Power supply system and power supply method

Abstract

To realize a reduction in electricity bill in performing low-voltage batch power reception.SOLUTION: A power supply system 90 is a power supply system 90 in one apartment house that performs low-voltage batch power reception from a system 80, the apartment house having a plurality of dwelling units and a shared part to which an electricity bill is to be distributed according to the usage of electric power from a business entity different from an electric power company that concludes a low-voltage batch power reception contract. The power supply system 90 has a high-order meter device 1, a low-voltage batch power reception board 2 that has a first breaker connected to the system 80, a distribution switchboard 4 that has a plurality of second breakers respectively connected to the plurality of dwelling units and the shared part, a plurality of low-order meter devices 5 that measure the power consumption of the plurality of dwelling units, and a dispersion type power source 3 that is connected between the high-order meter device 1 and the plurality of low-order meter devices 5. The capacity of the first breaker is smaller than the total value of the capacities of the second breakers.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply system and a power supply method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a power distribution system in an apartment house that concludes a high-voltage lump-sum power reception contract and distributes the received power to each household is known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, a high-voltage power receiving and transforming device is costly. In addition, since a high-voltage lump-sum power reception contract cannot be concluded unless a power contract is made with a capacity equal to or greater than a reference value (for example, 50 kW), a high-voltage lump-sum power reception contract can only be concluded for apartment houses of a certain scale or more. Even apartment houses that cannot conclude a high-voltage lump-sum power reception contract can conclude a low-voltage lump-sum power reception contract, but it is not always possible to reduce the electricity bill.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply system and a power supply method capable of reducing the electricity bill when performing low-voltage lump-sum power reception.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a power supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention is A power supply system in a multi - customer facility building having a plurality of customer facilities and a common part, which is a multi - customer facility that receives low - voltage bulk power from the grid based on a low - voltage bulk power supply contract for power less than the power required for a high - voltage bulk power supply contract, and in which electricity charges are allocated according to the amount of power used. A master meter that is directly connected to the grid without passing through cubicle - type high - voltage power receiving equipment and measures the amount of power purchased from the grid in the multi - customer facility. A first breaker connected to the grid side. A plurality of second breakers respectively connected to the plurality of customer facilities and the common part. A branch point that supplies the power received in a low - voltage bulk manner from the grid via the master meter without passing through the cubicle - type high - voltage power receiving equipment to each of the plurality of customer facilities and the common part via the second breaker. A plurality of slave meters connected between the branch point and the plurality of customer facilities, which measure the power consumption of the plurality of customer facilities. A distributed power source including at least one of a storage battery and at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device, which is connected between the master meter and the plurality of slave meters and can supply power to the plurality of customer facilities and the common part. It has The capacity of the first breaker is smaller than the total value of the capacities of the second breakers.

[0007] Also, to solve the above problems, a power supply method according to an embodiment of the present invention is A power supply method in a multi - customer facility building having a plurality of customer facilities and a common part, which is a multi - customer facility that receives low - voltage bulk power from the grid based on a low - voltage bulk power supply contract for power less than the power required for a high - voltage bulk power supply contract, and in which electricity charges are allocated according to the amount of power used. A first step of measuring the power consumption amount in a master meter that is directly connected to the grid without passing through cubicle - type high - voltage power receiving equipment and measures the power consumption amount purchased from the grid in the multi - customer facility. A second step of receiving power from the grid without passing through the cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment via a first breaker connected to the grid side and interrupting power greater than the contract capacity of the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract; A third step of supplying the power received in the second step to each of the plurality of customer facilities and the common part via a plurality of second breakers connected to each of the plurality of customer facilities and the common part; A fourth step of measuring the power consumption of the plurality of customer facilities in a plurality of subordinate meters that measure the power consumption of the plurality of customer facilities; A fifth step of supplying power from a distributed power source including at least one of a storage battery and a power generation device including at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device to the plurality of customer facilities and the common part via between the upper meter and the plurality of subordinate meters, The capacity of the first breaker is smaller than the total value of the capacities of the respective second breakers.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the power supply system and the power control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the electricity bill when performing low-voltage bulk power reception.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a power supply system 90 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Control lines and information transmission lines are shown by broken lines, and power lines are shown by solid lines. The power supply system 90 is connected to the grid 80. The power supply system 90 includes at least a master meter device 1, a main switchboard 2, a distributed power source 3, and a distribution board 4, and may further include at least one of a slave meter device 5, a slave control device 6, a load 7, a master control device 8, and a server device 9. It should be noted that each function of the power supply system 90 will be described, but it is not intended to exclude other functions that the power supply system 90 may have.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the master meter device 1, the main switchboard 2, the distributed power source 3, the distribution board 4, the slave meter device 5, the slave control device 6, the load 7, and the master control device 8 are provided in a composite customer facility. As an alternative, the main switchboard 2 may have the master meter device 1 and the distribution board 4 inside. Also, the master meter device 1 may be provided outside the composite customer facility. The composite customer facility in this embodiment is an apartment building and has a plurality of customer facilities (for example, a total of 6 households with 3 households on the first floor and 3 households on the second floor) and common areas (for example, corridors, stairs, elevator halls). The slave control device 6 is provided in each of the customer facilities and the common areas, and the load 7 is also provided in each of the customer facilities and the common areas.

