Method and apparatus for smart circuit breaker

An electronic device electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet or panel comprising:

• a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit;
• a communications device;
• a monitoring device;
• and
• an electronic circuit operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to:
• (i) identify a user of the electrical power circuit,
• (ii) supply power to the electrical power circuit after the user is identified,
• (iii) attribute to the user an amount of power usage based on the power supplied to the electrical power circuit after the user is identified, and
• (iv) activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition.

An electronic system electrically positioned between a utility and a plurality of electrical power outlets or panels comprising:

• a first circuit breaker associated with a first electrical power circuit;
• a second circuit breaker associated with a second electrical power circuit;
• a communications device;
• a monitoring device;
• and
• an electronic circuit operable with the first circuit breaker, the second circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to:
• (i) identify a user of the first electrical power circuit,
• (ii) attribute to the user a first amount of power usage based on a first amount of power supplied to the first electrical power circuit,
• (iii) attribute to the user a second amount of power usage based on a second amount of power supplied to the second electrical power circuit and a number of other users, the other users having been identified as users of the second electrical power circuit,
• (iv) activate the first circuit breaker if an undesirable power condition is detected for the first electrical power circuit, and
• (v) activate the second circuit breaker if the undesirable power condition is detected for the second electrical power circuit.