An abnormal consumption detection system is provided with remote valve control for a distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise an electronically controllable valve, a remote communication transmitter, a remote communication receiver, at least one sensor for measuring water flow information associated with the distributed water infrastructure, and at least one processor. The system may determine from the water flow information obtained from the at least one sensor a potential abnormal consumption associated with the distributed water infrastructure. The system may automatically close a valve, without human intervention, when the potential abnormal consumption is determined. The system may transmit, via the remote communication transmitter to a remote administrator, alert information about the potential abnormal consumption to enable an administrator to decide based on the transmitted information whether to reopen the valve. The system may receive from the administrator via the remote communication receiver a control signal to reopen the valve, despite the information about the potential abnormal consumption, and reopen the valve.

Poorly matched electrical power systems (e.g., those with a poor power factor and crosstalk interference) that create a high transient demand for power result in unnecessarily high power bills. High transient demand for power may be decreased, and power bills thereby reduced, by placing an energy storage element near the entity's power input, thereby reducing crosstalk. The energy storage element may comprise a plurality of de-tuned capacitors. A reactive element may be placed in series with the energy storage element to repress high-frequency harmonics and to reduce electrical noise. The energy storage element and/or the reactive element may be configurable. A control module may reconfigure the system responsive to measurements obtained at the entity and/or user commands received over a network or at the module itself.

A system is provided for differentiating between water usage of multiple water consumers using a common distributed water infrastructure. The system receives from a water sensor that is upstream of a plurality of appliances, signals indicative of water usage, and constructs from the signals a plurality of water event profile signatures. The system associates, based on differences between similar water event profiles, at least one water event profile signature with a first water consumer and associates a second water event profile signature with a second water consumer, and stores the water event profile signatures for the first water consumer and the second water consumer. The system constructs current water event profiles reflecting subsequent water usage in the distributed water infrastructure, and attributes a first current water event profile to the first water consumer and attributes a second current water event profile to the second water consumer.

A power management system comprises a plurality of HEMSs 10 and a CEMS 40. The CEMS 40 transmits, to each HEMS 10, a notification request for requesting a notification of an amount of power that can be reduced from power currently consumed by a load connected to each HEMS 10, in response to a power curtailment signal. Each HEMS 10 transmits, to the CEMS 40, reducible power information including the amount of power that can be reduced from the power currently consumed, in response to the notification request. The CEMS 40 transmits, to each HEMS 10, power reduction information including an amount of power that should be reduced in each consumer 70, in response to the power curtailment signal and the reducible power information.

A method and a system for providing wireless communication facility with low interference between multiple wireless devices providing hotspot wireless coverage within a local area of an integrated enterprise or integrated home environment is disclosed. The sensor devices implementing hotspots are connected to a local area network (LAN) based on power line communication (PLC) and enabled with wireless power output control capability, allowing the coverage of area of each sensor device to be adjusted. The power output control is by a switch which allows the power output to be increased and decreased depending on coverage required and the output of the nearest hotspot. The power output level is indicated on the sensor by LEDs to enable resetting and adjustment. The use of power control and elimination of coverage overlap allow multiple hotspots to be used for achieving good connectivity while reducing interferences and noise within hotspots during connection and use.

A method and apparatus for analysing utility consumption at a utility supply location is described. The method comprises the steps of: receiving utility consumption data corresponding to utility consumption at the utility supply location over a time period to be analysed; generating a recurring consumption model indicative of repeating consumption patterns in the utility consumption data; identifying divergences between the utility consumption data and the recurring consumption model; computing a diagnostic measure indicative of irregular consumption based on the identified divergences; and outputting the diagnostic measure. The diagnostic measure may be used to identify flexibility or irregularities in consumption and/or to control supply of the utility. The utility may be e.g. electricity, gas or water.

Systems and methods for preparing and re-commissioning a controlled device in a home area network are described. A utility meter is communicated with. An authentication key and encryption data for communicating with the utility meter may be determined. The authentication key and encryption data are sent to a controlled device. A set of translation rules for a message are determined. The translation rules are sent to the controlled device. The controlled device establishes a secure communication link with the utility meter using the authentication key and the encryption data. The controlled device receives a request to change power usage from the utility meter over the secure communication link. The controlled device translates the request to change power usage into control instructions using the translation rules.

The present invention relates to a system for distributing electrical energy, comprising an electricity grid configured to supply electrical energy to end users, characterized in that the grid is operated on a direct voltage.

A method and apparatus for autonomous, automatic interleaving of cycled loads coupled to a grid. In one or more embodiments, the method comprises (i) determining, by a smart load coupled to a grid, a first grid stress value; (ii) comparing, by the smart load, the first grid stress value to an activation threshold; (iii) waiting, by the smart load, when the first grid stress value is less than the activation threshold, a delay period; (iv) determining, by the smart load and after the delay period ends, a second grid stress value; (v) comparing, by the smart load, the second grid stress value to the activation threshold; and (iv) activating, by the smart load, when the second grid stress value is less than the activation threshold.

A water meter system and method may provide inline flow monitoring and leak detection that may track real-time water usage. The water meter system and method may utilize one or more dual pressure sensors and/or ultrasonic sensors to detect leaks quickly and automatically turn off a valve. A spool may be utilized that may provide the dual pressure sensors on opposite sides of a ball valve to separate upstream and downstream pressure zones when the valve is closed.