Patent ID: 8615381

Claim:
A system for monitoring and managing power usage by at least one power consumer, the system comprising: an apparatus comprising (i) a programmable microprocessor, (ii) at least one input mechanism, (iii) a memory having program instructions and (iv) a display; at least one power device having at least one sensor associated therewith, the sensor being operable to produce one or more signals carrying usage data representative of an amount of electrical current or power consumed by the power device; a server remotely located from the apparatus and the power device, wherein the server generates display information based on consumer data and usage data; and a transceiver device connectable in signal communication with both the programmable microprocessor and the sensor, wherein the program instructions are executable by the programmable microprocessor to, (i) cause information stored in the memory to be presented to the power consumer on the display, wherein the information comprises a plurality of queries, (ii) collect the consumer data from an interaction of the power consumer with the input mechanism in response to the queries on the display and store the consumer data in the memory, (iii) collect the usage data from the sensor via the transceiver device and store the usage data in the memory, (iv) cause the usage data and the consumer data to be transmitted via a communication channel to the server, and (v) cause said display information to be presented to the power consumer after being received via the communication channel from the server to facilitate changes in the power consumer's behavior.