System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management

A method for a client device located at an electrical service point to control a flow of electric power from an electric power grid to the service point so as to provide operating reserve to the electric power grid, the service point including at least one power consuming device operable to consume electric power, at least one controllable device operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, and a backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one power consuming device when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device is reduced below a threshold, the method comprising:

• receiving power control messages from a remote system control component, at least a first power control message instructing the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device;
• and
• providing a first power control instruction to the at least one controllable device responsive to the first power control message, the first power control instruction instructing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, thereby causing activation of the backup power subsystem,
• wherein an amount of grid-supplied electric power saved as a result of disabling a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device provides operating reserve for the electric power grid based upon a power supply value (PSV) associated with each of the at least one power consuming device(s).

A method for a client device located at an electrical service point to control a flow of electric power from an electric power grid to the service point, the service point including at least one power consuming device operable to consume electric power, at least one controllable device operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, and a backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one power consuming device when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device is reduced below a threshold, the method comprising:

• receiving power control messages from a remote system control component, at least a first power control message instructing the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device;
• and
• providing a first power control instruction to the at least one controllable device responsive to the first power control message, the first power control instruction instructing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, thereby causing activation of the backup power subsystem,
• wherein an amount of grid-supplied electric power saved as a result of disabling a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least power consuming device functions as operating reserve for the electric power grid, and is based on a power supply value (PSV) corresponding to each of the at least one power-consuming device(s) and the power saved associated with them.

A system controller for use in a system that manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility and/or any market participant associated with an electric power grid to a plurality of power consuming devices to the electric power grid, wherein power flow to the plurality of power consuming devices is controlled by a plurality of controllable devices, wherein the plurality of controllable devices operate under the control of one or more client devices, and wherein at least one of the plurality of power consuming devices is located at an electrical service point that includes a backup power subsystem, the system controller comprising:

• an event manager operable to generate power control event instructions, at least one of the power control event instructions requiring a reduction of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices wherein each of the power consuming devices has a corresponding power supply value (PSV);
• a database operable to store information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;
• and
• a client device manager operable to select, based on the information stored in the database and responsive to a power control event instruction requiring a reduction of electric power, at least one client device to which to communicate a power control message, wherein the at least one client device is located at the service point that includes the backup power subsystem, and wherein the power control message instructs the at least one client device to disable power to one or more power consuming devices, each having a corresponding power supply value (PSV) and each located at the service point so as to cause activation of the backup power subsystem.

A method for a subsystem located at an electrical service point to reduce consumption of electric power supplied from an electric power grid to a service point, the subsystem including a client device in communication with a remotely located system control component and operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to at least one power consuming device located at the service point, and a backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one power consuming device when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device is reduced below a threshold, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the client device, a power control message from the remote system control component, the power control message instructing the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device;
• disabling, by the client device, a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device responsive to the power control message;
• determining, by the backup power subsystem, that the flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device has dropped below the threshold responsive to disablement of the grid-supplied electric power by the client device;
• and
• supplying, by the backup power subsystem, electric power for use by the at least one power consuming device responsive to determining that the flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device has dropped below a threshold, wherein the electric power supplied to the at least one power consuming device(s) has a corresponding power supply value (PSV).

A base transceiver system that receives electric power from an electric power grid, the base transceiver system comprising:

• at least one base transceiver unit operable to provide wireless communication capability, the at least one base transceiver unit requiring electric power to operate;
• at least one controllable device operably coupled to the at least one base transceiver unit, the at least one controllable device operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit responsive to power control instructions;
• a backup power subsystem operably coupled to the at least one base transceiver unit, the backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit drops below a threshold;
• and
• a client device operable to receive power control messages from a remote system control component and provide power control instructions to the at least one controllable device responsive to the power control messages,
• wherein a first received power control message instructs the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit, and generating a power supply value (PSV) corresponding thereto, and wherein a first power control instruction instructs the at least one controllable device to disable the flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit, thereby causing activation of the backup power subsystem.

A method for a client device at a base transceiver site to control a flow of electric power from an electric power grid to a collocated base transceiver system so as to provide operating reserve for to the electric power grid, the base transceiver system including at least one base transceiver unit operable to provide wireless communication capability, a controllable device operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit, and a backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit drops below a threshold, the method comprising:

• receiving power control messages from a remote system control component, at least a first received power control message instructing the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit;
• and
• providing a first power control instruction to the at least one controllable device responsive to the first received power control message, the first power control instruction instructing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit, thereby causing activation of the backup power subsystem,
• wherein an amount of grid-supplied electric power saved as a result of disabling a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one base transceiver unit provides operating reserve for the electric power grid.