Abstract: An energy controller maintains the total power delivered to an establishment close to a power limit so as to ensure shared operation of all curtailed loads by computing a cumulative priority value (CPV) for each load. The CPV of a particular load is the positive product of a "user-set priority" for that load and the amount of time that load has been shed, or is the negative product of the user-set priority and the amount of time that load has been restored. A processor makes decisions whether to shed or restore a certain load on the basis of the relation of the CPV of that load to the CPV's of the other loads. Loads with the highest CPV's are restored first and loads with the lowest CPV's are shed first. The power limit is adjusted between upper and lower bounds to reflect recent power usage patterns. A minor average and a major average, each of which is most "weighted" by recent power readings, are computed.

Abstract: A power shedding-restoring system for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to a residence having a plurality of controlled loads with predetermined priorities includes a plurality of load relays, a circuit for measuring total power delivered to the residence, a computer for computing and storing a shed value for each controlled load as it is shed, a minor average equal to the average power delivered to the residence over the past minute, and a major average equal to the average power delivered to the residence over the past hour. The computer also stores a power limit preset by the residence owner, and compares the minor average and the major average to the power limit. If the minor average and the major average both exceed the power limit, the system sheds the lowest priority controlled load that is presently electrically connected to the power line.

Abstract: A residential energy controller includes a first bi-metal element having a free end and a stationary end. A second bi-metal element has a first end connected to the free end of the first bi-metal element. The second bi-metal element is included in a thermostat that controls an air conditioning apparatus for cooling the residence. A sensing device senses current delivered to the residence and produces a corresponding sense current. The first bi-metal element is electrically resistive. The sense current is forced through the resistive material of the first bi-metal element, causing it to be heated to a temperature that is related to the amount of power being delivered to the residence, thereby causing the free end of the first bi-metal element to rotate and causing the entire second bi-metal element to rotate. This causes the turn-on temperature of the thermostat to be increased by an amount related to the total power being delivered to the residence.

Abstract: A system for monitoring electrical energy consumption in a circuit in which signals from the current sensor are correlated with a time signal received from a remote location.

Abstract: An energy management system which automatically limits the total instantaneous consumption of electrical energy in a residence having a plurality of energy consuming loads having different current demands, while maintaining the consumption of electrical energy as high as possible without exceeding a predetermined peak total current demand. Sensor means measure the total current to all of the loads which are then in operation and generates a signal indicating the total current. Current interrupters, controlled by the logic of a microprocessor automatically interrupt the current, if any, to each of the loads in a predetermined sequence, when the total current to the loads then in operation exceeds the predetermined peak total demand. Enough of the loads are shed until the total current is less than the predetermined peak total.

Abstract: A system for controlling electrical load shedding and restoring operations includes a microprocessor system, a power measuring circuit, and a plurality of load switching relays controlled by the microprocessor system to electrically connect controlled loads of a residence to, and electrically disconnect the controlled loads from, a power line in accordance with priorities associated with the controlled loads.

Abstract: An energy management method for controlling electrical power consumption in each of a plurality of residential circuits having a plurality of loads. Each residential circuit is provided with a variable limit demand controller which includes means for receiving utility-generated demand limit signals from a remote location. A demand limit is established for each of the residential circuits which is independent of which of the specific loads in the circuit are responsible for the demand. Signals are generated by the utility from a remote location to vary the limit proportionately in all of the residential circuits.In a preferred embodiment, in which the loads in each of the circuits include both resistive and reactive loads, each circuit is provided with separate variable limit demand controllers for the resistive loads and for the reactive loads.

Abstract: Energy management method and apparatus for use in conjunction with a demand-limited alternating current circuit having a plurality of separate loads, including resistive loads, and means for automatically shedding certain of the loads when the actual demand of the circuit exceeds the demand limit. The actual demands of the loads in operation are sensed and the demands of at least certain of the operative resistive loads are separately sensed. The duty cycle of the power applied to at least certain of the operative resistive loads is reduced by switching these loads "off" and "on" synchronously with the zero points of the applied voltage. An overall reduction in the actual demand of the circuit is thereby effected when the failure to make such reduction would otherwise cause certain of the operating loads to be completely shed.

Abstract: A system for monitoring electrical energy consumption in a circuit in which signals from the current sensor are correlated with a time signal received from a remote location.

Abstract: An energy management method employing apparatus for automatically limiting the total instant consumption of electrical energy in a residential circuit having a plurality of energy-consuming variable demand loads having different nominal current demands. A predetermined load shedding sequence is established which is independent of the nominal current demands of the load. The actual current consumption value of each load shed is measured. Shed loads are restored which, according to their actual values and independent of their nominal values, can be restored without causing the total current in residential circuit to exceed the preselected demand. Measurement of the consumption values of the shed loads enables load restoration selections based thereon without modification of the energy management apparatus to account for variations in the nominal demands of the loads.