[0012] The power supply system 90 is provided by, for example, an electric power utility (also referred to as a new electric power utility or an apartment building management company). Since the composite customer facility in this embodiment is relatively small as an apartment building, it does not consume the power required for a high-voltage bulk power reception contract. Therefore, the composite customer facility cannot enter into a high-voltage bulk power reception contract. Thus, the composite customer facility enters into a low-voltage bulk power reception contract with the power company with power less than the power required for a high-voltage bulk power reception contract (for example, 50 kW).

[0013] The composite customer facility enters into a low-voltage bulk power reception contract with the power company and also enters into a power selling contract for surplus power generated by solar power generation. Also, the composite customer facility enters into a power contract with each occupant of the customer facility. In this way, the composite customer facility receives power from the power company and supplies the received power to the customer facilities.

[0014] The upper meter device 1 is a meter device with verification, and measures the power consumption of a composite customer facility. The upper meter device 1 outputs the measured power consumption to the upper control device 8 for calculating electricity bills and the like. The meter device with verification is verified by the metrology law and is within the verification validity period. Also, a smart meter may be used as the upper meter device 1.

[0015] The bulk power receiving board 2 is connected to the upper meter device 1 and receives power supply from the system 80 by low-voltage bulk power receiving. The bulk power receiving board 2 supplies the supplied power to the distribution board 4.

[0016] The distributed power source 3 can supply power to a plurality of customer facilities. The distributed power source 3 includes at least one of a storage battery and a power generation device including at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce electricity bills by combining various types of distributed power sources. The storage battery can output independently, and for example, can supply power to at least one of the customer facility and the common part during a power outage. The power generation device can supply the generated power to at least one of the storage battery, the customer facility, and the common part.

[0017] The distribution board 4 branches the power received by the bulk power receiving board 2 during linked operation into a plurality of branches and supplies it to at least one of the common part and each customer facility. Also, the distribution board 4 branches the power supplied from the distributed power source 3 into a plurality of branches and distributes it to the customer facilities.

[0018] The lower meter device 5 is, for example, a certified electric measuring instrument (sub-meter) with verification, and is connected to each of the customer facilities. The lower meter device 5 connected to each of the customer facilities measures the power consumption of each load 7 of the customer facilities. The lower meter device 5 is connected to the distribution board 4 and is installed by the operator inside or outside the customer facility. Also, the lower meter device 5 is connected to the common part. The lower meter device 5 connected to the common part measures the power consumption of the load 7 of the common part. The lower meter device 5 may be a smart meter. The lower meter device 5 notifies the upper control device 8 of the measured power consumption.

[0019] The lower control device 6 is, for example, a HEMS (Home Energy Management System). The processing executed by the lower control device 6 is executed by a control unit including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program defining a control procedure, and the program is stored in the storage unit of the lower control device 6 or an external storage medium. The lower control device 6 is provided in at least one of each of the customer facilities and the common part, and can control the power consumption of at least one of the corresponding customer facilities and the load 7 of the common part. When the lower control device 6 is requested by the upper control device 8 to suppress the power consumption in at least one of the customer facilities and the common part, it can control the load 7 to suppress the power consumption.

[0020] The load 7 is an electric load that consumes power, and is, for example, various electrical products such as air conditioners, microwave ovens, refrigerators, televisions, routers, etc. used by customer facilities. The load 7 may be a machine such as an air conditioner or a lighting fixture, or lighting equipment, etc. Among the loads 7 in the common part, for example, they are devices that consume power in the common part, such as lighting equipment and emergency equipment (for example, fire alarms, etc.).

