circuit necessary to both determine charges and produce the ongoing amount owed, then a combined circuit can be used. Some or all of the information required in the above functions can be stored per period in unit 234. The information stored in unit 234 could then be represented as a table as shown below Each entry (a,b, c, etc) in unit 234 is capable of storing information associated with a period, and may or may not include a period identifier (there is no need to store an identifier if it can be derived in some way such as being derived from the storage location used). G i ven that unit 234 contains sufficient infor¬ mation to reproduce the associated charge, then there is also no need to expli¬ citly store the calculated charge X, although it may be desirable to do so in a particular implementation. In the above table, storage is provided for M (metered data). This could be used to store actual metered data or could be used to record an estimate in. the absence of actual data. Alternatively, separate storage could be allocated for actual and estimated values and/or flags used to indicate the presence of one or both. A single unit could be designed to support a number of consumers where the means to determine their associated charges are the same. In such a situa¬ tion their aggregated rnetered data (and/or estimated consumption or combination thereof) needs to be calculated and can be used to determine charge. When a charge is determined based upon actual rnetered data and added to the ongoing amount owed, then, assuming the charge is not going to be adjusted, any associated entry in unit 234 can be removed and the entry made available for other purposes. However, this is not necessary if unit 234 is sufficient to store all historical data. Data such as C and V will generally be common to several consumers. It may therefore be practical in suitable ci rcumstances to share at least part of unit 234 between several consumers. Thus the storage of some or all informa¬ tion can be in a unit (or sub-unit) common to multiple consumers, so decreasing the overall amount ot storage required. It may also be desirable to use external storage or a backup facility for data As stated above, a single unit can be used to support multiple consumers with aggregate (or common) data being used t or calculations. Having storage of data on a per period basis means that the associated information for particular periods, can be obtained, or determined, in any order or at least with greater i ndependence. Unit 234 can therefore be used to store a variety of information relevant to determining charges for a consumer(s). This information may become avail¬ able at different times, and all of the information relating to an individual per¬ i od may not be obtai ned si multaneously Also, some i nf ormation may be subse¬ quently revised or adjusted It is logical in such circumstances to combine unit 234, unit 235, and the means (unit 202) to determine charge. Unit 234 will therefore be used to gather information. Once sufficient information is present to determine a charge for a given period, then the charge can be calculated and ' output. This therefore replaces unit 202 previously used to determine charges. If any data relating to a period changes or new data is obtained, allowing a revised charge to be determined, then a new charge can be calculated. The difference between the new charge and the previously calculated charge can then be output to update the amount owed and the new charge stored in unit 234 (if appropriate). Fig. 28 shows an extension to the Fig. 27 system to include the features described. Input data (i ncluding rnetered data; and period information (which may be deri ved withi n the circuit; are fed to storage unit 234 Unit 234 can accept various information relating to either metered periods or some defined period used to communicate or store data (which is a sub-period of the rnetered period) When unit 234 has sufficient information relati ng to a particular period to determine a charge for the period (either estimated or actual), data is passed to a charge calculation unit 237 which determines a charge for the period. This charge may then be loaded back into unit 234 for future reference. If a charge had previously been determined, this is also passed from unit 234 prior to being deleted or overwritten. Unit 235 determines the difference between the new charge and any previously calculated charge. This is then used to update the amount owed, and the remainder ot the circuit is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 7 Charges can be accumulated at any stage withi n the system, and it is reason¬ able to do so at both the consumer and su ppli er level as wel l as for the overal l network. Accumulati ng values at one point does not prevent values also being accumulated at another point. Fig. 29 shows one form of a complete system, compri sing a control and management unit C & M, a set of modules MOD, and an output unit fed by the modules. It is be on a module to support a si ngle consumer ( node), where similar modules may _. - used for each consumer. The modules are i deally of the form shown in Fig. 28, with the addition of a control means to manage the opera¬ tion of the unit and also other means to generate values for E ι used in estima¬ ting consumption) and other outputs. There are various mechanism to control and interface to the module and i n order to li nk them together. These are implementation issues and do not affect the overal l behaviour of the system. A plurality of modules can be organised to support consumers either i ndi¬ vidually or in groups. Each module can provide the total accumulated charge apportioned to the associated consumer(s) and these charges can be totalled to produce the total charge for all consumers. The charge data from i ndividual modules may also be connected to supplier units used to determine the charges for suppliers. If the amount previously paid by a supplier is subtracted from the total supplier charge then the result i s the amount currently payable by the supplier. The modules preferably have a number of inputs and outputs connected to a control and management unit. Thi s control unit can therefore generate i nputs to the modules and read outputs from them. The system is described as though each module is self-contained. However, some functionality and