| 摘要 |
594989 Disclosed is a system for efficient consumption of a consumable. The system has a plurality of consumer nodes each associated with a respective consumer site and suitable for gathering consumption data from one or more consumer devices (114) consuming or producing the consumable. A central node (112) is in communication with the consumer nodes and determines a collective net consumption of the consumable across the plurality of consumer sites. The central node (112) also participates in live markets in order to secure delivery of the consumable as required collectively across the plurality of consumer sites, and for communicates market data conveying substantially live market effects to the consumer nodes. The central node (112) includes means for administering a plan entered into by each consumer with a retailer associated with the central node (112), and means for administering sellback by the consumer of unused portions of the consumable as defined in the plan, and/or the purchase of additional amounts of the consumable beyond the amount specified in the plan. The means for administering provides for the retailer to offset a sellback by one consumer against a purchase by another consumer within the pool, thereby avoiding the need for the retailer to turn to the market to service change requests which can be offset within the pool. |