[0021] The upper control device 8 is, for example, a HEMS. The processing executed by the upper control device 8 is executed by a control unit including a processor such as a CPU that executes a program defining a control procedure, and the program is stored in a storage unit of the upper control device 8 or an external storage medium. The upper control device 8 is provided in the composite customer facility. As an alternative example, the upper control device 8 may be provided in at least one of the server devices 9 inside and outside the composite customer facility. The upper control device 8 periodically (e.g., once an hour) acquires the power consumption measured by the lower meter device 5 through communication and outputs it to the server device 9. Further, the upper control device 8 monitors the operating state of the distributed power source 3 and outputs the acquired operation log (power generation status of the power generation device, charge / discharge status of the storage battery, error information, etc.) to the server device 9.

[0022] When the upper control device 8 acquires a demand response signal, it requests the lower control device 6 to suppress the power consumption by a plurality of customer facilities. For example, when the upper control device 8 acquires a demand response signal, it may determine the power consumption reduction amount for each of the plurality of customer facilities according to the current power consumption in each of the plurality of customer facilities, and request the lower control device 6 to implement the reduction as determined. Thereby, the operator who manages each of the plurality of customer facilities or the composite customer facility can obtain an incentive. The upper control device 8 may similarly suppress the power consumption in the shared part.

[0023] More specifically, the incentive can be obtained from the sender of the demand response received by the upper control device 8. The sender of the demand response is assumed to be, for example, an electric power company (power company), an electric power distribution company (power aggregator), etc. The incentive from the sender is first given to the operator who manages the composite customer facility. Then, the operator distributes the incentive from the sender according to the degree of contribution of the customer of the customer facility to the demand response. The incentive given by the operator to the customer may be different from the incentive given by the sender.

[0024] When the upper control device 8 obtains an instruction to suppress the power output to the system 80, it charges the surplus power of the power generation device into the storage battery. For example, when the upper control device 8 obtains the instruction from an electric power company, an electric power distribution company (power aggregator), an electric power transmission and distribution company, a specific-scale electric power company (PPS: Power Producer and Supplier), etc., it charges the surplus power of the power generation device into the storage battery. When a device other than the upper control device 8 (for example, an output control device, a power conditioner) obtains the instruction, the device other than the upper control device 8 transfers the instruction to the upper control device 8. Therefore, not only can it respond to the output suppression instruction, but it can also continue to generate power by the power generation device and charge the surplus power into the storage battery for future discharge.

[0025] The server device 9 is used by an operator who manages a composite customer facility. The server device 9 may be a cloud server. The server device 9 obtains information such as power consumption from the upper control device 8 and performs functions such as support for meter reading data management, support for creating billing data, management of energy generation and energy storage facilities, and a visible service (Web service) for the electricity consumption of the customer facility (for residents). When the server device 9 obtains error information from the upper control device 8, it notifies the supervisor who is a user of the server device 9 that an error has occurred by means of voice, lamp, image, video, phone, email, etc.

[0026] Also, when the server device 9 obtains a notification from the upper control device 8 that the storage battery has changed to the self-powered output mode, it determines that the breaker of the main switchboard 2 has been turned off and notifies the supervisor of warning information. Generally, it is difficult for the resident of the customer facility to turn on the breaker of the low-voltage main switchboard. Therefore, the supervisor who has obtained the warning information rushes to the composite customer facility and turns on the breaker. As an alternative example, the server device 9 may determine that the breaker of the main switchboard 2 has been turned off when the communication with the upper control device 8 is interrupted.

[0027] Hereinafter, a configuration for realizing a reduction in the electricity bill when performing low-voltage bulk power reception will be described.

[0028] As a first configuration, the power supply system 90 not only simply performs low-voltage bulk power reception but also has distributed power sources 3. A plurality of customer facilities share the distributed power sources 3 and can reduce the amount of power purchased from the grid 80 by receiving power from the distributed power sources 3 during time periods when electricity rates are high. Thereby, a reduction in electricity costs can be achieved.

[0029] As a second configuration, the contract capacity in the low-voltage bulk power reception contract is smaller than the total value of the breaker capacities of each customer facility. For example, assume that the number of customer facilities in a composite customer facility is 6, and the breaker capacity of each household is 40 A. Also, assume that the breaker capacity of the shared part is 50 A. Then, the total value of the breaker capacities of the entire composite customer facility is 40×6 + 50 = 290 (A). However, since it is unlikely that all households will consume the maximum capacity simultaneously, for example, the composite customer facility concludes a low-voltage bulk power reception contract with a contract capacity of 240 A. Thereby, a reduction in electricity costs can be achieved.

