Patent ID: 8504463

Claim:
A method for conducting an automated bidding process among a plurality of energy Providers for the benefit of end users, the process utilizing a moderating computer and based on an economic choice in accordance with auction rules, the method comprising: a. transmitting at least a portion of historical energy usage information associated with at least one end user to at least a portion of a plurality of energy Providers; b. receiving, from each Provider of the plurality of energy Providers, including at least one energy Provider to whom the at least a portion of historical energy usage information has been transmitted in Step a., bids to provide energy, consisting of electric power, to the at least one end user; c. processing the bids in accordance with the auction rules; d. transmitting at least a portion of processed bid information to at least one bidding Provider of the plurality of energy Providers; and e. designating, on the basis of the processed bid information, at least one Provider of the plurality of energy Providers to supply at least a portion of the electric power needed by the at least one end user for use at least one end-user facility during a specific future time interval; wherein each of Steps a., d. and e. is performed by at least one of the moderating computer, the moderating computer working in conjunction with at least one adjunct computer, the moderating computer working in conjunction with a control computer, or the moderating computer working in conjunction with both at least one adjunct computer and a control computer and wherein each of Steps b. and c. is performed by the moderating computer or the moderating computer working in conjunction with at least one adjunct computer.