EP2619510A1

EP2619510A1 - System and method for recording data about quantities of energy and evaluating said data

Info

Publication number: EP2619510A1
Application number: EP10805186.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Matthias
Original assignee: Adunos GmbH
Current assignee: Adunos GmbH
Priority date: 2010-09-25
Filing date: 2010-09-25
Publication date: 2013-07-31
Also published as: US20130191260A1; DE112010005900A5; WO2012037906A1

Abstract

The present invention presents a system and a method which can be used to automatically record billing-related data about quantities of primary energy or generated quantities of energy, for example heat, in a continuous manner using a customer-specific unit (7) and can supply this data to a central server (3) which carries out the complete handling of the contractual agreement between a management company and an end user (2) by means of a specific program. The result of the customer-specific evaluation of the recorded and supplied data is used firstly for complete handling of the contracts and transmission of customer-specific bills, and also for automatically switching on and switching off the supply of primary energy when limit values are exceeded.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECORDING DATA ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ITS EVALUATION

The present invention relates to a system and a method for recording energy quantities and their automatic evaluation,

in particular with the automatic evaluation of heat energy volumes of consumers who have concluded a contract with a management company (contractors).

Such systems have become known from GB 2 455 965 A. This system discloses the delivery and billing of consumer goods, such as electricity and gas. The known system is based on the

The basic idea is to pay for the energy to be consumed in consultation with the respective energy supply company in advance. The coordination between customers and power companies is thereby by means of usual

Remote data transmission such as GPRS or UMTS or by local mobile phones recorded and performed by a measuring station. The recorded data are fed through a transmission unit (modem) at the customer of a database, which is only within the sphere of influence of the respective

Energy supply company.

Furthermore, energy meter remote readout systems have become known in the prior art, in which counter data are automatically queried via the Internet and subsequently charged according to specific specifications. Subsequently, the results of the clearing are transmitted to the customer. The system is mainly used by energy companies for customers who want some transparency of their respective consumption.

Furthermore, software is available in the state of the art, which is able to network installations or machines scattered around the world by radio with a central server by means of an IP protocol with high security and quality requirements.

The disadvantages which have hitherto been known in the prior art for the automatic evaluation of recorded data are generally seen in:

- Isolated solutions of data collectors (Concentrator) based on proprietary radio systems or standardized open systems.

- Data from radiators on a data collector, which can then be read via local radio by passing cars. Unfortunately, the measurement data are not used to optimize and reduce energy consumption.

- Business processes based on the data are not possible in real time.

- On the consumer side, this has the consequence that heating systems are predominantly regulated by the outside temperature.

- This makes the provision of the amount of heat too high and inefficient.

- Indoor sensors measure heat consumption accurately, but efficient operation is currently available through the island character and pure

Consumption measurement not possible.

- Other systems are mainly offered today for the industrial sector and are aimed only at remote diagnostics, troubleshooting and

Configuration. The modules and sensors used in this area are essentially heterogeneous and are usually proprietary

Communication protocols equipped (868 MHz).

The aim of the present invention is to make the energy information from all rooms and of all individual devices of an end user evaluable, which has a number of advantages for customers. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system with a method capable of providing an Internet-based platform for the

Organization and execution (management) of existing contracts and remote maintenance of facilities.

This object is achieved with the characterizing features of the main claims.

According to the invention, the system for automatic recording of

Quantities of energy at least one end user with at least one server and at least one database and at least one

Energy consumption aggregate (heating), characterized by at least one electronic customer-specific unit installed at the end customer; and at least one device (data modem) that wirelessly transmits data and the system includes at least one switching device that is capable of turning on and off at least the power pack.

The electronic customer-specific unit is intended to simplify data acquisition and enable largely configuration-free detection of existing sensors. Heating systems can be equipped and retrofitted with remote maintenance systems and sensors. Other sensors can be addressed independently of the heating system. The collection of sensor data and transmission for storage on a server takes place via the customer-specific unit (Adunos Box GPRS / UMTS).

Through the use of open interfaces, the new data collector

(Concentrator) to ensure transparency in communication with the other decentralized systems. Existing standards such as BACnet, LON, ZigBee, C-Net or wirless M-Bus are supported with the Concentrator and enable vendor-independent data acquisition. The collected data is fed centrally to the server of the management company, historically evaluated and prepared for the users. The

Management system recognizes trends and influences and regulates e.g. the effective provision of heat. Times with low heat demand can thus be recognized locally and taken into account locally. The platform (Adunos) thus enables the need-based, efficient and localized provision of heat. The intelligence of this concentrator is on the server.

