Patent Publication Number: US-2022221890-A1

Title: Household energy management system utilizing multiple scales of time

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the delivery of electricity to various household appliances. More specifically, the device relates to an electricity management system for efficiently delivering electrical power to various household appliances to maintain the household energy consumption at a generally consistent level and to avoid spikes of energy consumption. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electricity management system for a residential setting includes a controller that is coupled with a plurality of appliances. A plurality of sensors are coupled with the controller and respectively coupled to the plurality of appliances. The controller cooperates with the plurality of sensors and the plurality of appliances to generate a demand response plan for delivering electrical power to the plurality of appliances. The demand response plan includes a shifting strategy that is configured to sequence activations of the plurality of appliances and a delivery of electrical power depending on a regional pattern of electrical consumption. The demand response plan includes a shedding strategy that is configured to maintain a household consumption of electrical power below a household upper consumption limit. The controller selectively deactivates at least one appliance of the plurality of appliances in response to the household consumption of electrical power reaching the household upper consumption limit. The demand response plan includes a modulating strategy. The respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances are selectively conducted by the controller to maintain the household consumption of electrical power within a preferred consumption range that is below the household upper consumption limit. The shifting strategy, the shedding strategy and the modulating strategy are implemented contemporaneously. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electricity management system for a residential setting includes a controller that is coupled with a plurality of appliances. A plurality of sensors are coupled with the controller and respectively coupled to the plurality of appliances. The controller cooperates with the plurality of sensors and the plurality of appliances to generate a demand response plan for delivering electrical power to the plurality of appliances. The demand response plan includes a shifting strategy that regulates a delivery of electrical power based upon a regional pattern of electrical consumption. The demand response plan includes a shedding strategy that maintains a household consumption of electrical power below a household upper consumption limit. The demand response plan includes a modulating strategy based upon the respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances that prevents a simultaneous peak electrical event within more than one appliance of the plurality of appliances. The shifting strategy, the shedding strategy and the modulating strategy are implemented contemporaneously. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for managing household electrical consumption includes monitoring electrical consumption to a plurality of appliances to determine respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances and a household consumption of electrical power. A modulating strategy of a demand response plan is generated that is based upon the respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances. A shedding strategy of the demand response plan is generated that is based upon the household consumption of electrical power in relation to a household upper consumption limit. A shifting strategy of the demand response plan is generated that is based upon a regional pattern of electrical consumption. The modulating strategy, the shedding strategy and the shifting strategy are operated contemporaneously. 
     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a household utilizing various electrically powered consumer appliances; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating an aspect of a demand response plan showing the various strategies and their relation to time scales; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating an aspect of the shifting strategy of the demand response plan; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating an aspect of the shedding strategy of the demand response plan; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating an aspect of the modulating strategy of the demand response plan; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary power consumption graph over time; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary power consumption graph of a washing machine during an exemplary laundry cycle; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a power consumption graph showing power consumption of a dishwasher and delineated according to the operation of the individual components of the dishwasher; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating the power consumption graph of  FIG. 8  and delineating the graph according to phases of operation for a dishwashing cycle; and 
         FIG. 10  is a linear flow diagram illustrating a method for managing household electrical consumption. 
     
    
    
     The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to an electricity management system that generates a demand response plan for managing usage of electrical power within a household. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements. 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , reference numeral  10  generally refers to a demand response plan that is incorporated within a residential setting, such as within a household  12  for managing the delivery of electrical power  14  and the consumption thereof. The demand response plan  10  monitors various electrical appliances  16  within the household  12  and utilizes various strategies for delivering electrical power  14  so that the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  remains within a preferred consumption range  20  and below a household upper consumption limit  22 . The demand response plan  10  uses various timescales  24  for implementing these strategies, where these timescales  24  can be according to months or seasons, according to hours and days, and according to seconds, minutes, and hours. Other timescales  24  may be utilized to generate the demand response plan  10  and the various strategies thereof. These various timescales  24  and how the various strategies of the demand response plan  10  use these timescales  24  will be discussed more fully below. 