[0030] As a third configuration, instead of each of a plurality of customer facilities concluding individual contracts, a composite customer facility concludes a low-voltage bulk power reception contract, and the plurality of customer facilities receive the supply of power received under the low-voltage bulk power reception contract. Depending on the power company's tariff plan, the electricity cost per household decreases as the contract capacity increases. Therefore, a reduction in electricity costs can be achieved.

[0031] As a fourth configuration, the upper-level control device 8 acquires the value of the purchased power amount (unit: kWh) from the upper-level meter device 1 and outputs it to the server device 9. The server device 9 that has acquired the value refers to the pattern of the purchased power amount in time series and selects the (cheapest) low-voltage bulk power reception rate plan suitable for the pattern. For example, since the power supply system 90 can receive power supply from the distributed power source 3 during the day, the purchased power amount from the grid 80 during the day is relatively small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the electricity bill by changing the rate plan to lower the night-time electricity bill. Thus, the upper-level control device 8 determines a rate plan with a low night-time electricity bill. The upper-level control device 8 outputs the determined rate plan to the server device 9. For this reason, the operator using the server device 9 can determine which rate plan to adopt. That is, the selection, change, and determination of the rate plan may be performed by the upper-level control device 8, the server device 9, or the operator. The selection, change, and determination of the rate plan may be performed by an electric power company, an electric power distribution company, an electric power transmission and distribution company, or a specified-scale electric power company, etc.

[0032] As a fifth configuration, when the distributed power source 3 includes a storage battery, the upper-level control device 8 controls the storage battery by switching between the first mode and the second mode with the first mode being the normal mode as follows.

[0033] As the first mode, the storage battery charges when the electricity unit price is lower than a predetermined reference value and discharges when the electricity unit price is higher than the predetermined reference value. The predetermined reference value can be set arbitrarily. For example, the predetermined reference value can be set such that the time when the electricity unit price is lower than the predetermined reference value is at night, and the time when the electricity unit price is higher than the predetermined reference value is during the day. As an alternative example, two reference values (a first reference value and a second reference value) may be set as the predetermined reference value. More specifically, as the first mode, the storage battery charges with the power from the system 80 when the electricity unit price is lower than the first reference value (e.g., at night), and discharges when the electricity unit price is higher than the second reference value which is equal to or higher than the first reference value (e.g., during the day). When the distributed power source 3 further includes a solar power generation device, the storage battery may charge with the surplus power of the solar power generation device during the day. During the day when the surplus power of the solar power generation device is large, the power supply system 90 may sell the surplus power.

[0034] As the second mode, the storage battery discharges the charged power so that the power consumption of the composite customer facility does not exceed the contract power of the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract. That is, when the power consumption increases and becomes within a predetermined power from the contract power of the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract, the storage battery discharges the charged power. Therefore, it is unlikely that the breaker will turn off. In the case of a contract that allows power purchase above the contract power, the power supply system 90 can reduce the power purchase above the contract power.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows the state of power consumption when the upper control device 8 controls the storage battery in the first mode without the power consumption becoming within a predetermined power from the contract power of the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract (that is, without switching to the second mode). As shown in Fig. 2, the upper control device 8 purchases power from the system 80 at night or early morning (0:00 to 7:00) to charge the storage battery, and in the next time period (7:00 to 16:00), the power consumption by a plurality of customer facilities is covered by the generated power from the power generation device (solar power generation device) and the discharged power from the storage battery. The surplus power remaining even in the covered state is sold. In the subsequent time period (16:00 to 24:00), the power consumption amount exceeds the generated amount, but the upper control device 8 discharges the storage battery to suppress the power purchase amount from the system 80.

[0036] With at least the above five configurations, the electricity charges billed to each of the plurality of customer facilities do not exceed the electricity charges that would be billed if each of the plurality of customer facilities individually entered into a separate contract for each household.

[0037] The power supply system 90 has not only a configuration for realizing a reduction in electricity charges but also the following configurations.

[0038] First, the upper control device 8 obtains the value of the maximum power purchase (unit: kW) or the maximum current (unit: A) from the upper meter device 1 by communication and outputs it to the server device 9. The server device 9 can update the power contract with the power company with a contract capacity obtained by adding a predetermined value to the obtained value. Even if the power consumption or the consumed current exceeds the maximum power purchase or the maximum current, as long as the excess is within the predetermined value, the breaker will not turn off. That is, the power supply from the system 80 is not interrupted.

