JP6590910B2 - Controller, electricity bill display method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller, an electricity bill display method, and a program.

  A technique for displaying (visualizing) a user's electricity bill to a user is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a power information display device that measures a current flowing through an electrical device and calculates and displays a predicted amount of electricity charges from the measured value.

JP 2009-222546 A

  Due to the liberalization of power retailing, large users of electricity can select and use a desired rate plan from among rate plans provided by a plurality of power companies. In the future, it is expected that it will be possible to select a rate plan from such a plurality of electric power companies even in ordinary households. However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, only the estimated amount of electricity charges in the currently contracted charge plan is displayed, and the user can use the electricity in the charge plan provided by each of the plurality of power companies. Knowing the price is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a controller or the like that can display a trial calculation result of an electricity charge for a charge plan provided by each of a plurality of electric power companies.

In order to achieve the above object, the controller of the present invention provides:
A rate plan acquisition unit for acquiring rate plans of a plurality of electric power companies applicable to consumers;
For each of the acquired rate plans, a rate display unit that displays the result of the trial calculation of the customer's electricity rate when the rate plan is applied, together with various attribute information representing the characteristics of the rate plan,
A shift unit that calculates the electricity bill when the operating time of the electrical equipment installed in the consumer is shifted to a time zone where the electricity charge unit price is cheaper, and
The charge display unit displays a trial calculation result by the shift unit and advice on a change in a user's life caused by the shift ,
The advice includes information for calling attention to the user during the shift,
The shift unit performs the shift based on the shift degree designated by the user.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to display the trial calculation result of an electricity bill about the charge plan which each of several electric power providers provides.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the apparatus management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a controller. It is a block diagram of a memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an electric power history table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a schedule table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of rate plan data. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of an electricity bill display process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a prediction process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a trial calculation process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a shift process. It is a figure which shows the example of the electric energy charge unit price which fluctuates. It is a figure for demonstrating a shift process concretely. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the estimated electricity bill. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement at the time of changing a part of shift process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of the shift process in other embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the apparatus management system which concerns on other embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  A configuration of a device management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The device management system 1 is a system that manages facilities and devices installed in a customer 80 that is a user's residence in an integrated manner, monitors a state, and the like. The device management system 1 includes a controller 10, a power measurement device 20, an operation terminal 30, a cloud server 40, and an electric device 50.

  The controller 10 is a computer that manages the electrical device 50. The controller 10 is connected to the power measuring device 20, the operation terminal 30, and the electric device 50 through the home network 60 so as to be able to perform data communication. Further, the controller 10 is connected to the external cloud server 40 via the Internet 70 so that data communication is possible.

  Next, the configuration of the controller 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 13, and a control unit 14.

  The communication unit 11 includes a communication interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card). The communication unit 11 performs data communication with the electrical device 50, the power measurement device 20, and the operation terminal 30 through the home network 60 under the control of the control unit 14. The communication unit 11 performs data communication with the external cloud server 40 via the Internet 70 under the control of the control unit 14.

  The storage unit 13 plays a role as a so-called secondary storage device (auxiliary storage device), and includes, for example, a readable / writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or the like such as a flash memory. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 13 includes a power history table 131, a schedule table 132, rate plan data 133, weather record data 134, weather forecast data 135, and a device management table 136. .

  The power history table 131 is a table in which the value of power consumption is recorded together with the measurement date and time for each electrical device 50. An example of the power history table is shown in FIG. In the power history table shown in FIG. 4, the power consumption of each electrical device 50 (air conditioner, water heater, etc.) is recorded every 5 minutes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the schedule table 132 is a table in which a schedule of an event such as a trip of each user (family) of the customer 80 is recorded together with its occurrence period. The schedule table 132 registers not only events that have occurred so far, but also schedules of events that will occur in the future. The record is registered in the schedule table 132 when the user operates the operation terminal 30 and performs a registration operation from the calendar-type input screen.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the charge plan data 133 is data indicating a charge plan provided by each of a plurality of electric utilities. As shown in FIG. 6, the charge plan data 133 includes information such as the charge plan name, electric power company, basic charge, connection charge, electricity charge unit price, presence / absence of use of natural energy, presence / absence of set menu with gas, contract period, etc. Contains information. The connection fee indicates a fee when changing from the currently subscribed rate plan.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the weather record data 134 is data in which information related to the weather recorded in the past (weather, temperature, humidity, sunshine duration, etc.) is recorded. The weather forecast data 135 is data indicating a future weather forecast, and indicates, for example, an average temperature for each time zone for the next month, a weather forecast, and the like. The weather record data 134 and the weather forecast data 135 are periodically downloaded from the cloud server 40 or a server of the Japan Meteorological Agency (not shown) via the Internet 70 and automatically updated to the latest data.