storage withi n a module may be common to other modules and there is therefore significant opportunity to share or combine such elements. There is also significant opportunity to extract aspects of the control and management unit as separate units or as logic capable of enabling several func¬ tions to be performed simultaneously. Within a module, storage can be provi ded f or i nformation relating to Settle¬ ment periods and or metered periods. Also the modu le wi l l contain ci rcuitry (which may be programmable) to determine the metered periods used by the associ¬ ated consumer. A period identifier (or signal derived from a period identifier) can be used as an input to each module to provide an enable. Obviously a requirement is that the metered periods for a consumer represent all time. The rnetered per¬ iods will be arranged in . an order, or pattern, to represent time; however, indivi¬ dual periods need not represent continuous time. A number of such patterns of metered periods may be defined and supported within a system where each consu¬ mer uses one pattern. It is also desirable to define an ordering for the pat¬ terns in the system, as this helps to ensure that the system balances (assuming an accurate estimate of loss). Thus, for example, pattern 1 may be a pattern con¬ sisting of Settlement periods, pattern 2 containing 2-hourly periods, pattern 3 containing a pattern of 10 periods repeating weekly, etc. A module should be able to determine whether the period identifier input relates to its pattern of periods, a pattern lower i the order, or a pattern higher in the order (or sepa¬ rate signals should be provided for this purpose). This ordered structure is equivalent to that in Fig. 19 where each unit 304 is used to support a pattern of metered periods (Time Set) and they are connected in a defined order. If an order is not defined for patterns then all modules can simply use C and V relating to the whole Closure to determine charges rather than * a version of C and V from which the consumption and charges of some consumers have been subtracted. This will equate to a structure similar to that outlined in Fig. 1 7. Having an ordered sequence of patterns for metered periods is similar to the structure presented in Fig. 19, where the value of C and V for each pattern i s deri ved from C and V f rom the previous pattern having subtracted associated consumers. It may therefore be necessary to group modules in a similar fashion to the wάy i n which units J03 are grouped i n unit 304. This enables, with suit¬ able control logic, Co and Vo to be determined and which control means can then feed the modules i n the next group. Fig. 29 illustrates the module based system. Individual modules are similar to ' those in Fig. 28 and the outputs of these can be totalled as necessary. A common control and management unit then controls input data and the selection of periods. The system as described so f ar calculates charges for periods which may be of extended durati on. The general formu la for determi ning a charge is: f(M) V/C Various means to estimate consumption have also been defined. Figure 28 shows a form of the system. This system can be applied to situations where the rnetered periods, or periods for which charges are to be determined, are of extended duration and it may be desirable to perform one or more interim charge calculations. During a period it i s possi ble, using the mechanisms described above, to estimate consumption for the currently elapsed portion of a period. C and V can also be determined for the elapsed portion of a period (particularly if the elapsed portion represents an i ntegral number of Settlement Periods or Time Set 0 periods). A charge can therefore be calculated using current C and V and esti mated consumption for the elapsed portion of a period. If the metered period, for example, spans a week, then daily charge calculations can be made based upon current estimates for the elapsed portion of the period and current C and V. Using the circuit in Figure 28 as an example, the values stored in unit 234 _ for the period in question can be updated to reflect the current values or esti¬ mates. There is no limit to the number of times period information can be revised and the charge re-calculated. If this is done, for example, on a daily basis, the difference between the new charge and the previous value can be added to the amount owed. On, , or following, the last day, actual metered data may be available. This will mean that the charge calculated is an actual charge. The difference between this and the estimated charge for the previous day will be added to the amount owed. I n so doing it i mpli citl y corrects any errors i n the prior estimates. The present system described so far prov i des a means for determining charges based upon either metered data or estimates. The present system can be ap plied to one or more Closures which can include, at least in part, the National G rid (the distribution network to which generation stations are predominantly connected). The known system is used to determine a charge for each supplier. A separate system, referred to as the Pool, then ensures that individual generation - 4. companies are paid for the electricity they generated (or were scheduled to gen¬ erate). The present system allows the determination of the value of electricity, which can include costs unique to each generation station and/or which are, for a given period, fixed (not dependent upon the number of units generated). The costs could also be non-linear with respect to the number of units generated. This means that costs for scheduling, but not utilising, generation capacity, and other such costs (such as are associated with network constraints or operating systems, including settlements) can be included in the per period value appor¬ tioned within settlements. It is desirable that the settlements system further includes means to detei — mine the charges to individual generation companies or the amounts payable by each supplier (or for each consumer; to individual generation companies. To achieve this, a list (the generation list) can be maintained for each node (input or output to a Closure). This list will contain a fractional value G for each generation company associated with that node which represents, for a given per¬ iod, their responsibility for the electricity