Abstract: A system and method for allowing a consumer of a commodity to set the parameters of a budget bill calculation system via an interactive user interface. The parameters are intended to help consumers control their budget bill calculations, payment structure, true-up factors and other aspects of their budget bills. Budget bill payment amounts are calculated based on historic weather patterns, previous consumption, previous bills, mathematical models or may be set by the consumer art a certain amount, and the parameters selected by the consumer. A budget payment amount is then presented to the user including a budget payment amount and, in some cases, an actual or estimated true-up amount including when and how ant recalculations of the budget amount and true-ups will take place.

Abstract: An operating system independent system for enabling non-technical users to manipulate data from within large pre-existing databases with limited involvement of programmers. The system consists of a visual interface for the construction of a sequence of operations to retrieve, manipulate and store data in the databases, as well as displays of a meta-language version of the entered user commands and a natural language translation of the commands.

Abstract: An operating system independent computer language to enable non-technical users to manipulate data from within large pre-existing files or databases with limited involvement of programmers. This language can also be used to distribute the processing for such file manipulations across any group of networked computers.

Abstract: A method of providing energy efficiency changes to a plurality of energy consumers. The method includes calculating the energy efficiency changes for the consumers based on energy consumption histories and weather data, wherein the energy efficiency changes are calculated using individual data for each of the consumers. The method also includes reporting the energy efficiency changes to each of the consumers.

Abstract: A method of providing one of a good or a service to at least one entity at one of a payment, rate, or price that is capped at a pre-determined amount. The method includes producing an offer for the entity, wherein the offer represents at least one of a capped maximum payment, a capped maximum rate, a capped maximum usage, a capped maximum consumption, or a capped maximum price amount. The method also includes providing the good or service to the entity at one of a payment, rate, or price that may fluctuate, wherein the payment, rate, or price cannot exceed the capped maximum payment, capped maximum rate, capped maximum usage, capped maximum consumption, or capped maximum price amount.

Abstract: A method of providing one of a good or a service to at least one entity at one of a payment, rate, or price that is capped at a pre-determined amount. The method includes producing an offer for the entity, wherein the offer represents one of a capped maximum payment, a capped maximum rate, or a capped maximum price amount and receiving an insurance premium. The method also includes providing the good or service to the entity at one of a payment, rate, or price that may fluctuate, wherein the payment, rate, or price cannot exceed the capped maximum payment, capped maximum rate, or capped maximum price amount and paying an insurance proceed when an actual price of the good or service exceeds the capped maximum payment, capped maximum rate, or capped maximum price amount.

Abstract: A method of providing energy efficiency changes to a plurality of energy consumers. The method includes calculating the energy efficiency changes for the consumers based on energy consumption histories and weather data, wherein the energy efficiency changes are calculated using individual data for each of the consumers. The method also includes reporting the energy efficiency changes to each of the consumers.