Patent ID: 8239073

Claim:
A system for the control and reporting of energy consumption, the system comprising: a communication network; a plurality of power meters, the power meters including a first power meter for metering power usage of a household, the power meters including a second power meter for measuring power usage of an appliance, the power meters including a third power meter for measuring power usage of a HVAC unit; a plurality of power switches, the plurality of power switches including a first power switch connected to the HVAC unit; a demand response system, the demand response system being connected to the plurality of power meters through the communication network, the demand response system being adapted to send control signals to the plurality of power switches based on predetermined parameters, wherein the demand response system includes a user interface adapted to display power management information associated with the plurality of power meters, wherein the user interface is further adapted to receive one or more inputs for managing energy consumption associated with the plurality of power meters, wherein the demand response system includes a plurality of customer permission-based profiles that each provide a different level of access to the user interface, wherein each different level of access to the user interface provides a different level of display of the power management information and a different level of input ability for the management of energy consumption, wherein one of the plurality of customer permission-based profiles comprises a profile for front-desk personnel at a building that includes the household, the profile for front-desk personnel providing a lower level of access to the user interface than a profile associated with a household owner.