Demand response system and method

A demand response method comprising:

• dividing a range above a preset index power charge into a plurality of index sections;
• obtaining information about real-time charge rates for a unit of power;
• obtaining information about real-time amounts of the power used;
• calculating real-time power charges based on the obtained information about the real-time charge rates and based on the obtained information about the real-time amounts
• when each of the real-time power charges is present in one of the plurality of index sections, generating a Demand Response (DR) signal corresponding to the one index section;
• and
• controlling an electric home appliance in response to the DR signal.

A demand response system comprising:

• a power rate reception unit which receives information about charge rates for a unit of power from an external power trading server;
• an amount-of-power used reception unit which receives information about amounts of power used by a customer from a gateway installed in premises of the customer;
• a first data generation unit which generates first data comprising information about charge rates for the unit of power for respective time spans based on the received information about the charge rates;
• a second data generation unit which generates second data comprising information about amounts of power used by the customer for the respective time spans based on the received information about the amounts of power used;
• and
• a third data generation unit which generates third data comprising information about index power charges for the customer for the respective time spans obtained based on the first data and the second data.