  In the device management table 136, management information of each electric device 50 is stored. Specifically, in the device management table 136, for each electric device 50, name, model, date of manufacture, flag information indicating whether or not the electric device 50 is a shift target in the shift process described later, and the like. To be recorded.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the control unit 14 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (none of which are shown), and the CPU uses the RAM as a work memory. The various units described above are controlled by appropriately executing various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 13. Moreover, the control part 14 is provided with the charge plan acquisition part 141, the prediction part 142, the trial calculation part 143, and the charge display part 144 as a functional structure which concerns on this invention.

  The rate plan acquisition unit 141 acquires a rate plan applicable to the customer 80 by each of the plurality of electric power companies. The prediction unit 142 predicts power consumption for each time zone for each electrical device 50. The trial calculation unit 143 calculates the electricity rate of the customer 80 when the rate plan is applied for each acquired rate plan based on the prediction result by the prediction unit 142. The charge display unit 144 displays the electricity bill calculated by the trial calculation unit 143 on the operation terminal 30. Details of the processing of these units will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the power measurement device 20 measures the power consumption of each electrical device 50 at predetermined time intervals and notifies the controller 10 of the power consumption. The controller 14 of the controller registers the notified power consumption value in the power history table 131. Instead of the power measuring device 20, each electrical device 50 may measure its own power consumption and notify the controller 10.

  The operation terminal 30 is a tablet terminal, for example. The operation terminal 30 includes a touch panel and the like, and is used for transmitting an operation signal for operating the electric device 50 to the controller 10 and displaying various states. The operation terminal 30 is also used to input a user's schedule, and the input schedule is transmitted to the controller 10 and registered in the schedule table 132. In addition, in the electricity price display process described later, the electricity price calculated for each price plan is displayed on the operation terminal 30.

  The cloud server 40 performs data communication with the controller 10 in the customer 80 via the Internet 70. For example, the controller 10 periodically transmits the power history table 131 and the schedule table 132 to the cloud server 40 and is uploaded to the database in the cloud server 40. Further, the cloud server 40 may periodically acquire and hold the latest weather forecast data and the latest price plan data of each electric power company.

  The electric device 50 is various devices such as a hot water supply facility, a power storage facility, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a television set installed in the customer 80. The electric device 50 is connected to the controller 10 via the home network 60, and the operation is controlled by the controller 10.

  Next, an electricity bill display process performed by the controller 10 will be described. For example, when the user operates the operation terminal 30 to instruct the start of processing, and the controller 10 receives this instruction, the control unit 14 executes the electricity rate display processing shown in FIG.

  First, the control part 14 performs the prediction process which estimates the future power consumption for every electric equipment 50 for every time slot | zone (step S100). Details of the prediction process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the prediction process is started, the control unit 14 selects one from the time zones obtained by dividing one day by a predetermined time (for example, one hour) (S101). In the following description, the time zone selected in this process is also expressed as a selected time zone. In addition, the method of dividing one day is arbitrary. For example, in the case of an electric power plan in which the electric power charge unit price varies according to the time zone of the day, it may be divided by the time zone.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 selects one electrical device 50. In the following description, the electric device 50 selected in this process is also referred to as a selected device (step S102).

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 acquires the power consumption value of the selected device measured in the selected time zone from the power history table 131 (step S103).

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 acquires values of various parameters affecting the power consumption value of the selected device (step S104). Specifically, the prediction unit 142 acquires the temperature measured in the selected time zone and the number of people in the room from the weather record data 134 and the schedule table 132. In addition, you may acquire other information, such as a weather and humidity, as a parameter.