[0039] Second, the plurality of customer facilities share the distributed power source 3. For this reason, the installation cost of the distributed power source 3 per household is lower than the cost when the distributed power source 3 is installed separately in each household. Therefore, the installation cost can be reduced.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power supply system 90.

[0041] The power supply system 90 receives power supply from the grid 80 at the main switchboard 2 (step S1). The power supply system 90 measures the power consumption of the composite customer facilities at the upper meter device 1 (step S2). The power supply system 90 supplies the power received in step S1 from the distribution board 4 to each of the plurality of customer facilities (step S3). The power supply system 90 supplies power from the distributed power source 3 to the plurality of customer facilities (step S4). The power supply system 90 measures the power consumption of each of the plurality of customer facilities at the lower meter device 5 (step S5). Since the power supply system 90 can appropriately perform step S2, step S4, and step S5, the order of these steps can be interchanged. Also, the power supply system 90 can perform step S4 at an arbitrary time. The arbitrary time is when the electricity price is high such as during the day, or when the power consumption may exceed the contract power of the low-voltage bulk power supply contract, etc.

[0042] Also, the power supply system 90 does not necessarily have to perform step S4 and step S5 according to the situation. For example, when power supply from the distributed power source 3 to the plurality of customer facilities is not required, the power supply system 90 does not have to perform step S5. That is, the power supply system 90 may supply power from the distributed power source 3 to the plurality of customer facilities as necessary.

[0043] According to this embodiment, the power supply system 90 is a system in a composite customer facility that conducts a low-voltage bulk power reception contract with power less than the power required for a high-voltage bulk power reception contract. The power supply system 90 includes a bulk power reception panel 2 that receives power supply from the power grid 80, a master meter device 1 that measures the power consumption of the composite customer facility, a distribution board 4 that supplies the power received by the bulk power reception panel 2 to a plurality of customer facilities within the composite customer facility, and a distributed power source 3 that can supply power to the plurality of customer facilities. That is, the composite customer facility not only conducts low-voltage bulk power reception but also has a distributed power source 3. The customer facilities share the distributed power source 3 and can suppress the purchased power amount by receiving power supply from the distributed power source 3 during time periods with high electricity rates, etc. Thereby, reduction of the electricity bill can be realized.

[0044] Also, considering that it is unlikely that all households will consume the maximum capacity simultaneously, the composite customer facility can enter into a low-voltage bulk power reception contract with a contract capacity smaller than the total value of the breaker capacities of all households and the breaker capacity of the shared part. Alternatively, even if the total value of the breaker capacities of all households and the breaker capacity of the shared part is a value required for a high-voltage bulk power reception contract, the composite customer facility can cover the power with a low-voltage bulk power reception contract. Thereby, reduction of the electricity bill can be realized.

[0045] Also, depending on the rate plan of the power company, the electricity bill per household becomes cheaper as the contract capacity increases. According to this embodiment, instead of each of the customer facilities entering into an individual contract, the composite customer facility enters into a low-voltage bulk power reception contract. As a result, each of the customer facilities will have the electricity bill allocated according to the amount of power used from the operator of the composite customer facility, and a low-voltage bulk power reception contract can achieve a reduction in the electricity bill for each customer facility compared to bearing the electricity bill through individual contracts.

[0046] Also, according to the present embodiment, the distributed power source 3 includes at least one of a storage battery and a power generation device including at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device. Therefore, in order to achieve a reduction in electricity charges, a method of combining various types of distributed power sources becomes possible.

[0047] Also, according to the present embodiment, the power supply system 90 further includes a lower control device 6 provided in each of a plurality of customer facilities, and an upper control device 8 provided in a composite customer facility or in at least one of a server device 9 inside and outside the composite customer facility. Therefore, control regarding power consumption can be performed for each customer facility.

[0048] Also, according to the present embodiment, when the upper control device 8 acquires a demand response signal, it requests the lower control device 6 to suppress the power consumption amount by the plurality of customer facilities. Therefore, it is possible to control the power consumption amount for each of the plurality of customer facilities and obtain an incentive corresponding to the demand response.

[0049] Also, according to the present embodiment, when the upper control device 8 acquires an instruction to suppress the power output to the power grid 80, it causes the storage battery to charge the surplus power of the power generation device. Therefore, not only can it respond to the output suppression instruction, but it can also continue the power generation by the power generation device and charge the storage battery with the surplus power for future discharge.

[0050] Also, according to the present embodiment, the power supply system 90 further includes a lower meter device 5 that measures the power consumption amount of each of the plurality of customer facilities, and the lower meter device 5 notifies the upper control device 8 of the measured power consumption amount. Therefore, the upper control device 8 can provide services to each of the customer facilities according to the power consumption amount of each customer facility.

