LOAD CONTROL UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH A FIXED NETWORK METER READING SYSTEM

摘要

A load control system that communicates with existing automated meter readin g communications systems to interrupt and shed loads at a customer location. T he system includes a master controller that listens to communications between a utility meter a nd the reading system. The controller receives tier and/or pricing information and will instruct a load control unit to interrupt certain loads based on the information. In addition, the system may be employed as a load shedding system where a command may be forwarded to the master controller to disconnect loads based on action levels. The command may be se nt via a TCP/IP communications system to a node in the reading system and the forwarded via a radio network to the master controller to reduce latency. Predictive shedding may be performe d based on forecast loads.