Patents Assigned to Gridpoint, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20090228388
    Abstract: A system and method for automated trading of electrical consumption. A plurality of demand bids for energy on a power grid from a plurality of consumers are received, over a network. Each demand bid comprises an identification of a consumer, a quantity of energy, an economic value of the bid, and one or more demand bid criteria. Data relating to the price of energy on the power grid is received over the network. It is then determined, using at least one computing device, if not servicing at least one of the demand bids will decrease the locational marginal price of energy on the power grid. An offer for compensation is then transmitted, over the network, to the load associated with demand bids, wherein the consumer receives the compensation if the consumer does not consume the energy related to the at least one of the demand bids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Zach Axelrod, Brian Golden, Louis Szablya
  • Publication number: 20090088907
    Abstract: A smart grid gateway which includes a onboard computer programmed to provide load measurement and control of at least one local resource or asset. At least one metrology module is configured to provide metering of the at least one local resource or asset. At least one LAN module is configured to communicate with the at least one local resource or asset. At least one WAN module is configured to communicate with a network operations center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl LEWIS, Brian Golden
  • Publication number: 20090077397
    Abstract: A user interface is visibly displayed on a display device operatively connected to a first computer. The user interface enables an end user to enter at least one energy management rule for each of a plurality of electrical loads at a location, each rule including a command to be transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule if a condition is met. The energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads are received by a second computer. An energy management profile containing the energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads at the location is created and stored using a second computer. The energy management profile is activated using the second computer. For each of the energy management rules where the condition has been met, the command associated with the rule is transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Shnekendorf, Courtney McMahan, Doug Ferguson, Brian Golden
  • Publication number: 20090024255
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Penzenstadler, John Sauve, Guohui Yan, Brian Golden
  • Publication number: 20090024545
    Abstract: A power consumption management system. The system includes a power appliance at a consumer site and a power appliance control point at a LSE site. The power appliance is capable of measuring and controlling power consumption on a plurality of circuits located at the consumer site, as well as controlling end consumer devices. The power appliance control point is capable of receiving power consumption data for each of the plurality of consumer circuits, and is capable of commanding the power appliance to control power consumption on individual circuits. The power appliance is further capable of directing power supplied from individual LSE's to individual circuits at the consumer site, and capable of varying such usage according to more complex schemes, for example, by time of day or environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Golden, Karl Lewis
  • Publication number: 20080281663
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: David Hakim, Steven Hugg, Edward Shnekendorf, Sarah Cartwright, Zach Axelrod, Nicholas Jhirad, Louis Szablya, R. Karl Lewis, Brian Golden, Michaela Barnes, Alexei Cowett, David Hyams
  • Publication number: 20080167756
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Golden, Courtney McMahan, David Hakim, Edward Shnekendorf
  • Publication number: 20080114499
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for realizing energy cost savings through load shifting utilizing a battery bank that may serve as a battery back-up on a premises for providing power in the event of a grid power outage or curtailment. A budget of unreserved cycles of battery charging and discharging is determined, taking into account the rated battery life in terms of both time (e.g., years) and number of cycles. That cycle budget is allocated to days of the year identified as days on which the greatest savings can be realized through load shifting. These days are identified by taking into account the peak and off-peak usage rates applicable on those days, any rate tiers that may be entered as a result of the additional energy expended to load shift, and the round trip efficiency of the charge/discharge cycles. Load shifting is executed in accordance with an established schedule of the identified days, by discharging the batteries during peak usage hours and charging the batteries during off-peak periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: GRIDPOINT, INC.
    Inventors: David B. Hakim, Douglas Ricardo Danley, Michael Caplan
  • Publication number: 20070276547
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand. An energy control unit includes one or more algorithms for scheduling the control of energy consumption devices on the basis of variables relating to forecast energy supply and demand. Devices for which energy consumption can be scheduled or deferred are activated during periods of cheapest energy usage. Battery storage and alternative energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic cells) are activated to sell energy to the power grid during periods that are determined to correspond to favorable cost conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: GRIDPOINT, INC.
    Inventor: Craig Miller
  • Publication number: 20070271006
    Abstract: A wireless base unit communicates with one or more wireless load manager units to receive power measurements for one or more loads connected to the wireless load manager. In response to dynamic variables, such as the changing price of electricity, the wireless base unit transmits commands to the wireless load manager to shut off or reduce power consumed by the one or more loads. In one variation, a wireless adapter also receives commands from the wireless base unit and converts the commands into a vendor-specific format used to control other devices such as a photovoltaic (PV) inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: GridPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Golden, Roger Karl Lewis, Peter L. Corsell
  • Patent number: 7274975
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand. An energy control unit includes one or more algorithms for scheduling the control of energy consumption devices on the basis of variables relating to forecast energy supply and demand. Devices for which energy consumption can be scheduled or deferred are activated during periods of cheapest energy usage. Battery storage and alternative energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic cells) are activated to sell energy to the power grid during periods that are determined to correspond to favorable cost conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Gridpoint, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Howard Miller
  • Publication number: 20070203860
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: GRIDPOINT, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Golden, Courtney McMahan