Method and apparatus for actively managing consumption of electric power supplied by an electric utility

A client device for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices is controlled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein at least one controllable device operates under the control of the client device, and wherein the client device receives a plurality of power control messages from a system controller, the client device comprising:

• a communications interface operable to receive the plurality of power control messages from the system controller, a power control message of the plurality of power control messages being responsive to a power reduction request issued by a control center of the electric utility and indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices;
• at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of power control instructions to the at least one controllable device, the power control instructions causing the at least one controllable device to selectively enable and disable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices;
• and
• a device control manager operable to communicate a power control instruction to the at least one controllable device through the at least one controllable device interface responsive to the power control message, the power control instruction causing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device so as to assist in achieving a reduction in consumed power as requested by the control center of the electric utility.

A client device for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices is controlled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein at least one controllable device operates under the control of the client device, and wherein the client device receives power control messages from a system controller, the client device comprising:

• at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of power control instructions to the at least one controllable device, the power control instructions causing the at least one controllable device to selectively enable and disable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices;
• a device control manager operable to generate the power control instructions responsive to the received power control messages;
• a Layer-3 router operable to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address and determine whether the IP message is directed to the client device or an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device, wherein the Internet-accessible device is a device other than the at least one controllable device;
• and
• an IP device interface operable to receive the IP message from the Layer-3 router and communicate the IP message to the Internet-accessible device when the IP message is directed to the Internet-accessible device.

A client device for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to a plurality of power consuming devices, wherein power flow to at least some of the plurality of power consuming devices is controlled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein one or more of the plurality of controllable devices operates under the control of the client device, and wherein the client device receives a plurality of power control messages from a system controller, the client device comprising:

• a communications interface operable to receive the plurality of power control messages from the system controller, a power control message of the plurality of power control messages indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices;
• at least one controllable device interface facilitating communication of a power control instruction to at least a first controllable device, the power control instruction causing the first controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one power consuming device of the plurality of power consuming devices;
• a device control manager operable to generate the power control instruction responsive to the power control message;
• a Layer-3 router operable to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address and determine whether the IP message is directed to the client device or an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device, wherein the Internet-accessible device is a device other than the at least one controllable device;
• and
• an IP device interface operable to receive the IP message from the Layer-3 router and communicate the IP message to the Internet-accessible device when the IP message is directed to the Internet-accessible device.

A method for managing a flow of electric power supplied by an electric utility to a residence or a business, the method comprising:

• determining an amount of electric power consumed by at least one power consuming device;
• reporting the amount of consumed electric power to a system controller via a network;
• some time after reporting the amount of consumed electric power, receiving a power control message from the system controller, the power control message being responsive to a power reduction request issued by the electric utility and requiring a reduction in power consumed by the at least one power consuming device;
• and
• responsive to the power control message, reducing a flow of electric power to the at least one power consuming device.