The resulting processes are not limited to the field of heat. They can also be applied to other areas such as electricity, water, etc.

transfer. This will reduce costs and contribute to

Environmental compatibility.

Intelligent control and opening up the business processes for

Contracting for heat out to the end customer is only through the

Concentrator allows. The consumptions are stored real-time in the platform (Adunos) and used for the billing of the heat quantities. The Concentrator forms the basis for the realization of the planned

Optimization processes. A similar integrated module, which realizes the collection of data in the building by using open communication protocols and has server intelligence, does not currently exist.

This integrated box can be embedded in standard systems for SMART Metering in the future.

The main advantages of the present invention are:

- greater transparency

- more possibilities of individual energy management and the

Energy saving

- Better customer service of contracting customers for end customers

- improved connectivity, end-to-end networking

- low cost through "one fits all" solution An advantageous aspect of the invention is also the introduction of energy-saving heat generators, transparency of heat transactions and simplification of business processes (heat meters on the Internet) and not least the saving of energy and CO 2.

This is in particular the automation module (Adunos box) for

Data transport from the heating system to a central server and back.

- A Concentrator, which collects data from the entire building and then sends data via the automation module (Adunos box) to the server, is a useful extension to exploit the end customer benefits.

- The developed internet based platform for the management of

Contracting contracts and the remote maintenance of plants, in particular for geothermal heat pumps play in contracting their superiority in energy efficiency compared to conventional heating system based on fossil fuels.

The Concentrator module realize the following features:

- Integration of a Concentrator module in the automation module (Box)

a concentrator collects data from different data generators (sensors);

- They are used to collect data for later processing in the CAFM (Computer Aided Facility Management);

- In contrast to conventional data collectors, the Concentrator is integrated in the Adunos automation module and provides interfaces

different systems ago;

- The integration into the Adunos box leads to the possibility to transfer the collected data in real time to a server and transfer it to a server

To use business processes, eg. Based on ZigBee and / or wireless M-Bus, where ZigBee is an open radio network standard. PHY and MAC layers are based on IEEE 802.15.4, which allows home appliances, sensors, and more. on short distances (10 to 100 meters) to connect. The standard is one

Development of the ZigBee alliance; - Bidirectional data flow: Radiator -> Concentrator -> Adunos Box ->

Central server -> end customer.

In all of which, it is advantageous that the energy consumption aggregate is a heating device that can be supplied with any form of primary energy, in particular with electricity, gas, oil, coal or wood.

A further advantage is that the database in the central server of the system contains customer-specific data to which a program stored in the central server has access to customer-specific measures

prepare and execute, and create result logs.

It is also advantageous that the customer specific data in accordance with the utilities, including customers of the

Systems are tuned.

It is also advantageous that the customer-specific data, in particular data of the consumption of primary energy and quantities of energy generated, z. B.

Amount of heat, the end user include.

A further advantage is the fact that a heat quantity counting unit is provided, preferably in the supply line of the primary energy for

Energy consumption unit (heating unit) is installed and parameters relating to heat quantity, flow temperature, return temperature and current

Gas volume flows absorbs.

It is also advantageous that the heating unit at least one

Heat pump module receives.

It is also advantageous that the wireless data transmission, for example by GMS, GPRS, UMTS is performed. Furthermore, it is advantageous that a user interface is provided, for example on the basis of PHP, which is intended on the one hand for the end user and on the other hand for an employee of the electricity supply company and only these persons access to their respective

Have user interfaces.

It is also advantageous that all relevant data for the

Billing procedures are collected and stored in a so-called log file and in intervals, eg. Ten minutes, and recorded at predetermined time intervals, e.g. sent every four hours to the central server, the time intervals are freely selectable.

It is also advantageous that at least one so-called user protocol is provided, the access to the results in the database of

Central server takes.

