Hierarchic macroscopic incentivization for electric utility load balancing
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsBrian P. Gaucher, Jonathan Lenchner, Maharaj Mukherjee
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Abstract
A method of balancing a demand for electricity is disclosed. Consumers of the electricity are organized into a hierarchical set of nodes. A demand for a node at a first level of the hierarchy is defined. A rate structure is defined at nodes of a second level of the hierarchy so that a sum of the electricity demands at the second level obtained in response to the defined rate structure is substantially the same as the defined demand at the first level
Claims25
A method of balancing a demand for electricity, comprising:
- organizing, using a processing device, consumers of the electricity into a hierarchical set of nodes;
- defining a demand for a node at a first level of the hierarchy;
- and
- defining a rate structure at nodes of a second level of the hierarchy, wherein a sum of the electricity demands at the second level obtained in response to the defined rate structure is substantially the same as the defined demand at the first level of the hierarchy.
An electrical utility system for balancing an electricity demand, comprising:
- a grid configured to provide electricity to a plurality of consumers;
- a processor configured to:
- organize the plurality of consumers into a hierarchical set of nodes,
- define a demand at a node at a first level of the hierarchy, and
- define a rate structure at nodes of a second level of the hierarchy,
- wherein a sum of electricity demands for the nodes of the second level obtained in response to the defined rate structure is substantially the same as the defined demand at the first level of the hierarchy.
A computer program product comprising:
- a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions, that when executed by a computer, implement a method of balancing a demand for electricity, wherein the method comprises:
- organizing consumers of the electricity into a hierarchical set of nodes;
- defining a demand for a node at a first level of the hierarchy;
- and
- defining a rate structure at nodes of a second level of the hierarchy,
- wherein a sum of the electricity demands at the second level obtained in response to the defined rate structure is substantially the same as the defined demand at the first level of the hierarchy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.