Abstract: A method for managing a utility load by controlling electrical consumption of electrically powered devices. The method includes selecting a target for load control forming a single variable length load control message according to a communication protocol. The load control message includes the target address and a plurality of unique concatenated command messages, each of the plurality of unique concatenated command messages being selected from the set consisting of a command message having a predetermined message type and a fixed length message defined for the predetermined message type and a command message having a predetermined message type and a variable length message corresponding to values in a command message control flag field defined for the predetermined message type. The method also includes causing the single variable length load control message to be transmitted to the target and receiving a reply message formed according to the communication protocol from the target.

Abstract: An under frequency protection thermostat-type device includes a thermostat-type housing, a transformer, a line under frequency (LUF) detection and measurement module, a microcontroller, and a load switch. The transformer is adapted to be electrically connected to a primary voltage source having a predefined frequency level and disposed within the housing. The LUF detection and measurement module is electrically connected to the transformer and adapted to detect a line under frequency condition from a signal received from the transformer. The microcontroller is connected to the LUF detection and measurement module and is adapted to send a command to disengage and engage an electrical load as a function of a measured frequency of the voltage source over a predefined period of time. The measured frequency is compared to a predefined frequency threshold.

Abstract: A method for detecting line under frequency (LUF) events and initializing load shedding of loads located near the electrical disturbance without customer and utility intervention is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the LUF detection system measures the time period of each power line cycle and then compares the measured time period to a utility-configurable trigger period. If the cycle length is greater than or equal to the trigger period, a counter is incremented. If the cycle is less than the trigger period, the counter is decremented. If the counter is incremented to a counter trigger, an under-frequency condition is detected and the LUF response either controls the load or temporarily disconnects it. A restore response is initialized after the frequency rises above a restore value and an under-frequency counter counts down to zero.

Abstract: A consumer energy service web interface includes a user-interactive computer system that includes a monitor for visual display and a remote, web-based software program directing the operations of the computer system. The software program directs the computer system to display on a web page a horizontal twenty-four hour timeline. Intersecting with the horizontal timeline are a number of vertical thermometers, each provided with a temperature pointer. To set a weekly thermostat schedule, each thermometer is slid along the timeline until it is positioned over a desired temperature start time. Then, the temperature pointer is slid along the vertical thermometer until a desired temperature is selected. Finally, the temperature start time and its associated start temperature are transmitted to a consumer thermostat via wireless technology. The wireless transmission is initiated by a consumer-activated request that is entered through the web interface.