The method according to the invention for the automatic recording and billing of heat energy quantities in a system with at least one heat-generating unit and at least one heat quantity-counting unit and at least one central server with at least one database is characterized by the following method steps:

Including customer-specific data of contract customers in the database of the central server;

Installing a heat-generating customer-specific unit on at least one heat-generating unit;

wireless transmission of recorded data to the central server of the

system;

Access to the data stored in the structured database

customer-specific data by means of at least one program stored in the central server; Access by means of the program to the data stored in the database and evaluation of the data;

and storing the results of the evaluation; and

Trigger actions based on the results; and

Access to the results in the database via at least one log.

An object of the present invention is to handle the fulfillment of the contract between the management company (ADUNOS) and the customer fully automatically on the basis of the collected data.

Another aspect of the present invention is the Internet-based open processing platform for the management of contracting and the remote maintenance of small plants, in particular geothermal

Heat pumps. Simplified, one can say that the heat meters should be brought to the Internet. The settlement platform on the Internet is offered as a service and can be used by any number of contractors and other customers. Contractors are thus able, via an internet portal, to remotely monitor the operation of their facilities.

Carry out billing, detect and, if necessary, remotely remedy your customer service by identifying problems and possible usage errors and dealing with the customer and implementing appropriate shutdown procedures in case of payment problems. The customers of the contractors can use their own internet portal

Consciously monitor energy consumption and implement sensible energy conservation measures, for to reduce the cost of the operation.

The products can be extended as a remote maintenance system for service providers such as craftsmen with maintenance contracts, also for normal heating systems, as well as a platform for the management of heat supply by property managers. An intrusion of end customers who want to control their plant with it and

Achieving energy savings is also possible. The overall objective of the present invention is to provide the technical prerequisites for a fully automatic execution of the contracting in order to enable an environmentally friendly handling of existing resources.

Geothermal heat pumps (near-surface geothermal energy) allow a reduction in heating energy of up to 80%. These heat pumps replace the conventional heat generators that work with gas or oil. Several studies show that contracting as a way of financing the plant along with the heat supply would significantly increase the market for this green technology, as many potential customers are reluctant to invest immediately, relatively high initial investment. By contracting, customers conclude a heat delivery contract with the contractor. The investment is taken over by the contractor. Also already isolated in the

Practical application so-called Aniagencontracting, which one can see quite as a form of asset leasing, could on the

Platform to be handled. In the field of heat pumps, but also the conventional heat generators for homes and detached houses, there is still no technical solution that makes online collection and processing of the amount of heat consumed possible.

Contracting is used in most cases only for larger energy consumers from industry and government. Contracting offers for small plants are u.a. This is why it is so difficult to implement because comprehensive facility management is not possible, as with larger properties. The billing of the energy consumed is difficult, as there are no automated billing and

Remote maintenance options exist. Occasionally, there are already automated solutions for electricity billing.

The aim of this sub-aspect is therefore to provide the internet-based platform (ADUNOS) for heat capture and processing of other data for geothermal heat pumps and also for other heat generators. Contracting providers are using this platform as a service of the corresponding Management company, the heat consumption of the

Capture and settle heat pumps with their customers in real time.

Energy customers of the contracting provider are able to use the Internet to influence energy consumption on the basis of historical and technical data and to consciously control their own energy consumption.

Historical data based rule interventions are possible. By deliberately actively controlling the energy consumption of customers via the

Contracting Portal enables the customer to adapt his own energy consumption to current or long-term requirements. The central

Data storage makes precise energy demand analysis easier. It indirectly helps to optimize the energy consumption of even small customers, which in turn reduces your costs, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The combination of different data provides detailed information about energy consumption. Upon request, the customer also receives the measured data via the portal as raw values or prepared and with any links daily by email or individual interface in e.g. ERP systems.

Interfaces to the billing systems of the contractors and to the users are established. Even large systems will be connectable in the future. The solution has the following product features (specification):

- Recording of heat consumption

- Recording of electricity consumption

- Billing of energy consumption

- Online access to the energy system by contractor and customer

- Customer portal for the inspection of the energy consumption and independent introduction of energy-saving measures at the plant (transparency and return channel)

- Opportunities for cost optimization

- Process optimization, reduction of administrative effort - Possibility of contracting small heat generators (single-family homes, etc.)