[0051] According to this embodiment, the upper-level control device 8 selects the cheapest tariff plan among a plurality of tariff plans for the low-voltage bulk power supply contract based on the power consumption measured by the upper-level meter device 1, and notifies the server device 9 of the operator who manages the complex demand customer facility. Therefore, operators and the like can determine the cheapest plan, thereby realizing a reduction in electricity charges.

[0052] According to this embodiment, the storage battery charges when the unit price of electricity is lower than a predetermined reference value, and discharges when the unit price of electricity is higher than the predetermined reference value. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of purchased power from the power grid 80 when the unit price of electricity is high, thereby realizing a reduction in electricity charges.

[0053] According to this embodiment, the storage battery discharges the charged power so that the total power consumption of the complex demand customer facility does not exceed the contract power of the low-voltage bulk power supply contract, and reduces the amount of power received by the entire complex demand customer facility. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the situation where the power supply system 90 purchases power exceeding the contract power due to the total power consumption of the complex demand customer facility exceeding the contract power.

[0054] According to this embodiment, the electricity charges billed to each of the plurality of customer facilities do not exceed the electricity charges billed when each of the plurality of customer facilities individually enters into a contract for each household. Therefore, it is possible to improve the satisfaction of each occupant of the customer facility and increase the demand for the power supply system 90.

[0055] Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and corrections are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each member, each part, each step, etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory. Also, when implementing the present invention as a method invention, it is possible to combine or divide a plurality of parts and steps into one.

[0056] In the above description, the case where the composite customer facility does not consume the power required for the high-voltage bulk power supply contract is described, but it is not limited to this. That is, even when the composite customer facility consumes the power required for the high-voltage bulk power supply contract (for example, when the sum of the power of each household contract is the power required for the high-voltage bulk power supply contract), since it has the distributed power source 3, it can supply the power under the low-voltage bulk power supply contract. As a result, the composite customer facility does not have to enter into a high-voltage bulk power supply contract, so it does not have to install cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment, and the initial investment or maintenance cost can be reduced.

[0057] Also, in the above description, the case where the upper control device 8 requests the lower control device 6 to suppress the power consumption amount when the upper control device 8 receives the demand response signal is described. However, the upper control device 8 may request suppression only for the lower control device 6 in the shared part without requesting the lower control device 6 in the customer facility. Such processing can be performed, for example, when the power consumption amount to be suppressed is smaller than a predetermined reference value. In this case, since the upper control device 8 does not need to inquire whether the customer responds to the demand response, it can easily respond to the demand response.

[0058] Also, the upper control device 8 may selectively request only the lower control device 6 in some customer facilities, and which customer facility to request may be determined according to, for example, the current power consumption amount in the customer facility. When the upper control device 8 can directly control the devices in each customer facility, the upper control device 8 may directly control the devices in the customer facility without passing through the lower control device 6 in response to the demand response. When the upper control device 8 directly controls the devices, the incentive given to the customer may be increased.

[0059] Also, when using a fuel cell as the power generation device, air conditioning, steam, hot water, cold water, etc. utilizing waste heat may be supplied to each of the customer facilities. In this way, by the operator of the composite customer facility collectively providing air conditioning, etc. utilizing waste heat, the electricity bill, gas bill, and water bill for each of the customer facilities can be reduced. As the fuel cell, a solid oxide fuel cell, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a phosphoric acid fuel cell, a biofuel cell, etc. can be used.

[0060] Also, in the above description, as shown in FIG. 1, it is the case where the lower meter device 5 is connected to the common part and the lower control device 6 is provided in the common part, but it is not necessarily required to provide them. When the lower meter device 5 is not connected to the common part and the lower control device 6 is not provided in the common part, the power consumption of the common part can be calculated by subtracting the total of all the data of the lower meter devices 5 connected to each of the customer facilities from the data of the upper meter device 1. The calculation of the power consumption of the common part can be performed by the upper control device 8 or the server device 9.

[0061] In the above description, the upper control device 8 selects the tariff plan for the low-voltage bulk power supply contract based on the power consumption measured by the upper meter device 1, but it may also be selected and determined based on the power consumption (kW). Also, the storage battery is controlled so as not to exceed the contract amount of the low-voltage bulk power supply contract based on the power consumption (kWh), but it may also be controlled based on the power consumption (kW).

