AU2014100351A4 - A system that comprehensively provides real-time billing of energy usage with a minute by minute live billing update to the user. - Google Patents

Abstract

To satisfy both the metrological and accuracy required from the buying and selling of electricity, the invention provides a system that comprehensively provides real-time billing of electricity (and other commodities) to both the customer and the retailer. This is done through the combination of a metering unit, a communications unit, a WAN and an algorithm to continually calculate the billing figure in 'real-time'. The combination of these elements is set out in the attached drawing. The algorithm to create the bill is unique to this invention. The way this system has been created is unique to this invention. The invention can also sub-meter individual electrical circuits. Using the abovementioned 'system, individual circuits can show what amount they will cost the 'end-user'. The algorithm that is used to calculate the 'live bill', is unique to this invention. It uses the 'tariff to calculate the rate but its 'apportionment' mechanics is unique and makes the apportionment accurate, and accounts for 'load factor' 'kva' 'line loss' and a range of other factors that are used to calculate the 'overall bill.

Description

1 COzero BACKGROUND [0001] Today, all billing is done retrospectively from data collected from a single meter on site. This information, in Australia, is collected by and stored by a Meter Data agent. This information is then stored and also sent to the market operator (in Australia this is the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)). This information is then used to create the bill for the end-user of the commodity, in this case electricity. [0002] This information is presented back to the user, at the earliest, 24 hours after the electricity has been used. Often this information does not come back to the end-user for several months as an electricity bill. Some of the bills may be estimates. This happens when a meter cannot be read and an estimation of consumption is made, based on previous usage. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] To satisfy both the metrological and accuracy required from the buying and selling of electricity, the invention provides a system that comprehensively provides real-time billing of electricity (and other commodities) to both the customer and the retailer. This is done through the combination of a metering unit, a communications unit, a WAN and an algorithm to continually calculate the billing figure in 'real-time'. The combination of these elements is set out in the attached diagram. [0004] The algorithm to create the bill is unique to this invention. The way this system has been created is unique to this invention. The invention can also sub-meter individual 2 electrical circuits. Using the abovementioned 'system, individual circuits can show what amount they will cost the 'end-user'. [0005] The algorithm that is used to calculate the 'live bill', is unique to this invention. It uses the 'tariff to calculate the rate but its 'apportionment' mechanics is unique and makes the apportionment accurate, and accounts for 'load factor' 'kva' 'line loss' and a range of other factors that are used to calculate the 'overall bill. [0006] The invention can be summarized through the following steps (the detail will be described throughout the rest of the 'system' description): a) data is collected from the 'site' which is based on a unit of energy consumed. b) the data is 'forwarded' to the 'database' through an available network. c) an algorithm calculates the 'usage' which is based on electricity consumption and how the 'user' 'site' is contracted to energy supplier. d) billing data is returned from the 'database' back to the 'user interface' using a network. e) if 'thresholds' are passed, the 'user' is alerted and can take action to reduce consumption. f) System can control circuits and devices to control consumption. [0007] In this document, the invention is referred to as the 'system'. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Data Collection 3 [0008] Electricity consumption data is collected from a site by a meter. Consumption is measured in KWh (kilowatts per hour). The meters used to collect this information are used for billing by the electricity retailer. The market is regulated by several government entities. In Australia this includes the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the Australian Energy Regulator and also State Regulators. [0009] The meters that are used as 'revenue meters' must be National Metering Institute (NMI) pattern approved meters. These meters provide a level of accuracy that enables billing from them. The 'system' uses the data collected from the NMI pattern approved meter as the basis for all calculations of the 'live billing'. This billing data is what the customer is 'liable' to pay for under the contract that they have with the electricity retailer. [0010] How this data is used to 'true up' the 'live-billing' is set out in the following pages. The meter data, which is collected at the 'gate' is sent to the 'meter data provider'. If there is a smart meter with a communication module, this data is collected every evening and sent out after midnight for the previous day's usage. [0011] The 'system' is not able to use information that is coming after the fact, because the invention is providing 'live billing'. However, in order to satisfy the 'Regulators', then the metering point must be used to justify the 'billing'. Therefore, the system may require that an additional meter is placed at the 'gate' to simulate the 'official' usage data. [0012] This 'simulation meter' does three things: i) enables data to be extracted from the site in 'real -time'. ii) enables more granular consumption data. iii) simulates the information from the billing meter.

4 Getting the data from the site, that closely replicates (within 1%) the billing meter, is intrinsic to the system's accuracy under financial and accounting standards. Data that goes to Meter data provider [0013] Electricity Utilities use meter data providers to install, manage and disseminate electricity data information. The Regulator also provides strict rules on how they operate and how they gather, maintain and handle meter data. The system takes this information to be the ultimate 'correct' source of billing data. System Collection of Data [0014] The system collects data from either the revenue meter (if possible) or the simulator meter (or both). The 'simulator meter' data is collected and sent to the 'cloud server'. The system data base is remotely 'hosted', securely in the cloud. The database is used to store the data that is received from the 'user sites' from both simulator and billing meters. The database is built in a way that it can receive and store data packets from a 'site' Calculating 'Live Billing' [0015] The consumption data on its own is useful, however the system provides something that is not available to the user now, a 'live bill'. Using the consumption data that is sent to the database, a calculation is done on the data. The calculation and underlying algorithm uses the customer's tariff to provide a 'minute-by-minute' update of the site's 'bill'.

