A power control system with a power management apparatus and a power monitoring control apparatus for each control segment. The power monitoring control apparatus is provided with: a contribution degree setting unit setting the degree of contribution of each control segment; a device control unit controlling the power consumption of each power using device connected; a priority control unit setting a priority for reducing the power of the power using device; and a device monitoring unit obtaining the priority of each power using device and transmitting the obtained priority to the power management apparatus. The power management apparatus is provided with an optimum control calculation unit determining a control command for controlling each power using device connected. The control command is determined based on: a target value of the total power consumption of all the control segments; the degree of contribution; and the priority of each power using device.

Various implementations described herein are directed to systems and methods for managing a plurality of loads connected to a plurality of power sources using a switching apparatus. Apparatuses described herein may include multi-throw switches designed for fast and efficient switching of loads. Methods described herein may include selecting one or more loads from a group of loads to connect to one or more alternative power sources, and selecting one or more loads to connect to a main (e.g. utility) electrical grid.

An inverter with an amplitude pulse width (APW) architecture that generates a single phase AC (Alternating Current) power waveform is disclosed. The inverter generates a multi-level stepped voltage waveform, each step of the multi-level stepped waveform having a modulated width of a selected voltage. The inverter further comprises a soft fuse protection system. This disclosure also relates to a personal power plant system using said inverter and a method to generate an AC power sine wave with reduced harmonic distortion.

A power control device for an electrically powered appliance may selectively switch off one 110 volt input (of two separate 110 volt input lines) of a 220 volt power supply to the appliance during certain periods of operation, in response to a demand-response request. This may adjust operation of one or more components of the appliance, thus adjusting an amount of power consumed by the appliance. A determination of which one, of the two, 110 volt input lines to be switched off may be made based on an analysis of the amount of power consumed by each of the two 110 volt input lines during operation of the appliance. The power control device may be provided at any point between the electrically powered appliance and a power distribution panel distributing power from an external source.

A method and a system for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) centric energy hub. A power conversion system is configured to condition power and is coupled to an HVAC system, a power grid, an energy storage device, an alternative energy source, and one or more loads. An energy management system is coupled to the power conversion system, the energy management system is configured to manage distribution of power from the power grid, the energy storage device, and the alternative energy source to the one or more loads and is further configured to communicate with energy management systems of other hubs.

An apparatus and method for managing electric devices, and a mobile device and a system adapted to the method are provided. The electric device management system includes an electric power supply, a plurality of electric devices that are arranged in an area and receive electric power from the electric power supply, and a device management apparatus for providing information regarding the electric devices and at least one operation schedule of electric devices based on the entire amount of electric power planned to be consumed by the electric devices.

Systems and methods for configuring, with an external device, a power distribution box having priority disconnects. The power distribution box includes a housing portion and a base portion elevating the housing portion. The power distribution box receives power from an external power source and distributes the power to a plurality of alternating current (AC) output receptacles. The power distribution box further includes an antenna and a power disconnect controller coupled to the antenna to communicate with and be configured by an external device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or laptop computer. Using the external device, a user can configure the priority level and mode of the AC output receptacles. In the case of high current, the power distribution box will disconnect receptacles in accordance with the priority level and mode configuration provided by the external device.

A battery unit includes a power storage unit for supplying power to an external device, a communication unit for performing communication with the external device, and a processor for performing a control process on the external device on the basis of a power storage status of the power storage unit or information obtained from the external device. For example, when the state of charge (SOC) of the power storage unit has lowered, the processor limits the operation of a household electric appliance with a low priority level in the control process.

A method of adjusting an energy usage of a usage area including a step of providing a gateway device for the usage area wherein the usage area comprises at least one electrically powered device and a step of determining an energy usage of the at least one electrically powered device. The method also includes a step of creating a user energy profile and a step of adjusting the energy usage of the at least one electrically powered device in the usage area based on the energy usage of the at least one electrically powered device and based on the user energy profile.

A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.