  And the control part 14 calculates | requires the regression formula which outputs the value of the power consumption acquired by step S103, and uses the parameter (temperature and the number of people in a room) acquired by step S104 (step S105). For example, the control unit 14 creates a table in which the information acquired in step S103 and step S104 is collected for each same measurement date and time, and obtains a correlation coefficient between the power consumption and the parameter with reference to this table. Then, the regression equation may be obtained.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 predicts the power consumption amount of the selected device in the selected time zone from the created regression equation (step S106). Specifically, first, the control unit 14 refers to the schedule table 132 and the weather forecast data 135 to acquire the predicted average temperature and predicted average number of people in the next month in the selected time zone. Then, the control unit 14 calculates the power consumption by inputting the acquired predicted average temperature and the predicted average occupancy into the regression equation created, and multiplies the calculated power consumption by the length of the selected time zone. What is necessary is just to obtain | require electric energy.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 determines whether or not all the electric devices 50 have been selected in Step S102 in the current selection time zone (Step S107). When there is an unselected electrical device 50 (step S107; No), the process returns to step S102, and the process of predicting the electric energy in the selected time zone of the selected electrical device 50 until all the electrical devices 50 are selected. repeat.

  On the other hand, when all the electric devices 50 are selected (step S107; Yes), the control unit 14 determines whether or not the entire time period of one day has been selected in step S101 (step S108). If there is an unselected time zone (step S108; No), the process returns to step S101, and the process of predicting the electric energy of the electric device 50 in all time zones is repeated.

  On the other hand, when all the time zones have been selected (step S108; Yes), the predicted value of the power consumption amount is acquired for each electric device 50 in all the time zones of the day, and the prediction process ends.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when the prediction process is completed, the control unit 14 acquires a charge plan applicable to the customer 80 from each of the plurality of electric power companies (step S <b> 200). For example, the control part 14 should just acquire the charge plan data of each charge plan from the server of each electric power provider, or the cloud server 40. FIG. Or the control part 14 may acquire it, when the charge plan data 133 of each charge plan are downloaded in advance and preserve | saved at the memory | storage part 13. FIG.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 performs a trial calculation process for estimating the electricity charge of the customer 80 when the charge plan is applied for each acquired charge plan, based on the prediction result of the electric energy by the prediction process in step S100. Execute (step S300). Details of the trial calculation process will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the trial calculation process is started, first, the control unit 14 selects one of the acquired rate plans that has not been selected (step S301). In the following description, the rate plan selected in this process is also referred to as a selected rate plan.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 uses the predicted power amount for each time zone obtained for each electrical device 50 in the prediction process, the power amount unit price and the basic fee indicated by the selected charge plan, and the customer 80 for the next month. Is calculated (step S302). Specifically, first, the control unit 14 adds up the predicted power consumption of each electric device 50 predicted for each time zone in the prediction process, and obtains the predicted power consumption for the entire consumer 80 for each time zone. And the control part 14 multiplies the calculated | required power consumption according to the time slot | zone by the electric energy charge unit price of the time slot | zone, and calculates | requires the electric charge for one day by integrating this in all the time slots. And the control part 14 should just calculate an estimated electricity bill by adding a basic charge to the money which multiplied the number of days of the month for the calculated electricity charge for one day.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the electric energy charge unit price of the selected charge plan fluctuates in the time zone of one day (step S303). When the electric energy charge unit price does not fluctuate (step S303; No), since the electric charge does not change even if the operating time of the electric device 50 is changed, the process moves to step S306.

  On the other hand, in the case of a rate plan in which the electric energy charge unit price fluctuates (step S303; Yes), the control unit 14 executes a shift process for shifting the operating time of the electric device 50 to a time zone where the electric energy charge unit price is lower ( Step S304). Details of the shift processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the control unit 14 labels the “n-th time zone” (n = 1, 2, 3,...) In order from the time zone in which the electricity rate unit price of the selected rate plan is low (step S304A). For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the daily electricity charge unit price of the selected charge plan fluctuates, labels of the first time zone to the fourth time zone are attached to the four time zones.

  Returning to FIG. 10, subsequently, the control unit 14 acquires the predicted power consumption of the electric device 50 (shiftable device) whose operation time may be shifted from the prediction result of the prediction process described above (step S304B). Note that the shiftable device is preferably a power storage facility or a hot water supply facility that does not hinder the user's comfort even if the operation time is shifted.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 initializes the processing counter i to 1 (step S304C). Then, the control unit 14 selects the i-th time zone from the time zones labeled in step S304A (step S304D).