supplied via that node. The generation list could simply be a list of fractions (which should total 1 ) where all possible generators are included in a known order. Therefore each generator would be represented in all generation lists at a known location in the list. Alternatively the generation list can provide an identifier for the gen¬ eration company and associated fraction. Each entry in the list would therefore contain two values (identifier and fraction, G). Where the present system is applied to Closures which have generation stations directly connected, then for those .nodes the generation list wi ll generally contain one entry for 1 since indi¬ vidual generation stations are normally operated by a single company (which could be a joint venture company;. For a Settlements Period, a generation list can be calculated for a Closure. During the period, the total value of electricity supplied into the Closure is VO. For an input to the Closure, a generator will account for an amount of the elec¬ tricity supplied to that input S defined by G x Vx (the value of electricity sup¬ plied to the Closure via that input in the period;. For the Closure the value G i n the period for a particular generation company will be the total of S for that generator' for all Closure inputs divided by VO. Once the generation list is calculated for the Closure for a Settlements Period, then all output nodes (consumers) in the Closure can adopt the generation list. Therefore if a charge for a consumer (output node) in a particular Settlements Period is X then the amount owed to each generator will be X multi¬ plied by the generator's value of G in the generation list. If charges for a consumer or a supplier are determined using periods longer than the Settlements Period, then a generation list can be defined for the longer periods. To calculated charges for extended periods, C and V are con¬ verted to the extended periods. Each time a new set of values for C and V are generated, an associated generation list can be calculated. For example, consider the conversion of CO and VO to C l and V I where Time Set 0 represents Settle¬ ment Periods and Time Set 1 some set of longer periods. For a particular gen¬ erator, the value supplied for each Time Set 0 period can be determined as VO multiplied by the generator's value of G for the period. The value of supplied electricity (for the generator) can be totalled for a Time Set 1 period. The value G for the generator in the Time Set 1 generation list is then the total supplied by the generator i n a period divided by V I for the period. Where one Closure (K l ) has an output node which is an input to another Closure (K2), then the generation list for K l (or the individual node) can be the input generation list to the node in K2. In summary, there is provided an apparatus associated with a public elec¬ tricity distribution network to determi ne charges for the supplied electricity whe e the period during which consumption is measured (the metered period) is longer than the period used for settling the price or value of the electricity (the settlements period; and where the charge can be determined for either the rnetered period or the settlements period. The apparatus further provides means for adjusting charges such that the total charges equals the total owed or that total minus a defined amount. Means are also provided whereby the apparatus does not require etered data from all consumers connected to the network. The apparatus also provides means for determining the value of the supplied elec¬ tricity where a plurality of generation sites exist each of which is separately valued.

Claims: Claim s 1 Apparatus for monitoring an electricity distribution network having a plurality of consumers fed therefrom, comprising means for measuring the quan¬ tity of electricity supplied into the network, and calculating means for calculating therefrom charge values (charges) for the consumers fed from the network. 2 Apparatus according to claim 1 , i ncluding metering means for measuring (metering; electricity supplied to a consumer by the network at periodic intervals and means for apportionment of the data rnetered thereby between different sub- periods of the rnetered period. 3 A.pparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for apportionment imple¬ ments the function M > C l(i,j)/C I (i) (function 8), where M is the metered consumption in a (metered) period, C l(i) is the value of consumption during the period, and CKi.j; is the value of the consumer's consumption during a sub- period of the period. 4 Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for apportionment imple¬ ments the function M • f lC l(i,j)/CI(i;l (function 9), where M is the metered consumption in a (metered) period, C l (i) is the value of consumption during the period, and C l(i,j) is the value of the consumer's consumption during a sub- period of the period. 5 Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the function f is a multiplying constant specific for the sub-period. 6 Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for apportionment imple¬ ments the function M * Wi (Ci/Z), where Z = Σ(M x Wi), M is the metered con¬ sumption in a (metered; period, C l(i) is the value of consumption during the ' period, and Wi is a weight for the period. 7 Apparatus according to any previous claim including means for generating, from the quantity of electricity supplied, a corresponding value for that electri¬ city, and means for adjusti ng the calculated charge values in dependence thereon. 8 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the calculating means utilizes the quantity of electricity supplied to determine charges for individual cc nsumers and groups of consumers. 9 Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the charges are determined for sub- periods of the rnetered periods. 1 0 Apparatus according to either of claims 8 and 9 wherein the charges are determined in accordance with the function f(M) * V l(i,j)/Cn(i) wherein Vl(i,j) is the value of electricity supplied during a sub-period of the period and Cn(i) is the val t* of consumption for the period (function 7). I 1 Apparatus according to claim a wherein the calculating means implements the function M * L >' V/C, where L i s a. factor or value to account for loss in the network, V is the value of electricity supplied, and C is the quantity of electri¬ city supplied (function 5). 