     According to the various aspects of the device, as exemplified in  FIGS. 1-5 , an electricity management system  30  for the household  12  or other residential setting includes a controller  32  that is coupled with a plurality of appliances  16 . The household  12  can be in the form of a standalone residence, a condominium or townhouse setting, urban setting, apartment complexes, subdivisions, rural settings, and other similar residential settings. A plurality of sensors  34  are coupled with the controller  32  and are respectively coupled to the plurality of appliances  16 . The controller  32  operates with the plurality of sensors  34  and the plurality of appliances  16  to generate the demand response plan  10  for delivering electrical power  14  to the plurality of appliances  16 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-5 , the demand response plan  10  includes a shifting strategy  36  that is configured to sequence activations  38  of the plurality of appliances  16  and the delivery of electrical power  14  according to a regional pattern  40  of electrical consumption  42 . The demand response plan  10  also includes a shedding strategy  50  that is configured to maintain a household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  below a household upper consumption limit  22 . To accomplish this, the controller  32  can selectively activate, selectively deactivate and delay various activations  38  of at least one appliance  16  of the plurality of appliances  16 . This activating, deactivating and delaying of the various appliances  16  can be in response to the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  reaching or at least nearing the household upper consumption limit  22 . The demand response plan  10  also includes a modulating strategy  60 . In the modulating strategy  60 , the respective operating cycles  62  of the plurality of appliances  16  are selectively conducted and sequenced by the controller  32  to maintain the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  within the preferred consumption range  20 . This preferred consumption range  20  is typically below the household upper consumption limit  22 . In implementing the demand response plan  10 , the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60  are implemented contemporaneously and can overlap with one another, as schematically exemplified in  FIG. 2 . In addition, the demand response plan  10  can operate across a range of timescales  24 . These timescales  24  can range from as short as seconds to long-run time scales along the order of months to seasons and longer timeframes. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the shifting strategy  36  typically refers to longer term changes that impact the various power consumption profiles  70  of the plurality of appliances  16 . The changes produced by the shifting strategy  36  can be shaped by various factors that can include, but are not limited to, utility pricing information, availability of solar power and other alternative energy sources, behavioral influence and efficiency improvements related to the provision of electrical power  14 , users of the appliance  16  and the plurality of appliances  16  themselves. Using pricing information, the controller  32  can monitor fluctuations in the cost of electrical power  14  and determine what time periods may be most efficient for the plurality of appliances  16  to operate in order to maximize the resources of the user. In addition, the plurality of appliances  16 , in combination with the controller  32 , can inform the user about the optimal times to utilize certain appliances  16 . The availability of solar power may allow for activations  38  of one or more appliances  16  to occur during daylight hours such that the activations  38  can be operated, at least partially, using an alternative energy source to operate the appliance  16 . These alternative energy sources can include, but are not limited to, solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and others. 
     By way of example, and not limitation, the controller  32  and the plurality of appliances  16  can inform the user about fluctuations in the cost of electrical power  14  and the availability of alternative energy sources that may inform the user about when to operate the appliances  16 , or when not to operate the appliances  16 . In this manner, the controller  32  and the plurality of appliances  16  can take advantage of time-of-use pricing models of electrical power  14 . In addition, these prompts can help to produce behavioral changes within the household  12  that can be used to manage the household consumption of electrical power  14 . 
     It is contemplated that the controller  32  can be incorporated within the household  12 , can be incorporated within one or more of the appliances  16  or can be incorporated as part of a cloud-based computing network, an internet-of-things (loT) device, combinations thereof and other similar devices. In addition, the controller  32  can be at least partially operated through the electrical grid and grid signals provided by the electrical grid and components thereof. The controller  32  can also be at least partially incorporated within certain emissions monitoring facilities that monitor marginal set off emissions related to the electrical grid and other utilities. 
     In addition, as part of the shifting strategy  36 , behavioral influences can be utilized for changing the behavior of users, over time, through various incentives that may be communicated to the users. Certain cost versus comfort trade-offs can be suggested to the user of the appliances  16 . These can include behaviors that suggest utilizing one or more of the plurality of the appliances  16  during certain times of day when overall power consumption in the immediate area or within the region may be lower. Certain other behavioral suggestions can be communicated to the user via the controller  32  and the plurality of appliances  16 . 