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 calculates a surplus power amount that can be newly used in the i-th time zone (step S304E). Specifically, first, the control unit 14 acquires an upper limit value (power upper limit value) of power consumption of the customer 80 set in advance based on the capacity of the breaker, the output limit value of the electric device 50, and the like. Subsequently, the control unit 14 acquires the predicted power consumption amount of the customer 80 in the i-th time zone from the prediction result in the prediction process. Then, the control unit 14 may calculate a value obtained by subtracting the acquired predicted power consumption amount from the value obtained by multiplying the power upper limit value by the time length of the i-th time zone as the margin power amount.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the predicted power consumption amount of the shiftable device acquired in step S304B is equal to or less than the surplus power amount (step S304F).

  When the predicted power consumption of the shiftable device is equal to or less than the surplus power consumption (step S304F; Yes), the control unit 14 determines that the shiftable device is consumed so that all of the predicted power consumption is consumed in the i-th time zone. The operating time and output (power consumption) are changed (shifted) (step S304G).

  And the control part 14 produces the advice information for notifying a user at the time of the shift of this working time, etc. (step S304Z), and a shift process is complete | finished. For example, when the operation time of the hot water supply facility is shifted in the current process, the control unit 14 may create advice information such as “careful about hot water outage”.

  On the other hand, when the predicted power consumption of the shiftable device is larger than the surplus power consumption (step S304F; No), the control unit 14 causes the shiftable device to operate by the surplus power consumption in the i-th time zone. The operating time and power consumption are changed (shifted) (step S304H).

  Then, the control unit 14 updates the predicted power consumption of the shiftable device to a value obtained by subtracting the surplus power (Step S304I), and adds 1 to the counter i (Step S304J).

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S304D, and the control unit 14 repeats the process of shifting the operation time of the shiftable device by the remaining predicted power amount in the i-th time zone in which the power price unit price is the next lowest.

  Here, the shift process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a daily transition of the predicted power consumption of the customer 80 predicted by the prediction process. The area of the hatched area corresponds to the predicted power consumption of the shiftable device, and the shiftable device is operating in a time zone that is different from the first time zone where the power consumption unit price is the lowest. Recognize. For this reason, the area indicated by the oblique lines is shifted to the area indicated by the shaded area where the electric power charge unit price is cheaper by the shift process described above. Note that if the shiftable device is operated only in the first time zone, the power consumption exceeds the power upper limit value. Therefore, the shift is made so that the device can be operated even in the second time zone in which the electricity charge unit price is the next lowest. .

  Returning to FIG. 9, when the shift process is completed, the control unit 14 calculates the predicted electricity price of the customer 80 for the next month in the selected charge plan when the predicted power consumption is shifted (step S <b> 305). Specifically, first, the control unit 14 adds the predicted power consumption of each electrical device 50 after shifting the operation time by the shift process, and calculates the predicted power consumption of the entire customer 80 by time zone. Ask. And the control part 14 multiplies the calculated | required power consumption according to the time slot | zone by the electric energy charge unit price of the time slot | zone, and calculates | requires the electric charge for one day by integrating this in all the time slots. And the control part 14 should just calculate the estimated electric charge at the time of shifting, adding a basic charge to the money which multiplied the number of days of the month for the calculated electric charge for one day.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 determines whether or not all rate plans have been selected in step S301 among the acquired rate plans (step S306). If there is an unselected rate plan (step S306; No), the process returns to step S301, and the process of estimating the electricity rate with another rate plan is repeated. On the other hand, when all the acquired rate plans are selected (step S306; Yes), the trial calculation process ends.

  Note that it is not always necessary to repeatedly execute the process of calculating the electricity charge for all the obtained charge plans. For example, the user may operate the operation terminal 30 to set a desired rate plan condition in the controller 10, and the electricity rate may be estimated only for the rate plan that matches the condition. The conditions of the rate plan are a rate plan that uses natural energy, a rate plan provided by a major electric power company that is not new power, or a rate plan that has a set menu with gas, water, etc. Or the like.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when the trial calculation process is completed, the control unit 14 displays, on the operation terminal 30, the electricity bill calculated for each electricity bill plan in the trial calculation process (step S <b> 400). This is the end of the electricity bill display process.