- fault management

- Efficiency-optimal control of the plant

- Storage of historical data for statistics and derivation of intelligent plant process control

- Energy controlling in supply and energy production (load and efficiency based)

- Possibility of remote shutdown in case of payment interruptions

- flexible illustration of other parts of the contract

- Mapping of fixed and flexible price components

- Inspection management and preventive maintenance

- Remote diagnostics via the Internet in case of malfunction

- Femwartung

- Visualization on the Internet

- Integration of various control systems of heat pumps as well as other energy supply systems (solar, oil, gas, pellets, biomass, biogas, badger, etc.) in combination with the heat pump

- Operating data acquisition

- low service costs

- Detecting user errors and fixing over the phone

Customer service or directly via the Internet control of the energy system

Other features essential to the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the description. In the following, the invention will be explained in detail with reference to drawings. It shows

Fig. 1: the architecture of the system (1) with its essential components;

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a part of the system for

Heat generation by an end user (2);

3 shows a schematic block diagram of the custom unit 7 in cooperation with peripheral units 12, 12 ', 16 and the connection to a wireless telecommunication network 15 (Internet);

4 is a block diagram of the structure (scheme) of the database (5) in FIG

Central server (3) of the system (1);

Fig. 5: a schematic representation of the switching unit (9).

Fig. 1 shows the architecture of the system 1 in the form of a block diagram, in which important features of the present invention are included. The system 1 consists essentially of the contracting parties, such as the

End consumer 2, the at least one heating unit 6 operates and the

Management company (ADUNOS), wherein the heating unit 6, on the one hand primary energy such as gas, oil, electricity, pellets, etc. receives and converts this primary energy into heat and thus heated at least one room of the end user 2. The absorbed primary energy and the amount of heat generated thereby is recorded with a heat quantity counting unit 10. The recorded data, which in addition to the primary energy and the amount of heat dissipated, also includes data relating to the flow temperature, return temperature, the current gas flow rate, are then supplied to a customer-specific unit 7, the property of

Management Company (ADUNOS) and is installed at the end user 2. The recorded data relating to the current consumption and the amounts of heat generated thereby become a central server 3 via wireless

Remote transmission supplied, which arranges these data and stores in a structured database 5. This database 5, will be explained in more detail below and includes not only the consumption data but also customer specific data from

Contractors 14. The system 1 includes at least two portals with two user interfaces 13, 13 ', of which at least one user interface 13 for the end user 2 and at least one user interface for the user

Employees 13 'of the respective energy supply company or the

Management Company (ADUNOS) and only that person has access to the appropriate user interface. Based on the collected data, a so-called IP protocol is created at certain intervals, according to the result and proviso the switching unit 9 can be operated, which can turn on and off at least the supply of primary energy. These

Switching unit 9 is in a simple embodiment

Electromechanical contactor for the power supply of the heat generating unit or the heat pump.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the units of the system 1 which are installed in the end user 2. The primary energy is supplied through the supply line 1 to the heating unit 6, which required

Amount of heat generated for heating the rooms. The data generated

Amount of heat are absorbed in the heater 6 and the

customized electronic unit 7 supplied. The custom unit 7 will be explained in more detail below. The recorded amount of data in the customer-specific unit 7 is combined into an IP protocol and wirelessly transmitted to the central server 3 by radio at freely selectable time intervals, for example every ten minutes, by means of a modem. In the supply line 11, a counting unit 10 is installed, which measures the supply of primary energy and data relating to the gas flow rate, the flow temperature, the

Return temperature and the amount of heat generated. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the interaction between the customer-specific unit 7, the heat pump modules 12, 12 'and the data transmission module 6. This representation shows the technical units which are installed at the end user 2. The data recorded by the heating unit 6 and the two heat pump modules 12, 12 'for the interior and the exterior space with the counting unit 10 for determining the amounts of heat are fed to a data logger 8, which stores the data in a log file and at constant intervals to the central server. 3 sent. The transmission of the data stored in the log file is transmitted by a data transmission module 16 via GSM / GPRS / EDGE via the Internet or on other transmission paths by radio to the central server 3. In addition, the custom unit 7 includes a counter for the

Primary energies such as electricity, gas, oil, coal, pellets or wood, whose data is also the data modem 8 or data transmission module 16 at predetermined time intervals supplies. The power supply 17 for the heat generator is taken from the normal 220/380 volt home network of the end user 2. The power supply is connected via a contactor 18 to the heating unit 6. The contactor 18 is driven by a coupling relay 19, which in turn receives its switching states from the data modem 8. The

Switching states (on / off) are the result of the evaluation of the recorded consumption data and the individual end customer data entered via the user interfaces 13, 13 '. The result from the consumption data and further customer-specific end customer data thus depends on the

Specifications issued by the Management Company or by the

Energy supply companies are stored in the central server 3 of the management company (ADUNOS).