     Within the shifting strategy  36 , operating the appliances  16  according to various efficiency plans can be utilized for increasing the efficiency of the appliances  16  themselves. These efficiencies are also realized in relation to the other appliances  16  within the household  12  as well as the overall household consumption of electrical power  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the shedding strategy  50  of the demand response plan  10  can typically be used to take advantage of patterns of electrical consumption  42  within a household  12  throughout a typical day as well as atypical days. In general, households  12  experience a ramp up 80 of the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  during evening time hours. Accordingly, during this ramp up 80, the controller  32 , in combination with the plurality of appliances  16 , can suggest a delay in an activation  38  of a particular appliance  16  until after this ramp up 80 of electrical consumption  42  has at least partially abated. In certain aspects of the shedding strategy  50 , one or more of the appliances  16  are shut off and electrical power  14  to the appliances  16  is stopped in order to prevent the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  from reaching the household upper consumption limit  22 . This can typically occur in a black-out or brown-out condition. In such a condition, signals from the electrical grid can be received by the controller  32  for implementing the shedding strategy  50 . The shedding strategy  50  is implemented to decrease the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  at certain periods of the day, such as during a brown-out or black-out condition, or, in certain cases, during the ramp up 80. 
     It is also contemplated that in a brown-out or a black-out condition, the shedding strategy  50  can be used in combination with the shifting strategy  36 . Through this cooperative action of these strategies  50 ,  36 , when this shut off occurs, the controller  18  can communicate to the user that the one or more appliances  16  needs to be restarted at a later time. It is contemplated that the controller  18  can suggest a better time to restart the appliance  16  or can automatically restart the appliance  16  at the more appropriate time. The shedding strategy  50  is implemented to decrease the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  at certain periods of the day, such as the ramp up 80. 
     By way of example, and not limitation, activating a dishwasher  82  during the evening hours, such as after dinner, may result in the dishwasher  82  being delayed by the controller  32  until after the evening ramp up 80 of electrical consumption  42  has abated. This would have the effect of initiating activation  38  of the dishwasher  82  after a certain time, such as after 2:00 AM. With regard to other appliances  16 , it may result in a delay of a successive activation  38  of a particular appliance  16 . In the case of a refrigerator  84 , a compressor  86 , which may typically activate every ten minutes, for example, may be adjusted using the shedding strategy  50  to activate every twelve minutes, or some other time frame, to lessen electrical consumption  42  during particular times of the day. Using the shedding strategy  50 , the household consumption of electrical power  14  can be maintained below a household upper consumption limit  22 . Accordingly, peaks in the household consumption of electrical power  14  can be minimized to maintain the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  within a preferred consumption range  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 , the modulating strategy  60  of the demand response plan  10  includes the sequencing and timing activations  38  for appliances  16 . These activations  38  typically operate according to shorter timescales  24 . These shorter timescales  24  typically relate to individual operating cycles  62 , individual activations  38  and sequences that occur within the plurality of appliances  16 . This modulating strategy  60  can result in changes to the sequencing and timing of operating cycles  62  of the plurality of appliances  16  so that respective peak electrical events  90  of more than one appliance  16  of the plurality of appliances  16  do not occur simultaneously, but can be adjusted to occur in a sequential pattern. Accordingly, the modulating strategy  60  uses the controller  32  in cooperation with the plurality of appliances  16  to adjust the sequencing and timing of respective operating cycles  62  of the plurality of appliances  16  so that peak electrical events  90  occur at separate and distinct periods of time. 
     By way of example, and not limitation, the plurality of appliances  16  can include, but are not limited to, refrigerators  84 , dishwashers  82 , and laundry appliances  16  such as washing machines  100 , dryers  102  and combination washer/dryers. The electrical appliances can also include ovens, air conditioners, various cooking appliances, blowers, and other appliances that operate by using electrical power  14 . Each of these appliances  16  typically includes one or more peak electrical events  90  during their respective operating cycles  62 . In the case of a refrigerator  84 , a peak electrical event  90  can include operation of a compressor  86  within the refrigeration system of the refrigerator  84 . In the case of a dishwasher  82 , a peak electrical event  90  can be in the form of operation of a heating element  104  or operation of various fluid pumps  106 . In the case of a laundry appliance  16 , a peak electrical event  90  can be in the form of an operation of a heating element  104  or a motor  108 . Using the modulating strategy  60 , these and other peak electrical events  90  can be sequenced to occur at dissimilar times so that multiple peak electrical events  90  do not occur contemporaneously. 