  Here, FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen displayed on the operation terminal 30 in the process of step S400. In this example, for each price plan, the plan name, contract company, use of natural energy, set menu contents, availability of charges by time zone, connection fee, contract period, trial calculation result (normal), trial calculation result (shift), Information such as an assumed amount, a shift device, advice, etc. when a 2-year contract is made is displayed. When the user clicks these items, the display contents may be sorted according to the items.

  Information such as the plan name, contract company, natural energy, set menu, presence / absence of charge by time zone, contract period, connection charge, etc. may be acquired from the charge plan data 133. In the example shown in FIG. 13, since the currently billed rate plan is “plan η”, the plan name “plan η (contracted)” is indicated. The connection fee is an amount charged when the contract is changed to this rate plan.

  Further, the trial calculation result (normal) is the electric charge of the customer 80 when each electric device 50 is used in the current state (not shifted) calculated in step S302 of the above-described trial calculation process (FIG. 9). The estimated amount of

  Further, the trial calculation result (shift) is the customer when the operating time of the shiftable device is shifted (changed) to the time zone where the electric energy charge unit price is cheaper calculated in step S305 of the trial calculation process (FIG. 9) described above. The estimated amount of 80 electricity charges is shown. The shift device indicates the electric device 50 whose operating time is shifted by the shift process.

  Further, the advice information is text indicating advice regarding a change in the life of the user caused by shifting the operation time of the electric device 50, and the information created in step S304Z of the shift process (FIG. 10) may be displayed. Even if the device is not a shift target device, the control unit 14 creates message information for notifying the electric device 50 set in advance as an advice target device that the operation in the lowest time zone is advantageous. May be displayed. For example, the control unit 14 may register a washing machine as such an electric device 50 and display a message such as “washing is good in the morning” if the cheapest time is in the morning.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to display a trial calculation result of an electricity charge when each charge plan is applied to a charge plan provided by each of a plurality of electric power companies.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the electric charge when the operating time of the electric device 50 is shifted is calculated so that the electric power charge unit price is lower, so it is more useful for the user who wants to reduce the electric charge. It is possible to provide useful information.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, when shifting the operation time of the electric equipment 50, it shifts preferentially from the time slot | zone with the lowest electric energy charge unit price. At this time, if a power upper limit value is set, the operating time can be shifted so as not to exceed it.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, the various correction in the part which does not deviate from the summary of this invention is possible.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the power amount of the electric device 50 is predicted using a regression equation that uses temperature or the like as a parameter, but a past actual value of the power amount in the same period may be used as a predicted value.

  The electric device 50 such as a hot water supply facility is characterized in that the lower the output, the higher the efficiency, and the higher the output, the lower the efficiency. Therefore, when such an electric device 50 is a shiftable device, it is desirable to perform the shift process so that it can be operated for as long as possible with a low output. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14, when the predicted power consumption is less than or equal to the surplus power (step S304F in FIG. 10; Yes), the control unit 14 of the controller 10 sets the surplus power to the length of the i-th time zone. It is determined whether or not the value divided by the average (average output) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S304X). If the average output is smaller than the threshold (step S304X; No), the control unit 14 proceeds to step S304G and performs a normal shift. On the other hand, when the average output is equal to or greater than the threshold (step S304X; Yes), the control unit 14 shifts the operation time by the threshold (step S304Y), and then proceeds to step S304I to shift the remaining power amount. Can be done.

  In addition, when the shiftable device is the electric device 50 such as a power storage facility, the low output charge / discharge has a large loss, and the loss becomes smaller as the rated value is reached. Therefore, in this case, in the shift process shown in FIG. 10, if the surplus power calculated in step S304E is less than or equal to a predetermined value, charging is not performed (not shifted) in the i-th time zone in consideration of loss. May be.

  Further, it is not always necessary to perform the shift process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, in the case where the shiftable device is an electric device 50 having a heat storage function such as a hot water supply facility, it is desirable to execute the shift process in consideration of the use time of the user, heat dissipation loss during hot water storage, and the like. Specifically, since it is necessary to maintain an appropriate hot water temperature at the user's usage time, not only simply shifting to a time zone where the electric energy charge unit price is cheap, but the water heater It is necessary to perform shift processing on the condition that the operation (boiling operation) for the expected electric energy is completed. In addition, since the heat dissipation loss decreases as the operating time zone of the hot water supply facility is closer to the user's use time, it is desirable to shift in consideration of this point.