[0062] In addition, when the control units of the upper control device 8 and the lower control device 6 according to the present invention are configured by a computer, a program describing the processing content for realizing each function is stored in a storage unit inside or outside the computer, and the program is read and executed by the central processing unit (CPU) of the computer. Further, such a program can be distributed, for example, by selling, transferring, lending, etc. a portable recording medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM. In addition, such a program can be stored in a storage unit of a server on a network, for example, and the program can be distributed by transferring the program from the server to other computers via the network. Further, a computer that executes such a program can temporarily store, for example, a program recorded on a portable recording medium or a program transferred from a server in its own storage unit. As another embodiment of this program, it is also possible that the computer directly reads the program from the portable recording medium and executes the processing according to the program. Further, each time a program is transferred from the server to this computer, it is also possible to sequentially execute the processing according to the received program.

Explanation of Signs

[0063] 1 Upper Metering Device 2 Main Switchboard 3 Distributed Power Source 4 Sub - Switchboard 5 Lower Metering Device 6 Lower Control Device 7 Load 8 Upper Control Device 9 Server Device 80 System 90 Power Supply System

Claims

1. An electric power supply system for a single complex consumer facility, comprising a plurality of consumer facilities and a common area which receive low-voltage electricity collectively from a grid based on a low-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract for electricity less than the amount of electricity required for a high-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract, wherein the plurality of consumer facilities are provided with an electric power charge allocated according to a first amount of electricity consumed by the consumer facilities and a second amount of electricity consumed by the plurality of consumer facilities from a party other than an electric power company which has concluded the low-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract; an upper meter that is directly connected to the system without going through a cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment and measures the first power consumption; A first breaker connected to the grid side; A plurality of second breakers connected to the plurality of customer facilities and the common area, respectively; a branch point that supplies low-voltage lumped electric power received from the system via the upper meter without passing through the cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment to each of the plurality of customer facilities and the common area via the second breaker; a plurality of lower level meters that are connected between the branch point and the plurality of customer facilities and measure the second power consumption amount and are not managed by the electric power company; a distributed power source including at least one of a storage battery and a power generation device including at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device, the distributed power source being connected between the upper meter and the plurality of lower meters and capable of supplying electric power to the plurality of customer facilities and the common area; having A switch is not connected between the second breaker and the upper meter and between the second breaker and the distributed power source, A power supply system, wherein a capacity of the first breaker is smaller than a sum of capacities of the second breakers.

2. 2. The power supply system according to claim 1, An electric power supply system, wherein the distributed power sources are not connected between the branch point and a load at each customer facility.

3. 3. The power supply system according to claim 1, A lower level control device provided in the plurality of customer facilities; a host control device provided in the complex consumer facility or provided in at least one of a server device in the complex consumer facility and a server device outside the complex consumer facility; A power supply system having the following features:

4. 4. The power supply system according to claim 3, The lower-level meter notifies the upper-level control device of the measured power consumption amount, The upper level control device notifies the second power consumption amount to a server device that provides a meter reading data management support service.

5. 5. The power supply system according to claim 3, The power supply system, wherein the lower control device and the upper control device are both HEMS.

6. 6. The power supply system according to claim 3, When the higher-level control device acquires a demand response signal, the higher-level control device requests the lower-level control device to reduce the amount of power consumed by the plurality of customer facilities and the common area.

7. 7. The power supply system according to claim 3, the distributed power source includes the storage battery and the power generation device, When the upper level control device receives an instruction to suppress output of power to the grid, the power generation device causes surplus power to be charged to the storage battery.

8. 8. The power supply system according to claim 3, The upper control device selects the cheapest rate plan from among multiple rate plans for the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract based on the first power consumption amount, and notifies a server device of an operator managing the complex consumer facility.

9. 9. The power supply system according to claim 3, A power supply system in which, when the upper control device acquires a demand response signal, it requests equipment in the complex consumer facility to reduce the amount of power consumed by the multiple consumer facilities and the common area.

10. 10. The power supply system according to claim 3, A power supply system in which the distributed power source includes at least a storage battery, and when the upper control device acquires a demand response signal, it charges the storage battery with surplus power from a distributed power source other than the storage battery.

11. The power supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a distribution board having the branch point, The distribution board is an electric power supply system that enables low-voltage collectively received electric power to be supplied to all consumer facilities of the complex consumer facility.

12. 12. The power supply system according to claim 1, The power supply system further comprises a low-voltage centralized receiving panel having the branch point therein.