FIG. 4 shows a general overview of the schema or the structure of the database 5 to which the central server 3 has access. The database 5 essentially contains the data of the contract between the management company and the client, such as a power company and the object (end user) to be supplied with primary energy. In addition, this contract contains data relating to the corresponding energy tariffs which have been agreed with the end customer or a sub-customer of the end customer. Further, the database contains all the data acquired by the custom heat quantity unit 7. A program has immediate access to this database 5, which as a result has both an invoice and switching states to the customer-specific

Unit 7, and the switching unit 9 generates.

5 shows a schematic representation of the switching unit 9. In this case, the 230 V network is a contactor 18 both on a heating unit 6 and at least one heat pump module 12, which together heat the room to be heated. The contactor 18 is connected to a coupling unit 19 low-voltage side (24 V). The coupling unit 19 has a digital I / O, which receives its signals from the server 3. If the result of the calculations is negative due to the recorded data, i. H. not suitable for continued operation of the system, the I / O receives a signal to open the contactor 19, whereby the supply of primary energy for the end customer is interrupted.

The system 1 according to the invention represents an Internet platform for the billing of heat quantities for the target group Contractors for small installations in the area of heat supply, especially geothermally supplied heat pumps. A comparable solution is not available on the market. System 1 is a total solution to bring heat meters to the Internet with the ability to extend virtual building management of small objects within a cloud computing, providing access for smaller users

Makes heat generator possible. Besides contractors can also

Craftsmen and other service providers around heat generators this open platform for the management of their maintenance contracts with customers from the

Area single or multi-family houses, apartments etc. use. Furthermore, the solution can be used in property management to overarching

Manage heating systems (virtual building management). The platform (ADUNOS) thus offers an infrastructure for billing, remote maintenance and conscious energy saving.

The ability to read important information from point data in real time, as well as the ability to make on-line optimizations in the controller, significantly increases the savings on both small and large plants.

This task is solved with a mobile machine-to-machine

Communication via the Internet, on the one hand, to bring the required data from the heat pumps into the database to be set up and, on the other hand, a portal infrastructure that makes it possible to visualize data on portals and to transfer data to customer systems, e.g. Billing systems at contractors.

Furthermore, customer control commands are implemented directly in the heat pump on site. To cope with the requirements, the following technical equipment must be provided in particular:

- Bidirectional machine-to-machine communication (M2M) independent of the telephone network and DSL, as experience shows that the connection with any existing telephone lines often lead to error messages or e. G. in case of non-payment of the invoice over the telephone also no longer be accessible. A solution using a VPN can be assigned to the automation modules fixed IP addresses and also be reached by the control center at any time.

- Central data storage for all incoming machine data.

- Minimal traffic to keep hardware requirements down and minimize the cost of monthly data transfers over UMTS.

- The automation modules will remain permanently logged in the network (always-on), but only transfer data as needed. - The heat pump control must be achieved via a standardized interface, we favor here Modbus, which works both via serial and Ethernet interface.

- The automation module is software to the different ones

Adjust heat pump controls via the Modbus communication protocol. For this purpose, a freely programmable embedded system based on Linux or Java with integrated web server is provided. The UMTS / GSM module should continue to be embedded. The unit can be remotely monitored

parameterized and if necessary updated with a new firmware. The device must be integrated into an inventory management system in this way.

- Simple, automated and standardized data transfer from the database to the accounting systems of the contractor. These are usually ERP system integrated. Standard interfaces via XML should be configurable.

- Control commands from the ERP system (for example, last warning) must arrive as a temporary shutdown in the heat pump control. Unique identification of the control controller is necessary.

Multi-tenant multi-level capability: B2B customers (contractors,

Maintenance companies, etc.) and B2C customers (end customers of B2B customers).

- Billing is offered via the application server as a service,

especially for smaller contractors.

- visualization of the heat pump and basic control mechanisms in an end-user portal on the Internet, in order to communicate about transparency

Promote energy conservation.

- An add-on to this solution is the possibility associated with it

Integrate heat pumps into a virtual building management and

Provide service providers for crafting or remote maintenance.

