Systems and methods for charging vehicles includes at least one mobile device and a utility network management center (“NMC”). The at least one mobile device is configured as an electronic utility device and includes a network interface card (“NIC”). The at least one mobile device is also associated with a utility billing account and at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is configured to communicate with the at least one mobile device and the at least one utility commodity meter over a network, locate the at least one mobile device, and monitor a state of the at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is also configured to determine a usage of a commodity based on the state of the at least one utility commodity meter and bill the utility billing account associated with the mobile device for the usage of the commodity.

A computer implemented method for managing charge availability of a charge unit (CU) to obtain charge for a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) is provided. The CU includes a computer for processing at least part of the method and for communicating with a server over a network. The method includes receiving, by the server, status information from the computer of the CU. The method includes sending to the computer of the CU instructions to make a reservation for the CU. The reservation is for a user account that has requested a desire to charge the battery of the electric vehicle of the user at the CU or another CU. The method includes sending, by the server, a confirmation for the reservation to the user account. The confirmation is viewable via a device having access to the server via the user account. The method includes sending, by the server, a data regarding a time of availability of the CU to the user account for the reservation. The computer of the CU is configured to display a visual indicator regarding the reservation of the CU.

Systems for self-organizing data collection and storage in a manufacturing environment are disclosed. A system may include a data collector for handling a plurality of sensor inputs from sensors in the manufacturing system, wherein the plurality of sensor inputs is configured to sense at least one of: an operational mode, a fault mode, a maintenance mode, or a health status of at least one target system. The system may also include a self-organizing system for self-organizing a storage operation of the data, a data collection operation of the sensors, or a selection operation of the plurality of sensor inputs. The self-organizing system may organize a swarm of mobile data collectors to collect data from a plurality of target systems.

Controlling provision of a set of utilities by a financial institution. The method includes receiving, by a processor of a financial institution computing system associated with a financial institution, utility usage information from a set of utility meters associated with a plurality of customers of the utility company. The method includes determining a utility account balance for a customer of the plurality of customers based at least in part by an aggregate amount of utility usage used by the plurality of customers for a billing cycle by aggregating the received utility usage information for the billing cycle. The method includes determining that the utility account balance exceeds a threshold permitted past due amount. The method includes sending a stop signal to a utility meter associated with the customer, the stop signal instructing the utility meter to cut off provision of the utility to a property serviced by the utility meter.

An apparatus, methods and systems for data collection related to an oil and gas process and disclosed. A system may include a multi-sensor acquisition component including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, a sensor data storage profile circuit structured to determine a data storage profile including a data storage plan for the plurality of inputs, a sensor communication circuit structured to interpret a plurality of inputs, a sensor data storage implementation circuit structured to store at least a portion of the inputs in response to the data storage profile, a data analysis circuit structured to analyze the plurality of inputs and determine a data quality parameter, and a data response circuit structured to adjust at least one of the data storage profile and the data collection routine in response to the data quality parameter.

Systems, devices and methods for managing a preferred energy supply chain are provided. A system including a specialized hardware- and software-based control system with access to a network including one or more distributed ledger(s) authorizes one or more energy distribution entity(ies) to reserve future right(s) to preferred energy for distribution to customers using new forms of promissory tokens (e.g., reserved preferred energy tokens). The system includes a secure metering device with a crypto-processor, holding an asymmetric cryptography key pair associated with preferred energy production hardware. The device is physically attached or integrated with the production hardware, and exclusively holds a unique private key of the asymmetric cryptography key pair, while publishing only the public key of the key pair through the network. The system authenticates production of, and transactions in, clean energy using new forms of smart contracts between buyers and sellers, with the aid of a governance body.

Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.

Systems and methods for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elements are constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract. The multiplicity of active grid elements generate messages autonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements are based on measurement and verification. The energy related data and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference.

A method includes establishing a cost for consumption of a given resource by a given resource consumer for a designated period of time, the cost comprising a fixed cost for consumption of the given resource up to a threshold consumption level for the designated time period and an additional cost associated with consumption of the given resource exceeding the threshold consumption level for the designated period of time, monitoring consumption of the given resource by the given resource consumer, determining whether resource consumption by the given resource consumer is projected to exceed the threshold consumption level over the designated time period, generating an alert responsive to determining that resource consumption by the given resource consumer is projected to exceed the threshold consumption level over the designated time period, and providing the alert for presentation via a user interface of a user device associated with the given resource consumer.

A parking meter mechanism is described that may include a front housing, having a display opening for viewing a display through, connected to an internal structure. Additionally or alternatively the parking meter mechanism may include a contactless payment reader located behind the display. The parking meter mechanism may be secured to a lower housing. A back housing may be secured to the lower housing as well. The front or back housing may include a solar panel compartment and solar panel mounted therein.