5 [0016] The live 'bill' algorithm is unique to the invention and takes the data from the 'site' to calculate the bill in 'real' time. The algorithm uses all the required information to calculate the live bill. The tariff used by the customer will be loaded into the site's 'identity' when the customer uses the system. There are over four hundred tariffs in Australia. The system has a 'library' of tariffs that draws this information into the algorithm to match the user's tariff. [0017] The algorithm is not static and is constantly calculating the accumulated consumption data so that the live billing is always 'up to date'. The system has the parameters of when the customer's electricity contract is ending and that the tariff information needs to be up-dated. The algorithm is important to the function of the live billing system. Live environmental billing [0018] The system shows live billing on the interface, which is 'broken down' into all of its parts. There is a range of things that the user will be billed for after actual consumption, according to the regulations and other requirements of the tariff and the precinct. This will include the amount that the network charges. The network is the 'poles and wires' or how the electricity is conveyed to the site. This is often a significant portion of the bill and this is itemized in the live bill. [0019] The network bill is further broken down into all of its parts. This includes total network charges as the top line figure. Following the total network charge is the capacity charge. This shows total capacity required by the site and adds significantly to the overall bill. The capacity is measured in kVA and is visualized in the 'interface'. The Transmission Loss Factor (TLF) is also displayed on the interface. This is the amount of energy lost in the transmission of electricity which is caused by electrical resistance. The network data will also show the Distribution Loss Factor (DLF). The DLF is the distribution loss factor that happens when the electricity is transported from the sub-station to the user site.

6 [0020] This enables the user to understand how much they are being billed for the network charges. These are often complicated but the system aims to make it digestible to the user so they can act to be more efficient. Customer Interface. [0021] The 'live billing' system is viewed by the user through, an electronic interface. The interface can be accessed by any type of computer device that can operate a 'browser'. The browser may be opened on a computer desktop, laptop, or mobile device. The interface shows what the live bill is at any moment in time. The live billing data is forwarded from the database to the interface. The live bill is calculated continuously. [0022] The live bill is presented in a dollar amount that is the same as what the user is liable to pay their electricity retailer. The accuracy of this information is high and the user is able to rely on this information. The interface lets the user see the live billing and comparisons. The billing data can be compared to other days, periods and sites through the interface. Sub Billing data [0023] The system is able to calculate the 'actual' live billing costs of individual circuits and devices. By sub-metering individual circuits, the system can take consumption data and apportion what a circuit is costing the user in real time. The algorithm used to do this is unique to the system.

7 [0024] This component can build an internal business case to upgrade equipment on sites. It can provide an ROI (return on investment) for lighting devices to be upgraded that has a dollar value, not just a consumption value. The sub metering, like the main meter, is done in real time. Again, the live billing of individual circuits is unique to the system. Loss of communications [0025] Sometimes communications between the 'simulation meter' and the 'data base' may be interrupted. This may be due to a range of circumstances. When this happens, the user is notified and a request is put on the 'system operator' to try and rectify the problem. These alerts are sent to the user by SMS, email, and directly to the 'interface'. [0026] The simulation meters are able to store the information on them. When communication between the meter and the database is restored, the information that has been stored on the meter is forwarded to the database. The algorithm is able to take this 'lump' of information and calculate what the real billing should be. The user is notified when the system has been restored and what has happened to the data. Billing Alerts [0027] The live billing data is very useful to the user. To increase its usefulness, alerts are sent by SMS, email and through the interface when the billing amount is increasing over or under thresholds. The thresholds can be set for several different criteria. The thresholds can be set against historical information. The historical information informs the system that the 'current' use has gone x% higher than 'normal'. If the x% is crossed then the alert is triggered. The x% can be set at whatever level the user sees fit.

8 [0028] The threshold can also be set for low points, so that users are made aware of 'incidents' that may be happening on their site. The alarm system is useful for getting the user to find faults on their site. The alarm system also helps the user to reduce consumption when they are using a lot of electricity. If their tariff rises after block consumption, then this can be seen on the system and action to curtail usage can be taken helping to lessen the billing burden. Billing 'True Up' [0029] All live billing through the system is done as accurately as possible. However, in most cases access to the 'actual' billing data may not happen for a certain period. When the data is provided from the 'Meter Data Providers' to the system, this data is used to 'true up' the 'simulated data. This 'trued up' billing data will be close to what the 'live billing' has been showing. [0030] The live billing will have a running average about how accurate it's data has been. The longer a site has been using the live billing system, the less fluctuation will occur in this figure as it is representative over a longer period of time and day to day changes have lesser influence over the long term number.

Claims (5)

1. A system that collects data on actual energy consumption from a site in real time and allows the system to provide the user with a comprehensive minute by minute live billing update of the site's energy bill.

2. A system according to claim 1 that collects the data from a site meter based on a unit of energy consumed and utilising an additional simulation meter if necessary that enables data to be extracted in real time. The data is sent on to a cloud server database where it is securely and remotely hosted and built in a way to be able to receive and store data packets from the site.

3. The system utilises a unique algorithm using the site's tariff and accumulated consumption data to perform a calculation based on the stored data according to claim 2 to provide the live bill based on a minute by minute update of the data. The algorithm is not static and is constantly calculating the accumulated consumption data so that the live billing is always 'up to date'.

4. The system forwards the live billing data according to any of the previous claims back to an electronic interface which can be accessed by any device operating a browser that enables the user to view the live bill at any moment in time.

5. The system according to the previous claims is able to calculate the 'actual' live billing costs of individual circuits and devices by sub-metering individual circuits and using a unique algorithm to take consumption data and apportion what a circuit is costing the user in real time.