Computer system, apparatus and method for calculating demand usage

Claim 1

A computer system for determining a demand usage value at a predetermined time for a load powered by an electric power system, said demand usage value being determined over a time interval about equal to a predetermined count times a predetermined time interval, said computer system comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of values; means for acquiring a plurality of first values, which represent energy consumed from said electric power system by said load, and a plurality of second values, which correspond to the first values and which represent times at which the energy was consumed by said load; means for storing the first values and the second values in said memory means; means for retrieving said predetermined count plus one of pairs of the first values and the second values corresponding thereto from said memory means, with one of said second values corresponding thereto being about equal to said predetermined time; means for determining a first demand value from a pair of the first values and a pair of the second values corresponding thereto, and for determining at least one second demand value from at least another pair of the first values and at least another pair of the second values corresponding thereto; and means for averaging said first demand value with said at least one second demand value to determine said demand usage value.

Claim 6

An apparatus for determining a demand usage value for a load powered by an electric power system, said apparatus comprising: monitor means for providing a plurality of first values, which represent energy consumed from said electric power system by said load; processor means for determining a plurality of second values, which correspond to the first values and which represent times at which the energy was consumed by said load, and for processing the first values and the second values; and communication means for communicating the first values from said monitor means to said processor means, with said processor means comprising: means for repetitively receiving the first values from said communication means, storing means for storing the first values and the second values, and calculating means for calculating said demand usage value from the first values and the second values corresponding thereto stored in said storing means, with said calculating means comprising: means for determining a first demand value from a pair of the first values and a pair of the second values corresponding thereto, and for determining at least one second demand value from at least another pair of the first values and at least another pair of the second values corresponding thereto, and means for averaging said first demand value with said at least one second demand value to determine said demand usage value.

Claim 7

An apparatus for determining a demand usage value for a load powered by an electric power system, said apparatus comprising: monitor means for providing a plurality of first values, which represent energy consumed from said electric power system by said load; processor means for determining a plurality of second values, which correspond to the first values and which represent times at which the energy was consumed by said load, and for processing the first values and the second values; and communication means for communicating the first values from said monitor means to said processor means, with said processor means comprising: means for repetitively receiving the first values from said communication means, storing means for storing the first values and the second values, and calculating means for calculating said demand usage value from the first values and the second values corresponding thereto stored in said storing means, with said calculating means comprising: means for determining a first demand value from a pair of the first values and a pair of the second values corresponding thereto, and for determining at least one second demand value from at least another pair of the first values and at least another pair of the second values corresponding thereto, and means for averaging said first demand value with said at least one second demand value to determine said demand usage value.

Claim 21

A method for determining a plurality of demand usage values and demand charge information for a plurality of loads powered by a utility company, the utility company employing a plurality of first time intervals to determine a peak demand during one of the first time intervals, a time of the peak demand, and a demand charge value for said loads, said demand usage values being determined over a second time interval, which is about equal to said one of the first time intervals and which is about equal to a predetermined count times a second time interval which is shorter than said one of the first time intervals, said method comprising the steps: storing a plurality of first values representing energy consumed from said utility company by each of said loads in a memory; storing a plurality of second values in the memory, with the second values corresponding to the first values and representing times at which the energy was consumed by said loads; finding one of the second values in said memory which is about equal to said time of the peak demand; retrieving said predetermined count plus one of pairs of the first values and the second values corresponding thereto from said memory; determining a first demand value from a pair of the first values and a pair of the second values corresponding thereto; determining at least one second demand value from at least another pair of the first values and at least another pair of the second values corresponding thereto; averaging said first demand value with said at least one second demand value to obtain one of said demand usage values therefrom for one of said loads; repeating said retrieving, said determining a first demand value, said determining at least one second demand value, and said averaging steps for each of the others of said loads; and determining said demand charge information for the loads.

Claim 22

A method for determining a plurality of demand usage values and demand charge information for a plurality of loads powered by a utility company, the utility company employing a plurality of first time intervals to determine a peak demand during one of the first time intervals, a time of the peak demand, and a demand charge value for said loads, said demand usage values being determined over a second time interval, which is about equal to said one of the first time intervals and which is about equal to a predetermined count times a second time interval which is shorter than said one of the first time intervals, said method comprising the steps: storing a plurality of first values representing energy consumed from said utility company by each of said loads in a memory; storing a plurality of second values in the memory, with the second values corresponding to the first values and representing times at which the energy was consumed by said loads; finding one of the second values in said memory which is about equal to said time of the peak demand; retrieving said predetermined count plus one of pairs of the first values and the second values corresponding thereto from said memory; determining a first demand value from a pair of the first values and a pair of the second values corresponding thereto; determining at least one second demand value from at least another pair of the first values and at least another pair of the second values corresponding thereto; averaging said first demand value with said at least one second demand value to obtain one of said demand usage values therefrom for one of said loads; repeating said retrieving, said determining a first demand value, said determining at least one second demand value, and said averaging steps for each of the others of said loads; and determining said demand charge information for the loads.