| 摘要 |
<p>An integrated smart meter (10) (20) monitors power and usage passing between a household supply main (12) and household appliances (14), uses power line signalling (16) to signal meter readings and power consumption, has the improvement of also comprising an integrated locally generated power controller and switch (20). The integrated smart meter (10) (20) also comprises appliance signalling means (28) operable to signal to individual appliances (14) to switch the individual appliances (14), or groups of appliances (14) (14A), either on or off. When locally generated power alone or stored energy is being employed, the appliance signalling means (28) is operable to switch appliances (28) o meet supply capability according to the immediate generation and/or storage capacity. Appliances (14) are switched on or off according to instant local power generation capacity and are switched off in a user selectable order to leave a last appliance (14) to be the last to be switched off as the local power generation capacity falls towards zero. Not only power line signalling (16) is shown for coupling the smart meter (10) (20) to the outside world, but also coupling by means of a wide area network (118), use of Home Area Networks (HAN) (130), and use of In Home Display (IHD) (132) devices. Use is also possible in an integrated apartment block where locally generated energy for the apartment block is allocated between apartments. Flicker free recovery from supply main power failure is provided. The apparatus allows use in economy mode, determined either by time of day or in response to supply main supplier messages. The invention also permits selective use of gas or electric heating and operational shutdown when no one is in a dwelling.</p> |
