Abstract: A VAR dispatch system. A central control system connected to a network is configured to receive data reflecting local variations in conditions on a power grid and to transmit system control commands over the network. A plurality of VAR dispatch devices are connected to the network and to the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to detect local variations in conditions on the power grid and to transmit the data reflecting such local variations to the central control system and to receive control commands from the central control system. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to store power and to output stored power to the power grid based on local variations in conditions on the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is further configured to output stored power to the power grid when the VAR dispatch device receives system control commands from the central control system.

Abstract: A thermostat with voltage and current sensing capability is coupled directly to an HVAC unit and provides low latency failure detection and control using an on-board CPU. The thermostat can be configured to detect failure modes using current and voltage sensing and to make autonomous decisions to control the HVAC in response to such measurements.

Abstract: A system and methods that enables smart charging for electric resources. A smart charging method may include smart charging customer guarantees. The charging behavior guarantee may comprise a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of an electric resource and provides power flow flexibility. A smart charging method may also include periodically updated schedules. In addition, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis. A smart charging benefit may include an impact resulting from the energy management system which is beneficial to an electric resource. A smart charging method may manage the charging behavior of the electric resources on a grid based on the smart charging benefit. Further, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis and smart charging customer guarantees.

Abstract: A system that enables power flow management for electrical devices, such as electric vehicles. Power flow managers can coordinate charging activities. Power flow decisions may be based on site-level information. Power flow management strategies may be optimized. Power spikes may be avoided by using safe failure modes. Generation stacks may be used for reducing cost. AGC commands are used to control power resources. Power regulation are apportioned to power resources, and power regulation ranges may be determined. Power flow strategies are implemented in response to changes in intermittent power flow. Locations of devices may be determined using network fingerprints. Power flow measurements are determined, and AC power flows are inferred from DC power flows. Network traffic consumption are minimized. Communication protocols are translated.

Abstract: A thermostat with voltage and current sensing capability is coupled directly to an HVAC unit and provides low latency failure detection and control using an on-board CPU. The thermostat can be configured to detect failure modes using current and voltage sensing and to make autonomous decisions to control the HVAC in response to such measurements.

Abstract: An energy management system having a centralized site controller includes thermostats in multiple zones, each thermostat acting as a remote terminal to the controller. Each thermostat provides an interface to the site controller while acting as the thermostat for each zone. The thermostat displays the state of the building's systems for any zone and allows the local user to override set points. The central site controller determines how many thermostats are enabled with a terminal mode, including their read and write permissions on other zones. Override requests received by the central controller are merged with settings for current control algorithms. After a preconfigured time, the central controller reinstates the current control algorithm. The system can be shut down using a thermostat in remote terminal mode with appropriate permission. System status changes are sent to remote thermostats for display and remote thermostat terminals are polled for change requests.

Abstract: Methods for creating high quality alarms raise EMS operator awareness to abnormal conditions in monitored assets across multiple sites in a single EMS software platform. An embodiment includes steps for accessing an alarm designer software tool that contains a library of alarm definitions and the ability to create new alarm definitions, clone and edit existing alarm definitions, lock alarm definitions and delete alarm definitions. Applicable data is defined using channel attributes identifying which channel or channels associated with the multiple monitored sites are to be evaluated for alarming conditions. The alarm frequency, trigger conditions, pending open duration, close conditions, and pending close duration are also defined. Alarms can trigger upon one or more channels' behavior over periods of time and conditional relationships between multiple channels. Close conditions for an alarm can be, but are not required to be, the resolution of the trigger conditions.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dynamically learning the optimum energy consumption operating condition for a building and monitor/control energy consuming equipment to keep the peak demand interval at a minimum. The dynamic demand limiting algorithm utilized employs two separate control schemes, one for HVAC loads and one for non-HVAC loads. Separate operating parameters can be applied to the two types of loads and multiple non-HVAC (control zones) loads can be configured. The algorithm uses historical peak demand measurements in its real-time limiting strategy. The algorithm continuously attempts to reduce peak demand within the user configured parameters. When a new peak is inevitable, the algorithm strategically removes and/or introduces loads in a fashion that limits the new peak magnitude and places the operating conditions within the user configured parameters. In an embodiment, the algorithm that examines the previous seven days of metering information to identify a peak demand interval.

Abstract: A system and method for managing power consumption and storage in a power grid. Measurements are received from a plurality of geographically distributed energy management controllers. Each energy management controllers has energy storage units with stored energy. The measurements comprise the energy production and storage capacity of the energy management controllers and their associated energy storage units. The measurements are processed, e.g., aggregated, and displayed on a graphical user interface. Commands are transmitted to a first subset of the energy management controllers to command the units to discharge their stored energy into a power grid through an inverter. Commands are transmitted to a second subset of the plurality of energy management controllers to store energy in each unit's energy storage unit.

Abstract: The invention involves the automated testing of HVAC units using an energy management system. The automated HVAC test is performed to understand if one or more HVAC units are operational across one or more locations. If an HVAC unit is not operational, HVAC testing could be performed to understand which component or stage of the HVAC unit is not working as designed. The automated HVAC test is also used to calculate the efficiency of the HVAC unit(s) being tested. The various HVAC tests are performed on all HVAC units as a form of preventative maintenance and diagnostics. These tests can be scheduled on-demand, for a future date and time, or on a recurring schedule (monthly or quarterly). A report is generated for each HVAC test and can be viewed and exported from a cloud-based energy management platform.