     In addition to the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60 , the demand response plan  10  can also include a shaping strategy. In certain instances, the shaping strategy can be incorporated with the shifting strategy  36 . The shaping strategy  36  includes the controller  32  and the plurality of appliances  16  communicating with the user to shift certain behavioral actions that relate to a preferred time frame for activations  38  of appliances  16  and other activities relating to electrical consumption  42 . As discussed above, this may include a recommendation to activate the dishwasher  82  at a period of time that is after the ramp up 80 of power consumption in many households  12 . Other behavioral changes can be included within the demand response plan  10 , where such behavioral changes can include, but are not limited to, increasing the temperature setting within a refrigerator  84 , configuring a thermostat for an HVAC system of a household  12 , using a dryer  102  at a lower heat setting, using laundry operating cycles  62  that require less time, preferring colder-water operating cycles  62  over warm or hot-water operating cycles  62  within washing machine  100 , combinations thereof, and other similar behavioral strategies that can be suggested by the controller  32  or the plurality of appliances  16 . 
     These recommendations that are incorporated into the demand response plan  10  can be provided based upon various factors and information that is derived from the appliance  16 , the household, the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  and other factors within the household. These recommendations can also be based upon outside conditions that are present in the electrical grid and components thereof in the form of grid signals as well as information related to marginal offset emissions. This grid and emission related information can be based upon a range of scales of geographic regions. These geographic regions can be a subdivision, a block, an apartment complex, a neighborhood, a city, a county, combinations thereof and other geographic scales. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-5 , as discussed above, the demand response plan  10  is implemented through the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60  over various timescales  24 . At certain times, these various strategies may be incompatible or at least partially inconsistent with one another such that the planned activations  38  of one of the strategies may be required to take priority over the planned activations  38  of the other strategies. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the various strategies of the demand response plan  10  can be operated in a hierarchical framework. In this framework, the controller  32  can be configured to implement the modulating strategy  60  as the primary strategy. When the modulating strategy  60  is inconsistent with the shedding strategy  50  or the shifting strategy  36 , the controller  32  is adapted to implement activations  38  relating to the modulating strategy  60  first. In addition, when the controller  32  implements the shedding strategy  50  as the secondary strategy, the shedding strategy  50  may be inconsistent with the shifting strategy  36 . In this instance, the controller  32  can be configured to implement activations  38  relating to the shedding strategy  50  over inconsistent activations  38  relating to the shifting strategy  36 . It is contemplated that other hierarchical frameworks can be implemented, such as the shifting strategy  36  being implemented over the shedding strategy  50 . Typically, the strategy operating over the shorter timescale  24  will typically supersede the strategies operating over longer timescales  24 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-5 , the electricity management system  30  for the household  12  can include the controller  32  that is coupled to the plurality of appliances  16 . The plurality of sensors  34  are coupled with the controller  32  and are respectively coupled with the plurality of appliances  16 . According to the various aspects of the device, the plurality of sensors  34  can include electrical current sensors, temperature sensors, and other similar sensors that can be coupled with the controller  32 , as well as a processor  120  included within one or more of the plurality of appliances  16 . Using the plurality of sensors  34 , information related to the plurality of appliances  16  can be delivered to the controller  32  for storage and for processing to generate the demand response plan  10  as well as the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60 . 
     In addition to the sensors  34 , the controller  32  for the electricity management system  30  can be coupled with various switches that deliver electrical power  14  to the various appliances  16 . The controller  32  can also be coupled with the processors  120  for the various appliances  16 , such that the controller  32  can coordinate operation of the plurality of appliances  16  and the individual cycles of the plurality of appliances  16 . In this aspect of the device, the controller  32  can be configured to manage and control the operating cycles  62  of the appliances  16  by using the mechanisms, programming and circuitry of the plurality of appliances  16 . This includes operation of the various peak electrical events  90  of the plurality of appliances  16 . The controller  32  cooperates with the plurality of sensors  34  and the plurality of appliances  16  to generate the demand response plan  10  for delivering electrical power  14  to the plurality of appliances  16 . 
