# US 2018/0323643 A1 · Stabilizing consumer energy demand > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323643 A1 - Document ID: US20180323643A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/586,145 - Filed: 2017-05-03 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Raphael I. Arar; Sandeep Gopisetty; Hovey R. Strong, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323643A1 ## CPC - H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means - H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading - H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells - H02J 2105/42: Home appliances - Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level - Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/242: Home appliances - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: setting a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, and performing a process. The process includes: determining an actual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer based on a reward table, determining a current error, determining whether the actual power demand is adjustable in a direction that reduces the current error, reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error, and modifying the target power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error. Determining the actual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period of time in accordance with a process for measuring stability of power demand received from the utility. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method, comprising: setting a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, wherein setting the target power demand is based on a reward table for rewarding stability of power demand, wherein the reward table is received from a utility; performing a process, the process including: determining an actual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, wherein determining the actual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period of time in accordance with a process for measuring stability of power demand received from the utility; determining a current error, wherein the current error is a difference between the actual power demand and the target power demand; determining whether the actual power demand is adjustable in a direction that reduces the current error; reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error; and modifying the target power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand includes: setting an operating target based on the reward table and the process for measuring stability of power demand, wherein the operating target is a value between the actual power demand and the target power demand; performing a second process, the second process including: selecting an electrical device corresponding to the consumer; increasing a rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device in response to determining that the current error has a negative value; decreasing the rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device in response to determining that the current error has a positive value; determining whether an updated actual power demand has reached the operating target; and repeating the second process in response to determining that the updated actual power demand has not reached the operating target; and ending the second process in response to determining that the updated actual power demand has reached the operating target. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device is changed by adjusting a frequency at which the electrical device is turned on and off. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device is changed by adjusting a frequency of alternation for an alternating current supplied to the electrical device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein an energy storage device is coupled to the selected device, wherein the energy storage device has a low power input and is configured to output energy at a higher power than the low power input. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein increasing and/or decreasing the rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device includes adjusting an amount of electrical energy supplied to the selected device by the energy storage device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand includes adjusting a rate of electrical energy supplied to charge the energy storage device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the energy storage device includes a battery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the energy storage device is coupled to the utility and an independent energy source located locally, wherein the energy storage device is configured to accept electrical energy from the independent energy source and the utility concurrently. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising receiving a reward based on a correlation of a size of the current error over a period of time to a reward table. ### Claim 11 A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising: setting, by the processor, a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, wherein setting the target power demand is based on a reward table for rewarding stability of power demand, wherein the reward table is received from a utility; performing, by the processor, a process, the process including: determining an actual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, wherein determining the actual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period of time in accordance with a process for measuring stability of power demand received from the utility; determining a current error, wherein the current error is a difference between the actual power demand and the target power demand; determining whether the actual power demand is adjustable in a direction that reduces the current error; reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error; and modifying the target power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer program product of claim 11, the program instructions readable and/or executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform the method comprising: setting, by the processor, an operating target based on the reward table and the process for measuring stability of power demand, wherein the operating target is a value between the actual power demand and the target power demand; performing, by the processor, a second process, the second process including: selecting an electrical device corresponding to the consumer; increasing a rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device in response to determining that the current error has a negative value; decreasing the rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device in response to determining that the current error has a positive value; determining whether an updated actual power demand has reached the operating target; and repeating, by the processor, the second process in response to determining that the updated actual power demand has not reached the operating target; and ending, by the processor, the second process in response to determining that the updated actual power demand has reached the operating target. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device is changed by adjusting a frequency at which the electrical device is turned on and off, and/or by adjusting a frequency of alteration for an alternating current supplied to the electrical device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The computer program product of claim 12, wherein an energy storage device is coupled to the selected device, wherein the energy storage device has a low power input and is configured to output energy at a higher power than the low power input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein increasing and/or decreasing the rate of electrical energy consumption corresponding to the selected device includes adjusting an amount of electrical energy supplied to the selected device by the energy storage device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand includes adjusting a rate of electrical energy supplied to charge the energy storage device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the energy storage device includes a battery. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the energy storage device is coupled to the utility and an independent energy source located locally, wherein the energy storage device is configured to accept electrical energy from the independent energy source and the utility concurrently. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The computer program product of claim 11, comprising receiving a reward based on a correlation of a size of the current error over a period of time to a reward table. ### Claim 20 A system, comprising: a processor; and logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: set a target power demand corresponding to a consumer, wherein setting the target power demand is based on a reward table for rewarding stability of power demand, wherein the reward table is received from a utility; perform a process, the process including: determining an actual power demand presented to the utility by the consumer, wherein determining the actual power demand includes measuring the power demand over a period of time in accordance with a process for measuring stability of power demand received from the utility; determining a current error, wherein the current error is a difference between the actual power demand and the target power demand; determining whether the actual power demand is adjustable in a direction that reduces the current error; reducing the current error by adjusting the actual power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error; and modifying the target power demand in response to determining that the actual power demand is not adjustable in the direction that reduces the current error.