A system, apparatus, and method for distributed control of thermostatic electric loads (TELs) including receiving at an energy gateway, a demand response event signal and receiving real-time measurements of a temperature value and a power consumption value corresponding to a temperature setting of a plurality of TELs. The method retrieving historical data from pre-determined load profiles for the TELs and comparing load profiles and real-time measurements to determine a first consumption trajectory. Further, coordinating temperature settings of at least two TELs to generate a second consumption trajectory corresponding to the demand response event signal.

A method for self-registration and/or self-assembly of a plurality of electrical devices, the method including: performing the self-registration of the plurality of electrical devices by sending, from each of the plurality of electrical devices, device information that is stored in each of the plurality of electrical devices to a control device, including a processor, via a network, wherein the device information of each device identifies unique characteristics of the device the device information is stored in; receiving, in the control device, the device information sent from each of the plurality of electrical devices; storing, in a memory of the control device, the device information of each of the plurality of electrical devices; and determining, from the stored device information of each of the plurality of electrical devices that each of the plurality of electrical devices are present and available on the network.

A system and method for controlling power transfer between a power grid and at least one load. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a controller having a power regulator. The controller obtains grid data related to the power grid. The power regulator of the controller enables or disables and/or increases or decreases the power transfer between the power grid and a first load based at least in part on the obtained grid data and data relating to a power requirement of the first load. The power regulator may be coupled in line between an electric panel connected to the power grid and the first load. The controller may be coupled to the first load through a wiring system of a building. Multiple controllers may be coupled respectively to multiple loads, wherein each controller is configured to control a power transfer between the power grid and a respective load.

A power strip apparatus for powering a plurality of electric devices. The apparatus includes a main body having a plurality of outlets for receiving electric plugs. Each outlet provides power to an electric device attached by an electric plug of the electric device to the outlet. The apparatus also includes a power cable for powering the apparatus from an electric supply and a control board having a programming mechanism for independently controlling power to each outlet of the control board using a plurality of relays. Each relay is associated with a specific outlet to control power to the outlet and attached electric device.

A power control apparatus (10) includes a communication interface (21) that transmits and receives signals; a memory (22) that stores information related to power control to perform upon the communication interface (21) receiving a signal of a notification related to power consumption; and a controller (20) that, upon the communication interface (21) receiving a signal of the notification related to power consumption when a power control mode is set based on a predetermined condition, responds with a signal indicating agreement to content of the notification and performs power control based on the information, stored in the memory (22), that is related to power control.

An electrical appliance control device for controlling power supplied to an electrical appliance, comprises: an output unit configured to output a predetermined event for each predetermined period during an operation mode; a determination unit configured to determine whether predetermined information is inputted by a user in response to the predetermined event; and a control unit configured to control power supplied to the electrical appliance corresponding to whether the predetermined information is inputted.

An apparatus for controlling consumption of a resource by a facility is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices, a network operations center (NOC), and a plurality of control nodes. The plurality of devices is disposed within the facility, each consuming a portion of the resource when turned on, and the each capable of performing a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. The NOC is disposed external to the facility, and is configured to generate a plurality of run time schedules, where the plurality of run time schedules coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to control the consumption of the resource while maintaining corresponding local environments while operating within corresponding acceptable operating margins, and is configured to adjust the plurality of run time schedules based upon occupancy components and occupancy levels generated by the NOC, where the occupancy components and the occupancy levels are exclusively generated based on the consumption of the resource and outside temperature. The plurality of control nodes is disposed within the facility, each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of devices, where the plurality of control nodes is coupled together via an energy management network that is operatively coupled to the NOC, and where the plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to the NOC via the energy management network for generation of the plurality of run time schedules, and where the plurality of control nodes executes selected ones of the run time schedules to cycle the plurality of devices on and off.

A system, comprising a metering system, and a load sensor which provides the metering system with a performance parameter corresponding to the operation of the electrical load. The metering system provides a data signal and transmits a data packet via a two-way energy management data packet network, wherein the data signal includes information regarding the performance parameter. The data signal can include environmental sense information corresponding to the environment proximate to the electrical load. The energy management data packet network carries a control signal back to t provide active control over the operation of the electrical load for energy management purposes.

A method for optimizing a home automation system is provided having a plurality of communicating devices capable of exchanging information therebetween via a local low bandwidth PLC (Power Line Communication) network. The method includes a phase in which the PLC transmission power is adjusted for each new device added to the network. The phase includes the following successive steps: installing (10) the new device configured to transmit at a predefined maximum power on said PLC network; cutting off (20) all ongoing communications on the PLC network except for the new device; testing communication for each pre-existing device on the PLC network with which the new device is to be paired and, if communication fails, ensuring an automatic incremental increase (30) of the PLC transmission power of the pre-existing device until a first PLC transmission power value is reached at which PLC communication can be initialized between the pre-existing device and the new device; and ensuring an automatic reduction (40) of the PLC transmission power of the new device while communication between each pre-existing device and the new device is active.

A system to control a power distribution system includes a system controller configured to determine an allocation of power during a first time period for each of a plurality of subsystems. The system also includes a subsystem controller communicatively coupled to the system controller. The subsystem controller is associated with a device and configured to receive power allocation data indicating the allocation of power for the device from the system controller. The subsystem controller is further configured to receive operation request data indicating a request to operate the device and produce a model operation of the device for a second time period based on the power allocation data, the operation request data, and a cost-utility function associated with the device. The subsystem controller is also configured to communicate, to the system controller, projected power demand data associated with the modeled operation of the device during the second time period.