     As discussed above, the demand response plan  10  includes the shifting strategy  36  that regulates the delivery of electrical power  14  based upon a regional pattern  40  of electrical consumption  42 . This regional pattern  40  of electrical consumption  42  can be based upon the regional cost of electrical power  14  within a particular region, the availability of alternative energy sources, and other similar regionally-based factors. These factors can be based upon the time of year where certain seasons may have different prices and availability over other seasons. The controller  32  also cooperates with the plurality of sensors  34  and the plurality of appliances  16  to generate the shedding strategy  50  of the demand response plan  10 . As discussed above, this shedding strategy  50  maintains a household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  below a household upper consumption limit  22 . The controller  32 , in combination with the plurality of sensors  34  and the plurality of appliances  16 , also generates a modulating strategy  60 . This modulating strategy  60  of the demand response plan  10  is typically based upon the respective operating cycles  62  of the plurality of appliances  16 . The modulating strategy  60  operates to prevent a simultaneous operation of peak electrical events  90  within more than one of the appliances  16  of the plurality of appliances  16  within the household  12 . The controller  32  implements the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60  contemporaneously with one another to maximize the efficiency of household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  and to minimize the overall use of electrical power  14  within the household  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , the demand response plan  10  can be implemented with respect to various appliances  16 .  FIG. 6  reflects a typical electrical power  14  consumption profile  70  for a refrigerator  84  over time. This power consumption profile  70  reflects the operating cycles  62  of the compressor  86  for the refrigerator  84 . The intermittent peak electrical events  90  can be indicative of operation of an ice maker, water dispenser, or defrost cycle for the appliance  16 . Over time, the demand response plan  10  can be implemented for maximizing electrical consumption  42  within the refrigerator  84  to adjust the timing of the peak electrical events  90 , and to also minimize the time the compressor  86  is operating. Using the shifting strategy  36 , longer activations  38  of the compressor  86 , as well as the activation  38  of the peak electrical events  90  can be saved for times when the cost of electrical power  14  decreases. These fluctuations in the cost of electrical power  14  can vary day-to-day as well as throughout the course of the day. Delaying the occurrence of these activations  38 , such as a defrost cycle, may be useful in saving resources of the user in paying for the operating costs of the appliance  16 . 
     The shedding strategy  50  and modulating strategy  60  of the refrigerator  84  can be implemented as well. The shedding strategy  50  can shift the consumption of electrical power  14  to different times of day without necessarily reducing the total expected energy consumption. The modulating strategy  60  can involve delaying or sequencing activations  38  of the operating cycles  62 , or portions of operating cycles  62  for the refrigerator  84  over very short timescales  24  to prevent the activation  38  of a peak electrical event  90  at the same time as the peak electrical event  90  of another appliance  16  within the household  12 . 
     With this in mind, it is contemplated that while the various strategies of the demand response plan  10  may be implemented in a hierarchical fashion, certain appliances  16  may also be treated hierarchically. The refrigerator  84 , which is configured to maintain a certain temperature range over the life of the appliance  16 , may be given priority over other appliances  16  that may be more capable of delaying activations  38  during the various cycles. Accordingly, the controller  32  takes these considerations into account when developing the demand response plan  10  and implementing the various strategies of the demand response plan  10 . 
     It is also contemplated that various functions within a particular appliance  16  may also be given hierarchical priority. By way of example, and not limitation, an activation  38  of a compressor  86  maintaining a temperature within a refrigerating cavity will typically be given greater priority over the activation  38  of a defrost cycle or the activation  38  of an ice-making cycle. As noted previously, the compressor  86  is required to maintain the temperature within the appliance  16  within a consistent range over the life of the appliance  16 . This necessarily requires the compressor  86  to activate in a regular fashion so this temperature can be maintained. Conversely, activation  38  of a defrost cycle or activation  38  of an ice maker may be delayed for at least minutes or hours. These hierarchical and priority-based considerations can be utilized by the controller  32  for generating and implementing the demand response plan  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 and 7 ,  FIG. 7  reflects a power consumption profile  70  for a washing machine  100  over a particular operating cycle  62 . As shown by the power consumption profile  70 , certain peak electrical events  90  occur during this cycle in the form of activation  38  of a pump  106 , operation of a heating element  104 , and operation of a motor  108  to spin an impeller or drum of the laundry appliance  16 . Similar implementations of the shifting strategy  36  can be utilized for the laundry appliance  16  as with the refrigerator  84 . Some examples of recommendations offered using the shifting strategy  36  can take the form of determining when a particular laundry operating cycle  62  should be activated or when the controller  32  should actively delay implementation of a particular operating cycle  62 . 
