Tecom Inc.

Tocom Corporation

Teco Energy Management Services

Gregory A Ehlers

Robert D Howerton

Gary E Speegle

Richard M Silva

An indoor environmental condition control and energy management system includes a plurality of inputs. A user input receives user input parameters including a desired indoor environmental condition range for at least one energy unit price point. An indoor environmental condition input receives a sensed indoor environmental condition. An energy price input receives a schedule of projected energy unit prices per time periods. A processor, coupled to the inputs, computes an environmental condition deadband range for multiple energy unit price points based on the user input parameters and controls at least one energy-consuming load device to maintain the indoor environmental condition within the computed deadband range for a then-current energy unit price point. In an embodiment, the environmental condition includes at least temperature and the at least one load device includes a heating and cooling system. The processor, in one embodiment, communicates through a communications link with at least one energy supply company and selects one energy supply company for a premise to minimize energy consumption cost.

Environmental condition control and energy management system and method

An energy management and building automation system including a local area network or home automation data bus such as the CEBus. Each load to be controlled is connected to the bus via a control module. A control module may contain a relay or switch (hereafter referred to as a 'breaker' or 'circuit breaker') to disconnect the load from the mains upon command or upon occurrence of a power outage, or in either case. Current monitoring control modules determine whether connected loads are drawing current and power monitor modules monitor the power consumed by selected loads (from which energy consumption may be calculated). Both types of monitors may place on the bus messages to indicate load status or changes in load status. A first microcomputer preferably is placed externally to the customer premises, adjacent (or even within the housing of) the electric utility power meter. A second microcomputer preferably is placed inside the customer premises. The two microcomputers communicate with each other and with the various load control modules via the network/data bus.

System for rate-related control of electrical loads

A system for measuring electrical power interruptions in an electrical power distribution system to a customer premises, controlling the restoration of loads to the electrical power grid after power is restored following an outage, and facilitating preventive maintenance on the electrical power distribution system so that the reliability of power distribution is enhanced. A load control module is associated with each load whose power restoration is to be controlled. Following the occurrence of a power outage, when power is restored, an instruction is transmitted to each load control module by a controller at the premises to enable reconnection of the associated load to the power distribution system in a predefined sequence. At each customer premise, the power feed cable is monitored for the presence of a power signal thereon. When a power interruption occurs, the elapsed time is measured; and upon resumption of power delivery on the cable, a message is transmitted to the energy provider containing an indication of the occurrence of the interruption and the time thereof.

System for measuring electrical power interruptions

An energy management and building automation system including a local area network or home automation data bus such as the CEBus. Each load is connected to the bus via a control module which may contain a circuit breaker to disconnect the load from the mains upon command or upon occurrence of a power outage. Current monitoring control modules measure load current and power monitor modules monitor power consumed by selected loads, both modules transmitting bus messages indicating load status and status changes. A first microcomputer preferably is external to the customer premises, adjacent the electric utility power meter. A second microcomputer preferably is inside the customer premises. The two microcomputers communicate with each other and with the various modules via the network/data bus. The first microcomputer communicates with the utility company via any appropriate communications link. The second microcomputer serves, in part, as an input/output terminal for the system, allowing the customer to set parameters and query the system as to power usage, displaying reports requested by the customer and messages transmitted by the utility company and by either microcomputer. The first microcomputer acts as a master controller and/or network server, communicating with the world outside the premises, as a communications gateway between voice, video and data services, and being the primary data collector and operator of load control modules; the second microcomputer provides certain backup functions. The utility company can access selected utilization data and control at least some loads via messages to the first microcomputer.

Growing community of inventors

Tampa, FL, United States of America

Gregory A Ehlers