Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving first electromagnetic waves via a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and inducing second electromagnetic waves at an interface of the transmission medium without the electrical return path. In an embodiment, the first and second electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An electrical management system for managing a smart home. A plurality of end units such as electrical outlets and electrical switches sample the electricity going through the end-unit at least 1,000 times per second. The information is communicated to a server, which analyzes the data across many installations and can alert the user for any abnormal electrical situation in the home.

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining an air conditioning system. A system can include one or more sensors positioned inside of the air conditioning system configured to transmit current sensor data to a remote location. A data repository contains historic sensor data and corresponding air conditioning system status data. A neural network is trained using the historic sensor data and the corresponding air conditioning system status data to predict a future air conditioning system status based on the transmitted current sensor data. A server computer system is configured to predict the future air conditioning system status based on the current sensor data using the neural network, and a graphical user interface is configured to display the predicted future air conditioning system status to a remote client. The current sensor data is stored in the data repository and the neural network is further trained based on the current sensor data.

A method and system for sending a repetitive permissive guard signal from an electrical power substation to a distributed generation site over existing medium voltage distribution lines to detect an islanding condition and apply transfer trip protection is disclosed. The permissive guard signal causes a receiver at the distributed generation site to control a recloser at the distributed generation site. Loss of the signal at the receiver device causes the tripping of the recloser at the distributed generation site in less than two seconds. The tripping of the recloser physically disconnects the distributed generation site from the electric power grid. The coupling to the medium voltage distribution lines can be implemented via a single phase-to-ground coupling or via a phase-to-phase differential coupling for multi-phase medium voltage distribution lines.

In one embodiment, there is provided a power interchange system for distributing direct current (DC) electrical power. The power interchange system comprises a plurality of nodes comprising a first node and a second node. The first node comprises a first communication device and a first power source to power the first communication device. The second node comprises a second communication device and a second power source to power the second communication device. The power interchange system further comprises a wired cable connecting the first node and the second node. The wired cable comprises at least one first wire to convey DC power from the first power source of the first node to the second node to power the second communication device or from the second power source of the second node to the first node to power the first communication device.

In the transfer of energy from a source to a load, a power distribution system is configured to detect unsafe conditions that include electrically conducting foreign objects or individuals that have come in contact with exposed conductors in the power distribution system. A responsive signal is generated in a source controller including source terminals. The responsive signal reverses a voltage on the source terminals. With the voltage on the source terminals reversed, a measurement of electrical current flowing through the source terminals is acquired; and the source controller generates signals to electrically disconnect the source from the source terminals if and when the electrical current falls outside of high or low limits indicating that there is a conducting foreign object or living organism making electrical contact with the source or load terminals or a failure in power distribution system hardware.

A microgrid power flow monitoring and control system is described herein. The control system may determine active and reactive power sharing shortage on the electric power delivery system. The control system may utilize the control strategies of generation units, such as ISO control, droop control and constant power control to estimate power flow within a microgrid or other isolated system. A control strategy of one or more generators may be modified based on the determined power flow.

A cloud connected lighting system may include a wireless lighting network of coordinated lighting devices and a bridge to provide connectivity to external devices such as a cell phone, home automation system or security system. The cloud connected lighting system may be implemented locally with a cell phone communicating with the bridge for control, status and alerts. The cloud connected lighting system may operate over the cloud via an Internet connection allowing the bridge to communicate with a server on the Internet that may implement software for the interface with the wireless lighting network and to capture data regarding activity detected by motion sensor associated with the wireless lighting network.

A computer program product for recharging a number of battery electric vehicles includes computer usable program code. The computer usable program code is configured to receive, from the number of battery electric vehicles that are to recharge at a number of recharging stations, usage data. The usage data includes a current charge level, a current location, and a planned itinerary that includes a destination. The computer usable program code is configured to determine anticipated electrical loads in the number of sectors of the electrical grid system based on the usage data of the number of battery electric vehicles. The computer usable program code is configured to redistribute the electrical supply on the electrical grid system to at least one recharging station of the number of recharging stations based on the anticipated electrical loads, prior to actual usage defined by the usage data by the number of battery electrical vehicles.

An apparatus, including a plurality of devices, a network operations center (NOC), and a plurality of control nodes. Each device consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and performs a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. The NOC generates a plurality of run time schedules that coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to control the peak demand of the resource. Each of the control nodes is coupled to a corresponding one of the devices. The plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the plurality of run time schedules, and executes selected ones of the run time schedules to cycle the plurality of devices, and employs the sensor data and device status in a model to detect exceptions to normal operation of a facility.