     Using the shedding strategy  50 , implementations of certain operating cycles  62  can be stopped to avoid exceeding the household upper consumption limit  22  within a particular day. In this manner, the shedding strategy  50  reduces the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  utilized by the laundry appliance  16 . As discussed above, the shedding strategy  50  can cooperate with the shifting strategy  36  to shift when certain activations  38  occur within a particular day. In this manner, the shedding strategy  50  can be used to stop operation of appliance  16  in a black-out or brown-out condition. The shifting strategy  36  can be used to supplement the shedding strategy  50  to reactivate certain more necessary functions of various appliances  16 . Accordingly, using the combination of the shedding and shifting strategies  50 ,  36  the time when certain operating cycles  62  activates may change depending on the various strategies of the demand response plan  10 , as well as when certain activations  38  occur within the other appliances  16  within the household  12 . By way of example, and not limitation, the activation of a dishwasher  82  can be cancelled while the initiation of a rinse cycle for a washing machine  100  may be delayed by at least a few minutes to avoid interfering with another peak electrical event  90  of another appliance  16 . In addition, activation  38  of a spin cycle of the washing machine  100  may likewise be delayed. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5, 8, and 9 , power consumption profiles  70  are shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  with respect to a dishwasher  82 . The considerations included above with respect to the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60  are similar to those described with respect to the refrigerator  84  and the washing machine  100 . The dishwasher  82  can typically be viewed as a lower priority appliance  16  as this activation  38  can typically occur late at night with no supervision. In addition, delays in different cycles can be extended within the dishwasher  82  as there is a lesser concern for spoilage and bacterial growth within the dishwasher  82 . In a refrigerator  84 , maintaining a consistent temperature is related to the condition of food to be consumed. With respect to a washing machine  100 , delaying a cycle too long may result in the growth of mildew and other bacterial populations within the clothing being processed. The dishes within a dishwasher  82 , typically being solid surfaces, may have a lower concern for these considerations. Accordingly, the individual cycles of a dishwasher  82  can experience greater delays between the activations  38  of each particular cycle. Accordingly, the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60  may be able to be implemented with greater variation with respect to the dishwasher  82  over other appliances  16  of the plurality of appliances  16 . Accordingly, an operating cycle  62  for a dishwasher  82  that may typically take approximately two hours, may be extended to approximately four hours. However, because this operating cycle  62  may occur during the nighttime hours, a user of the dishwasher  82  may be unaware of the extended time period for completing this particular operating cycle  62 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 9 , the various power consumption profiles  70  of the individual elements of the dishwasher  82  can be broken down in various components and categories to take advantage of the shifting strategy  36 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the modulating strategy  60 . In  FIG. 8 , the power consumption profile  70  is broken up according to each component of the dishwasher  82 . Certain components can occur at the same time as one another, such as the heating element  104  and the motor  108  and pump  106  during a first portion of the cycle.  FIG. 9  reflects a simplified breakdown of the operating cycle  62  for the dishwasher  82  to be three distinct portions that occur over time. Each of these power consumption profiles  70  can be operated using different combinations of the strategies of the demand response plan  10 . Using the strategy of  FIG. 8 , the shifting strategy  36  and the modulating strategy  60  can be implemented to dictate when certain activations  38  occur for one component of the dishwasher  82  with reference to the other components of the dishwasher  82 . By way of example, and not limitation, the interplay between activation  38  of the heating element  104  and activation  38  of the motor  108  and pump  106  for the dishwasher  82  can be varied to maximize the household consumption of electrical power  14  with respect to the dishwasher  82 . 