  In addition, unlike hot water supply facilities that can operate while changing output (power consumption) relatively freely, dishwashers and washing machines that operate with almost constant output (power consumption) are shiftable devices. In this case, if the shift process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the power upper limit value may be exceeded at a time when the power consumption is instantaneously large. Therefore, in such a case, it is necessary to perform a shift process as shown in FIG. In the following description, the same steps as those in the shift process shown in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description will be simplified as appropriate.

  First, the control unit 14 labels the “n-th time zone” (n = 1, 2, 3,...) In order from the time zone in which the electricity rate unit price of the selected rate plan is low (step S304A).

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 acquires an expected output value (power consumption value) W and an expected operating time T of the shiftable device from the prediction result of the above-described prediction process (step S304K). As described above, since the output of the shiftable device is substantially constant, the value of the rated power of the shiftable device may be set as the expected output value W.

  Subsequently, the control unit 14 initializes the counter i to 1 (step S304C), and selects the i-th time zone from the time zones labeled in step S304A (step S304D).

Subsequently, the control unit 14 acquires the maximum power consumption value WM _i in the i-th time zone of the customer 80 from the prediction result of the prediction process described above (step S304L).

Then, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the total value of the maximum power consumption value WM _i and the expected output value W of the shiftable device is equal to or less than the power upper limit value of the customer 80 (step S304M).

  When the total value is not less than or equal to the power upper limit value (step S304M; No), if the operating time of the shiftable device is shifted to the i-th time zone, the power consumption of the customer 80 may exceed the power upper limit value. Therefore, the process moves to step S304D without shifting in the i-th time zone.

On the other hand, if the total value is less than or equal to the power upper limit value (step S304M; Yes), the control unit 14, the expected run time T is equal to or smaller than a length _{T i} of the i time zone (step S304N ).

When the expected run time T is equal to or less than the length T _i of the i time zone (step S304N; Yes), as the control unit 14 runs at the i time period only its expected operating time T min, the shiftable device Is changed (shifted) (step S304O), advice information is created (step S304Z), and the shift process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the expected operating time T exceeds the length T _i of the i-th time zone (step S304N; No), the control unit 14 operates in the i-th time zone for the length T _{i of} the i-th time zone. Thus, the operating time of the shiftable device is changed (shifted) (step S304P).

Then, the control unit 14, the estimated operating time T of the shiftable device is updated to a value obtained by subtracting the length _{T i} excess of the i time zone (step S304Q), 1 is added to the counter i (step S304J) .

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S304D, and the control unit 14 shifts the operation time of the shiftable device so that the operation is performed for the remaining expected operation time T in the i-th time zone in which the electricity charge unit price is the next lowest. Repeat the process.

  Note that the shift process is not necessarily performed. Moreover, you may perform the shift process of the content reflecting a user's intention. For example, if the user operates the operation terminal 30 and instructs the controller 10 not to execute the shift process in advance, the shift process is not executed and only the electricity rate before the shift may be displayed. Further, if the user operates the operation terminal 30 to instruct the controller 10 to shift all the electric devices 50, the shift process may be performed on all the electric devices 50.

  Further, when performing the shift process, that fact may be added as advice information when displaying the trial calculation result. For example, “Washing machine used at night” may be displayed in the displayed advice information. In addition, the user may select the degree of time shift (a shiftable / impossible time zone), or conversely, the shift process may be performed for all the stages and the trial calculation results may be displayed.

  Moreover, although said embodiment demonstrated the case where the controller 10 was arrange | positioned at the consumer 80, you may arrange | position the controller 10 out of the consumer 80. FIG. For example, the cloud server 40 on the Internet 70 may function as the controller 10.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a router 90 is arranged in the customer 80 instead of the controller 10. On the other hand, for example, a cloud server 40 that functions as the controller 10 described above is disposed on the Internet 70 outside the customer 80. In this case, the router 90 and the cloud server 40 cooperate to play the role of the controller 10.

  In addition, for example, by applying an operation program that defines the operation of the controller 10 according to the present embodiment to an existing personal computer, an information terminal device, or the like, the personal computer or the like may function as the controller 10 according to the present invention. Is possible.