12 Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 1 1 including means for determining the values of C and V for the network (closure). 13 Apparatus according to claim 1 2 wherein the means for determining the values of C and V subtract the consumption and charge for at least some of the consumers. 1 4 Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 1 to 13 wherein a price per unit is used in place of the quantity C/V. 1 5 A system according to claim 1 including means for determining the total of the cost values for each network input as the total value V of the electricity supplied for the network (the actual value or the price per unit). 16 A system according to claim 1 5 i ncluding means for adding fi xed costs into the value for a network input. 1 7 A system according to either of claims 15 and 16 including non-linear means for determining the cost value of electricity supplied to a network input from the quantity of electricity supplied. 18 A system according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the cost value for a network input ' i ncludes terms of the form a, (.b x 7), and ([ T> /_ x T), where a to c and / are all i ndividually (per network input) defined constants (per period), the square brackets Cl define a function which is 0 if T i 1 and 1 if T - /, and T is the number of metered units for that network input (function 3). 1 9 Apparatus according to claim 1 8, including means for incor porating into the value of supplied electricity for the network a cost relating to operating the apparatus and/or the distribution network. 20 Apparatus accordi ng to any one of claims to 1 5 to 19 wherein the electri¬ city distribution network comprises the National Grid and the apparatus deter¬ mi nes the value and/or per unit price of electri c ity at the outlets from the net¬ work. 2 1 Apparatus according to clai m 1 in which the calculation means calculates esti mated charges f or use before rnetered data becomes availabie for one or more consumption points. __2 Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein estimate values E, representing relati ve values for the associated consumer(s) of thei r consumption or rate of consumption, are determined as the function (E/Et; * (C - Mt) V/C, where Et is the total of estimate vaiues for all consumers lacking metered data, and Mt is the total for all metered consumers (function 10). 23 A.pparatus according to claim 2 1 wherein estimate values E, representing relati ve values for the associated consumer(s) of their consumption or rate of consumption, are determined as the function (E/Y) * (C - Mt) * V/C, where Mt is the total for all rnetered consumers, and Y is a function of the total number of consumers not i nc l uded i n Mt ( f unction 1 ;. 24 Apparatus according to either of claims 22 and 23 wherein the function E * V i s used to calculate the estimated charge. __5 Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 24 including means for determining values of E for all consumers or groups of consumers for whom rnetered consumption i s not avai lable to the apparatus. 26 Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the function of claim 22 is used for such not directly included consumers. 27 Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 26 including means for adjusting the charge such that the total charges equal the amount owed for elec¬ tricity supplied to the electricity supply network (closure). 28 Apparatus according to any one of claims ~ or 21 to 27 including scaling means (203) f or scaling charges in accordance with the function (A + B)/A, where A is the total charge calculated by the apparatus for a period and B is the difference between the total value of electricity supplied to the network in a period and the total charges. 29 A.pρaratus according to claim 27 wherein the function implemented by the scaling means includes a further term D to become (A + B - D)/A, where D is the desired difference between the value of electricity supplied to the network and the total charges. 30 Apparatus according to either of claims 28 and 29 including means for scaling charges to organizations responsible for account management of consu¬ mers. 31 - pparatus according to any one of claims 28 to 30 including means for adjusting charges calculated using estimated values in apportionments different to those calculated using actual metered data. 32 Apparatus according to claim 3 1 wherein the functions <Z + f(Z/A) x B./Z ana/ or .A - Z + ' 1 - f(Z/A) ' -• B. ΛA - Z) are implemented, where Z is the total value of estimated charges in a period and f is a function defining the appor¬ tionment. 33 Apparatus according to any previous claim including means for accumulating charges. 34 Apparatus according to claim 33 i ncluding means for subtracting payments to produce an outstanding balance. 43 35 Apparatus according to either of claims 33 and 34 including a buffer mem¬ ory for storing period charges. 36 Apparatus according to claim 35 including means responsive to the modifi¬ cation of a charge to add the difference between the previously calculated value and the new value to the contents of the buffer memory. 37 Apparatus according to claim 36 includi ng means for calculating interim charges during a rnetered period. 33 Apparatus according to any one of . claims 33 to 37 including means for adjusting charges by a function k/J, where k is the total value of supplied electricity and J is the total of accumulated charges. 39 Apparatus according to any previous claim including generation list storage means for stori ng a generation for each node (i nput or output to the network), contai ning a fractional val ue for each generation company associated with that node and representing, for a gi ven period, their responsibility for the electri¬ city supplied via that node. 40 Apparatus f or monitor ing an electricity distribution network substantially as herei n descri bed. 4 1 • Any novel and inventi ve feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein withi n the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention;.

Inventors: WILLIAMS PAUL NICHOLAS, WILLIAMS, PAUL, NICHOLAS
Applicants: OPTIMUM SOLUTIONS LTD, WILLIAMS PAUL NICHOLAS, OPTIMUM SOLUTIONS LTD., WILLIAMS, PAUL, NICHOLAS
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H02J3
IPC codes: G01R21