     When viewed with respect to  FIG. 9 , the shedding strategy  50  and the shifting strategy  36  can be utilized to dictate when each portion of the operating cycle  62  is initiated to maximize the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  and also to avoid reaching the household upper consumption limit  22  at any particular time. Using these strategies, use of electrical power  14  can be maximized over the course of a day to prevent unnecessary spikes in the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-10 , having described various aspects of the demand response plan  10  and the electricity management system  30 , a method  400  is disclosed for managing household electrical consumption  42 . According to the method  400 , a step  402  includes monitoring electrical consumption  42  to a plurality of appliances  16 . This monitoring helps the controller  32  to determine respective operating cycles  62  of the plurality of appliances  16  and also a household consumption  18  of electrical power  14 . Using this information obtained during the monitoring, the controller  32  generates a modulating strategy  60  for a demand response plan  10  ( 404 ). As discussed above, this modulating strategy  60  is based upon respective operating cycles  62  of the plurality of appliances  16 , as well as respective peak electrical events  90  within more than one appliance  16  of the plurality of appliances  16 . According to the method  400 , a step  406  includes generating a shedding strategy  50  of the demand response plan  10 . This shedding strategy  50  is based at least upon the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  in relation to a household upper consumption limit  22 . As discussed above, the shedding strategy  50  can delay the activations  38  of certain appliances  16  or certain portions of the operating cycles  62  of the appliances  16  to avoid reaching this upper household consumption limit. 
     According to the method  400 , a step  408  includes generating a shifting strategy  36  of the demand response plan  10  that is based upon a regional pattern  40  of electrical consumption  42 . As discussed above, this regional pattern  40  of electrical consumption  42  can include pricing information with respect to electrical power  14 , the availability of solar power, the availability of other alternative power sources, seasonal changes within the region, and other similar regional factors. In certain instances, the shifting strategy  36  can be configured to take into account the regional weather, including current weather patterns, and in certain instances, predicted weather patterns. According to the method  400 , the controller  32  is configured to operate the modulating strategy  60 , the shedding strategy  50 , and the shifting strategy  36  contemporaneously (step  410 ). While operating these strategies contemporaneously, it is contemplated that the certain hierarchical priorities can be programed into the controller  32  for operating the plurality of appliances  16  and the various events within each operating cycles  62  for the various appliances  16 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-10 , the method  400  can also include a step  412  of sequencing respective peak electrical events  90  to occur at separate and distinct time periods. This sequencing step  412  is used to maintain the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  within a preferred consumption range  20  that is below the household upper consumption limit  22 . 
     Using the demand response plan  10  described herein, the electricity management system  30  can control the household consumption  18  of electrical power  14  to be maintained within a preferred range, and also to avoid unnecessary or unwanted spikes in the consumption of electrical power  14 . The use of the demand response plan  10  does not necessarily diminish the overall use of electrical power  14 , however, managing the consumption of electrical power  14  can prevent these spikes within a particular household  12 . The demand response plan  10  can also be used to efficiently use the resources of the user in operating the appliances  16  of the household  12 . These effects over a number of households  12  can prevent unwanted spikes in the use of electrical power  14  that can be used to minimize brown outs, blackouts, and other unwanted events with respect to the power grid. These unwanted effects to the power grid can be avoided by managing the consumption of electrical power  14  within the houses that obtain electrical power  14  from the power grid. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electricity management system for a residential setting includes a controller that is coupled with a plurality of appliances. A plurality of sensors are coupled with the controller and respectively coupled to the plurality of appliances. The controller cooperates with the plurality of sensors and the plurality of appliances to generate a demand response plan for delivering electrical power to the plurality of appliances. The demand response plan includes a shifting strategy that is configured to sequence activations of the plurality of appliances and a delivery of electrical power depending on a regional pattern of electrical consumption. The demand response plan includes a shedding strategy that is configured to maintain a household consumption of electrical power below a household upper consumption limit. The controller selectively deactivates at least one appliance of the plurality of appliances in response to the household consumption of electrical power reaching the household upper consumption limit. The demand response plan includes a modulating strategy. The respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances are selectively conducted by the controller to maintain the household consumption of electrical power within a preferred consumption range that is below the household upper consumption limit. The shifting strategy, the shedding strategy and the modulating strategy are implemented contemporaneously. 