  Further, such a program distribution method is arbitrary. For example, a computer-readable medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an MO (Magneto Optical Disk), or a memory card is readable. It may be distributed by storing in a recording medium, or distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

  Various embodiments and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the above-described embodiment is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is shown not by the embodiments but by the claims. Various modifications within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the equivalent invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be suitably employed in a system such as a HEMS (Home Energy Management System).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Equipment management system 10 Controller 20 Power measuring device 30 Operation terminal 40 Cloud server 50 Electrical equipment 60 Home network 70 Internet 80 Customer 90 Router 11 Communication part 13 Storage part 131 Power history Table, 132 Schedule table, 133 Price plan data, 134 Weather record data, 135 Weather forecast data, 136 Device management table, 14 Control unit, 141 Price plan acquisition unit, 142 Prediction unit, 143 Trial calculation unit, 144 Price display unit

Claims (10)

A rate plan acquisition unit for acquiring rate plans of a plurality of electric power companies applicable to consumers;
For each of the acquired rate plans, a rate display unit that displays the result of the trial calculation of the customer's electricity rate when the rate plan is applied, together with various attribute information representing the characteristics of the rate plan,
A shift unit that calculates the electricity bill when the operating time of the electrical equipment installed in the consumer is shifted to a time zone where the electricity charge unit price is cheaper, and
The charge display unit displays a trial calculation result by the shift unit and advice on a change in a user's life caused by the shift ,
The advice includes information for calling attention to the user during the shift,
The shift unit performs the shift based on the shift degree designated by the user.
controller. The rate display unit displays a trial calculation result of an electricity rate for a rate plan that matches a preset condition, and does not display a calculation result for a rate plan that does not meet the condition.
The controller according to claim 1. The charge display unit sorts display contents by attribute information designated by the user.
The controller according to claim 1 or 2. A prediction unit for predicting power consumption of electrical equipment installed in the consumer;
The charge display unit is configured to calculate and display a future electricity charge of the consumer based on a result of prediction by the prediction unit.
The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The shift unit preferentially shifts the operating time of the electrical equipment from a time zone where the unit price of electricity is low,
The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The shift unit is
Select the unselected 1st time zone with the lowest electricity price unit price from the time periods divided for each electricity price unit,
If the predicted power consumption in the first time zone exceeds the surplus power amount, the operation time of the electrical device is shifted so that the power consumption is operated by the surplus power amount in the first time zone, and then the power is Select the unselected second time zone where the unit price is cheap,
If the predicted power consumption amount in the first time zone does not exceed the surplus power amount, the electrical device is shifted so that all of the predicted power consumption amount is consumed in the first time zone.
The controller according to claim 5. The shift unit shifts the operation time of the electric device so that the power consumption of the consumer does not exceed the power upper limit value.
The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The electrical device is a device having a heat storage function,
The shift unit shifts the operation time in consideration of the use time and heat loss of the electrical equipment,
The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A rate plan acquisition step in which the controller acquires rate plans of a plurality of electric power companies applicable to consumers;
A charge display step in which the controller displays, for each of the acquired charge plans, a trial calculation result of the consumer's electricity charge when the charge plan is applied, together with various attribute information representing the characteristics of the charge plan,
The controller has a shift step of calculating an electricity bill when the operating time of the electrical equipment installed in the consumer is shifted to a time zone where the unit price of electricity is lower.
In the charge display step, a trial calculation result in the shift step and advice on a change in the life of the user caused by the shift are displayed ,
The advice includes information for calling attention to the user during the shift,
Performing the shift based on the degree of the shift specified by the user;
Electricity rate display method. Computer
A rate plan acquisition unit that acquires rate plans for multiple power utilities applicable to consumers,
For each of the acquired rate plans, a rate display unit that displays a trial calculation result of the customer's electricity rate when the rate plan is applied, together with various attribute information representing the characteristics of the rate plan,
Function as a shift unit that calculates the electricity bill when the operating time of the electrical equipment installed in the consumer is shifted to a time zone where the unit price of electricity is cheaper,
The charge display unit displays a trial calculation result by the shift unit and advice on a change in a user's life caused by the shift ,
The advice includes information for calling attention to the user during the shift,
The shift unit performs the shift based on the shift degree designated by the user.
program.

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