Net-Metering In A Power Distribution System

Apparatus for net-metering in a power distribution system comprising a distributed renewable generation (‘DRG’) system, the DRG system capable of providing power to a local load, an electric utility, and one or more batteries for storage, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions capable of, iteratively during operation of the power distribution system:

• creating, by a decision control engine, the decision control engine comprising a module of automated computing machinery, a local load and generation profile for a predefined period of time, the local load and generation profile describing projected net local power generation for the predefined period of time;
• deciding, by the decision control engine in accordance with revenue optimizing decision criteria and in dependence upon the local load and generation profile, present and projected utility power purchase prices, and a present state of charge of the batteries, whether to sell or store locally generated power;
• providing locally generated power to the electric utility if the decision control engine decides to sell locally generated power;
• and
• charging batteries with locally generated power if the decision control engine decides to store locally generated power.

A computer program product for net-metering in a power distribution system comprising a distributed renewable generation (‘DRG’) system, the DRG system capable of providing power to a local load, an electric utility, and one or more batteries for storage, the computer program product disposed in a computer readable recording medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions capable of, iteratively during operation of the power distribution system:

• creating, by a decision control engine, the decision control engine comprising a module of automated computing machinery, a local load and generation profile for a predefined period of time, the local load and generation profile describing projected net local power generation for the predefined period of time;
• deciding, by the decision control engine in accordance with revenue optimizing decision criteria and in dependence upon the local load and generation profile, present and projected utility power purchase prices, and a present state of charge of the batteries, whether to sell or store locally generated power;
• providing locally generated power to the electric utility if the decision control engine decides to sell locally generated power;
• and
• charging batteries with locally generated power if the decision control engine decides to store locally generated power.