- "Management by Exception" when alarms are triggered, critical

Operating conditions, etc. for maintenance or repair. These alerts will be triggered by exceeding and falling below of limit values, which are permanently controlled, depending on the construction conditions and the heat pump, such as:

- Heating limit minimum and maximum

- Building time constant

- Pressure in the heating system

- switch-on times and switch-off times

- Domestic hot water temperature

- Flow temperatures and follow-up temperatures

- Supply of electrical energy

- flow

- deviations from the heating curve

The solution can be briefly summarized as follows:

The solution is the construction of an Internet database, in which the

Operating data of the customer heat pump are stored. The customer who

Contractor, retrieves the respective heat consumption data over the Internet and creates its statements. Alternatively, applications for billing and inventory management for the contractor are made available on the web server:

- Connection to external bus systems via Modbus

- Wireless integration of devices for data acquisition and control via ZigBee and / or wireless M-Bus

- Interfaces: RS232, RS485, CAN-BUS, LIN-BUS, RJ45

- own CPU with integrated Linux or Java and web server for

Remote configuration and inventory management

- own CPU for data processing and for possible control and

control tasks - permanently integrated universal inputs and outputs

- integrated hardware clock with date and time, adjustable via Internet

- DIN rail housing

- Temperature: +5 to +40 ° C

- Relative humidity: 5% to 85%

- according to common DIN standards DIN EN 50178 / VDE 0160 for

Automation equipment

- Protection class II

- UMTS / GSM module, integrated via Ethernet

- automatic hardware reset

- Configuration via the GPRS network via integrated web server

- Support of VPN for integration into an internal network, accessibility via the server

The customers thus receive personalized access via the Internet to the application server. This requires basic functions such as clear identification via login and SSL transmission of the data. In addition to the user interface for humans, a machine-to-machine communication for the contractors to set up to transfer data from the database directly into the customer's ERP systems.

Claims

1. System (1) for the automatic absorption of energy at least one end user (2) with at least one server (3) and at least one database (5) and at least one heating unit (6), characterized by at least one custom unit (7) an end user (2), which contains at least one device (8) (data modem), which transmits data wirelessly and the system (1) contains at least one switching device (9) which is at least able to connect the heating device (6) and turn off.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating unit (6) can be fed with any form of primary energy, in particular with electricity, gas, oil, coal or wood.

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the database (5) in the server (3) of the system (1) includes customer-specific data to which a program stored in the server (3) has access to create customer-specific measures.

4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the customer-specific data in accordance with the respective power company (4), which are among other customers of the system (1), are tuned.

5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the customer-specific data, in particular data of the consumption of heat quantities of the end user (2) include.

6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that

at least one heat quantity counting unit (10), which is preferably installed in the energy supply line (11) to the heating unit (6) and

Parameters regarding the amount of heat, the flow temperature, the

Return temperature, of the current gas flow rate absorbs.

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating unit (6) at least one heat pump module (12, 12 ') can be switched, which contributes to the heating / cooling of the spaces to be air-conditioned.

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wireless data transmission, for example by GMS, GPRS, UMTS or ZigBee or wireless M-Bus is performed.

9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one user interface (3), for example on the basis of PHP, wherein a user interface for the end user (13 ') and a user interface for the employee (13 ") of the power company (4 ) is determined.

10. A method for automated recording and accounting of amounts of energy (heat quantities) in a system (1) with at least one heat generating unit (6), a heat meter (10) and at least one server (3) with at least one database (5), characterized by the following steps:

- inclusion of customer specific data of contract customers (14); - Installation of a Wärmemengenzähleinheit (10) on at least one heat generating unit (6) of the end customer;

wireless transmission of recorded data to the server (3) of the

Systems (1);

- Supply of recorded data from the heat-producing

Unit (6) and a custom unit (7) to the central server (3);

- Access by means of a program to the customer-specific data stored in the database and evaluation of the automatically recorded data;

- and storage of the results of the evaluation; and

- trigger measures based on the results; and

- Access to the results in the database via at least one

Internet portal (13, 13 ', 13 ").

11. The method according to claim 0, characterized in that all relevant data are collected for the billing method and stored in a log file and recorded at intervals between 5 minutes to hourly, preferably every 10 minutes and sent every four hours to the central server (3) with the intervals between 1-24 hours are freely selectable.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one user interface (13, 13 ', 13 ") has access to the results in the database of the server.