Energy-disutility modeling for agile demand response

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

• identifying one or more components coupled to an energy management system;
• generating an energy-disutility graph comprising, for each of a sequence of discrete time instances, one or more vertices that each corresponds to an alternative operating state for a component, wherein an arc that couples two vertices indicates an energy-disutility model corresponding to energy and disutility costs for the component;
• determining price information;
• and
• determining operating states for the component using the energy-disutility graph and the price information.

An apparatus comprising:

• a detection module to identify one or more components coupled to an energy management system;
• a graph-maintenance module to generate an energy-disutility graph comprising, for each of a sequence of discrete time instances, one or more vertices that each corresponds to an alternative operating state for a component, wherein an arc that couples two vertices indicates an energy-disutility model corresponding to energy and disutility costs for the component;
• a path-selecting module to:
• determine price information;
• and
• determine operating states for a component using the energy-disutility graph and the price information;