POWER OUTLET SUPPLIES POWER IN ACCORDANCE WITH TARIFF RATES STORED IN METER

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB94/01390 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 28, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 28, 1997 PCT Filed Jun. 27, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/00994 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 5, 1995A power supply system for premises (12') has a meter (20) which stores tariff information (rates and times) received via mains signalling from a controller (13). An outlet (33) has control means (40) responsive to the tariff information stored in the meter. The control means may be programmable simply to allow the outlet to supply power only during low tariff rated periods, or to utilize more elaborate criteria, such as maintaining the supply of power either for a predetermined time regardless of tariff changes once the outlet has been turned on or until the device fed by the outlet has completed its operating cycle (as determined by the current drawn falling to zero), or effecting an inverse control between the tariff rate at which the outlet may be turned on and the time elapsed since it was last turned on.