     According to another aspect, the regional pattern of electrical consumption is at least partially defined by a regional cost of electrical power. 
     According to yet another aspect, the controller using the modulating strategy cooperates with the plurality of appliances to activate respective peak electrical events of the plurality of appliances in a sequential pattern. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the respective peak electrical events occur at separate and distinct periods of time. 
     According to another aspect, the plurality of appliances includes a refrigerator, a dishwasher and a laundry appliance. 
     According to yet another aspect, the respective peak electrical events include operation of a refrigerator compressor, operation of a heating element of a dishwasher and operation of at least one of a heating element and a motor for a laundry appliance. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the shifting strategy, the shedding strategy and the modulating strategy are implemented hierarchically. The controller implements the modulating strategy as a primary strategy. When the modulating strategy is inconsistent with the shedding strategy or the shifting strategy, the controller implements the modulating strategy. 
     According to another aspect, the controller implements the shedding strategy as a secondary strategy, and when the shedding strategy is inconsistent with the shifting strategy, the controller implements the shedding strategy. 
     According to yet another aspect, an electricity management system for a residential setting includes a controller that is coupled with a plurality of appliances. A plurality of sensors are coupled with the controller and respectively coupled to the plurality of appliances. The controller cooperates with the plurality of sensors and the plurality of appliances to generate a demand response plan for delivering electrical power to the plurality of appliances. The demand response plan includes a shifting strategy that regulates a delivery of electrical power based upon a regional pattern of electrical consumption. The demand response plan includes a shedding strategy that maintains a household consumption of electrical power below a household upper consumption limit. The demand response plan includes a modulating strategy based upon the respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances that prevents a simultaneous peak electrical event within more than one appliance of the plurality of appliances. The shifting strategy, the shedding strategy and the modulating strategy are implemented contemporaneously. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the controller implements the shifting strategy by activating and deactivating at least one appliance of the plurality of appliances according to the regional pattern of electrical consumption. 
     According to another aspect, the regional pattern of electrical consumption includes at least one of regional cost of electrical power and solar power availability. 
     According to yet another aspect, the controller implements the shedding strategy by selectively activating and deactivating the plurality of appliances to maintain the household consumption of electrical power below the household upper consumption limit. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the controller selectively deactivates at least one appliance of the plurality of appliances in response to the household consumption of electrical power reaching the household upper consumption limit. 
     According to another aspect, the controller implements the modulating strategy by sequencing the respective peak electrical events of the plurality of appliances to occur at separate and distinct periods of time to maintain the household consumption of electrical power within a preferred consumption range that is below the household upper consumption limit. 
     According to yet another aspect, the plurality of appliances includes a refrigerator, a dishwasher and a laundry appliance. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the respective peak electrical events include operation of a refrigerator compressor, operation of a heating element of a dishwasher and operation of at least one of a heating element and a motor for a laundry appliance. 
     According to another aspect, a method for managing household electrical consumption includes monitoring electrical consumption to a plurality of appliances to determine respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances and a household consumption of electrical power. A modulating strategy of a demand response plan is generated that is based upon the respective operating cycles of the plurality of appliances. A shedding strategy of the demand response plan is generated that is based upon the household consumption of electrical power in relation to a household upper consumption limit. A shifting strategy of the demand response plan is generated that is based upon a regional pattern of electrical consumption. The modulating strategy, the shedding strategy and the shifting strategy are operated contemporaneously. 
     According to yet another aspect, the step of generating the modulating strategy includes determining respective peak electrical events of the respective operating cycles. The method further includes a step of sequencing the respective peak electrical events to occur at separate and distinct periods of time to maintain the household consumption of electrical power within a preferred consumption range that is below the household upper consumption limit. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the shifting strategy, the shedding strategy and the modulating strategy are implemented hierarchically. The controller implements the modulating strategy as a primary strategy. When the modulating strategy is inconsistent with the shedding strategy or the shifting strategy, the controller implements the modulating strategy. 
     According to another aspect, the controller implements the shedding strategy as a secondary strategy, and wherein when the shedding strategy is inconsistent with the shifting strategy, the controller implements the shedding strategy. 
     It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
     It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
     It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.