Abstract: A VAR dispatch system. A central control system connected to a network is configured to receive data reflecting local variations in conditions on a power grid and to transmit system control commands over the network. A plurality of VAR dispatch devices are connected to the network and to the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to detect local variations in conditions on the power grid and to transmit the data reflecting such local variations to the central control system and to receive control commands from the central control system. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to store power and to output stored power to the power grid based on local variations in conditions on the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is further configured to output stored power to the power grid when the VAR dispatch device receives system control commands from the central control system.

Abstract: Methods for creating high quality alarms raise EMS operator awareness to abnormal conditions in monitored assets across multiple sites in a single EMS software platform. An embodiment includes steps for accessing an alarm designer software tool that contains a library of alarm definitions and the ability to create new alarm definitions, clone and edit existing alarm definitions, lock alarm definitions and delete alarm definitions. Applicable data is defined using channel attributes identifying which channel or channels associated with the multiple monitored sites are to be evaluated for alarming conditions. The alarm frequency, trigger conditions, pending open duration, close conditions, and pending close duration are also defined. Alarms can trigger upon one or more channels' behavior over periods of time and conditional relationships between multiple channels. Close conditions for an alarm can be, but are not required to be, the resolution of the trigger conditions.

Abstract: A method of monitoring energy consumption includes steps of establishing an energy budget for a future time period, receiving device information for a plurality of electrical devices and associating the device information with the energy budget, periodically measuring electrical usage from the plurality of electrical devices, projecting future energy consumption for the future time period based on the measured electrical usage, comparing the projected future energy consumption to the energy budget, and if the projected future energy consumption deviates from the energy budget, automatically generating an alert. The projected future energy consumption can take into account various factors such as energy available from non-grid sources; weather forecasts; battery storage; and historical data. A system employing the method can automatically control devices to bring predicted consumption within the budget.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a setback mode of a power-consuming device, and for controlling setback recovery of power-consuming devices, in order to make setback and setback recovery more dynamic based on current environmental parameters and previous observed operating parameters, in order to enable more efficient operation of power-consuming devices resulting in reduced energy costs and increased power efficiency.

Abstract: A thermostat with voltage and current sensing capability is coupled directly to an HVAC unit and provides low latency failure detection and control using an on-board CPU. The thermostat can be configured to detect failure modes using current and voltage sensing and to make autonomous decisions to control the HVAC in response to such measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a setback mode of a power-consuming device, and for controlling setback recovery of power-consuming devices, in order to make setback and setback recovery more dynamic based on current environmental parameters and previous observed operating parameters, in order to enable more efficient operation of power-consuming devices resulting in reduced energy costs and increased power efficiency.

Abstract: A system that enables power flow management for electrical devices, such as electric vehicles. Power flow managers can coordinate charging activities. Power flow decisions may be based on site-level information. Power flow management strategies may be optimized. Power spikes may be avoided by using safe failure modes. Generation stacks may be used for reducing cost. AGC commands are used to control power resources. Power regulation are apportioned to power resources, and power regulation ranges may be determined. Power flow strategies are implemented in response to changes in intermittent power flow. Locations of devices may be determined using network fingerprints. Power flow measurements are determined, and AC power flows are inferred from DC power flows. Network traffic consumption are minimized. Communication protocols are translated.

Abstract: A system that enables power flow management for electrical devices, such as electric vehicles. Power flow managers can coordinate charging activities. Power flow decisions may be based on site-level information. Power flow management strategies may be optimized. Power spikes may be avoided by using safe failure modes. Generation stacks may be used for reducing cost. AGC commands are used to control power resources. Power regulation are apportioned to power resources, and power regulation ranges may be determined. Power flow strategies are implemented in response to changes in intermittent power flow. Locations of devices may be determined using network fingerprints. Power flow measurements are determined, and AC power flows are inferred from DC power flows. Network traffic consumption are minimized. Communication protocols are translated.

Abstract: A VAR dispatch system. A central control system connected to a network is configured to receive data reflecting local variations in conditions on a power grid and to transmit system control commands over the network. A plurality of VAR dispatch devices are connected to the network and to the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to detect local variations in conditions on the power grid and to transmit the data reflecting such local variations to the central control system and to receive control commands from the central control system. Each VAR dispatch device is configured to store power and to output stored power to the power grid based on local variations in conditions on the power grid. Each VAR dispatch device is further configured to output stored power to the power grid when the VAR dispatch device receives system control commands from the central control system.

Abstract: Methods for creating high quality alarms raise EMS operator awareness to abnormal conditions in monitored assets across multiple sites in a single EMS software platform. An embodiment includes steps for accessing an alarm designer software tool that contains a library of alarm definitions and the ability to create new alarm definitions, clone and edit existing alarm definitions, lock alarm definitions and delete alarm definitions. Applicable data is defined using channel attributes identifying which channel or channels associated with the multiple monitored sites are to be evaluated for alarming conditions. The alarm frequency, trigger conditions, pending open duration, close conditions, and pending close duration are also defined. Alarms can trigger upon one or more channels' behavior over periods of time and conditional relationships between multiple channels. Close conditions for an alarm can be, but are not required to be, the resolution of the trigger conditions.