An energy distribution may include a server and one or more databases. The system may communicate with an energy provider to receive energy provider data, at least one information collector to receive information collector data such as individualized energy usage data, customer preferences, and customer or location characteristics, and the one or more databases for receiving data for optimization. The system may calculate a cost of service or avoided cost using at least one of the individualized energy usage data and a system generation cost at a nearest bus. The system may also forecast individualized demand by end-use, individualized demand by location, energy prices, or energy costs. The system may optimize energy distribution, energy use, cost of service, or avoided cost using the forecasted individualized demand by end-use, the forecasted individualized demand by location, the forecasted energy prices, and the forecasted energy costs.

Optimization of microgrid energy use and distribution

A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.

Thermostat user interface

Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a service establishes individual Internet connections to numerous electric resources intermittently connected to the power grid, such as electric vehicles. The Internet connection may be made over the same wire that connects the resource to the power grid. The service optimizes power flows to suit the needs of each resource and each resource owner, while aggregating flows across numerous resources to suit the needs of the power grid. The service can bring vast numbers of electric vehicle batteries online as a new, dynamically aggregated power resource for the power grid. Electric vehicle owners can participate in an electricity trading economy regardless of where they plug into the power grid.

Power aggregation system for distributed electric resources

A method for communicating between a utility and individual customer locations includes the step of communicating between the utility and customers and between the utility and customer equipment located at each individual customer location via the Internet or via an advanced utility meter. The method of communicating typically includes the additional steps of providing each individual customer location with an advanced utility meter and using each individual utility meter to communicate between the utility and the advanced utility meter, to communicate between the advanced utility meter and the individual customers and to communicate between the advanced utility meter and equipment locator and each individual customer location.

Method of communicating between a utility and its customer locations

Disclosed is a computerized method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in a discharge event so that the energy stored in individual devices is levelized, or so that an operator request is met. Evaluation of event parameters may be deferred. The method may be utilized to dispatch energy from plug-in electric vehicles. Systems and methods to account for electricity dispatched to or from electric vehicles are disclosed. Systems and methods for incentivizing consumers to participate in a dispatch event or curtail energy use are disclosed.

Method and system for scheduling the discharge of distributed power storage devices and for levelizing dispatch participation

A method and system for controlling distributed energy resources is provided. Notification of an upcoming regional power distribution event is received and a distributed energy resource affected by the upcoming event is determined or identified. A first notification message is sent to an affected distributed energy resource asset owner or other administrator to notify the distributed energy resource asset of the event. An event data process is initiated to monitor and collect data associated with the event and an event control process is initiated to control one or more affected distributed energy resource asset during the event. The event control process and the event data process are terminated at the end of the event.

Aggregation of distributed energy resources

A method and system are associated with distributed generation of electric power. Power demand data of at least one electric power consumer is monitored over time. Power supply data of a regional power distribution system is also monitored over time. The power demand data and the power supply data are analyzed to coordinate control of at least one distributed generation system associated with the electric power consumer.

Timothy G. Healy

Papers

Aggregation of distributed energy resources

Aggregation of distributed generation resources