13. 13. The power supply system according to claim 1, The storage battery is charged when the unit price of electricity is lower than a predetermined reference value, and is discharged when the unit price of electricity is higher than the predetermined reference value.

14. 14. The power supply system according to claim 1, The storage battery discharges the charged electricity so that the power consumption of the complex consumer facility does not exceed the contracted power of the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract.

15. 15. The power supply system according to claim 1, An electric power supply system, wherein an electricity fee charged to each of the plurality of consumer facilities does not exceed an electricity fee that would be charged if each of the plurality of consumer facilities individually entered into a home contract.

16. 16. The power supply system according to claim 1, The first breaker cuts off power that is greater than the contract capacity of the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract.

17. 17. The power supply system according to claim 1, The distributed power source supplies power to at least the common area during a power outage.

18. A power supply method for a single complex consumer facility, comprising: a plurality of consumer facilities and a common area which receive low-voltage lumped power from a grid based on a low-voltage lump-sum power receiving contract for power less than the power required for a high-voltage lump-sum power receiving contract; the plurality of consumer facilities are charged an electricity fee according to a first amount of power consumed by the consumer facilities and a second amount of power consumed by the plurality of consumer facilities, the fee being allocated from a party other than an electric power company which has concluded the low-voltage lump-sum power receiving contract, the method comprising: a first step of measuring the first amount of power consumption in a host meter that is directly connected to the grid without going through a cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment and that measures the first amount of power consumption; A second step of receiving power from the grid without passing through the cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment via a first breaker connected to the grid side and cutting off power that is greater than the contract capacity of the low-voltage bulk power receiving contract; a third step of supplying the power received in the second step to each of the plurality of customer facilities and the common area via a plurality of second breakers connected to each of the plurality of customer facilities and the common area; a fourth step of measuring the second amount of power consumption in a plurality of lower level meters that are not managed by the electric power company; a fifth step of supplying electric power to the plurality of customer facilities and the common area from a distributed power source including at least one of a storage battery and a power generation device including at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device, via between the upper meter and the plurality of lower meters; A switch is not connected between the second breaker and the upper meter and between the second breaker and the distributed power source, A power supply method, wherein a capacity of the first breaker is smaller than a sum of capacities of the second breakers.

19. An electric power supply system for a single complex consumer facility, comprising a plurality of consumer facilities and a common area which receive low-voltage electricity collectively from a grid based on a low-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract for electricity less than the amount of electricity required for a high-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract, wherein the plurality of consumer facilities are provided with an electric power charge allocated according to a first amount of electricity consumed by the consumer facilities and a second amount of electricity consumed by the plurality of consumer facilities from a party other than an electric power company which has concluded the low-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract; A smart meter that is directly connected to the grid without going through a cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving facility and measures the first power consumption; A first breaker provided in the smart meter and connected to the grid side; A plurality of second breakers connected to the plurality of customer facilities and the common area, respectively; a branch point that supplies the electric power received from the system via the smart meter through the low-voltage bulk power receiving without passing through the cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment to each of the plurality of consumer facilities and the common area via the second breaker; a plurality of lower level meters that are connected between the branch point and the plurality of customer facilities and measure the second power consumption amount and are not managed by the electric power company; a distributed power source including at least one of a storage battery and a power generation device including at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device, the distributed power source being connected between the smart meter and the plurality of lower level meters and capable of supplying electric power to the plurality of customer facilities and the common area; having A switch is not connected between the second breaker and the smart meter and between the second breaker and the distributed power source, A power supply system, wherein a capacity of the first breaker or a contract capacity based on a maximum power or a maximum current obtained from the smart meter is smaller than a total value of the capacities of the second breakers.

20. An electric power supply system for a single complex consumer facility, comprising a plurality of consumer facilities and a common area which receive low-voltage electricity collectively from a grid based on a low-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract for electricity less than the amount of electricity required for a high-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract, wherein the plurality of consumer facilities are provided with an electric power charge allocated according to a first amount of electricity consumed by the consumer facilities and a second amount of electricity consumed by the plurality of consumer facilities from a party other than an electric power company which has concluded the low-voltage bulk electricity receiving contract; an upper meter that is directly connected to the system without going through a cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment and measures the first power consumption; A first breaker connected to the grid side; A plurality of second breakers connected to the plurality of customer facilities and the common area, respectively; a branch point that supplies the electric power received from the system via the upper meter through the low-voltage bulk receiving without passing through the cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment to each of the plurality of customer facilities and the common area via the second breaker; a plurality of lower level meters that are connected between the branch point and the plurality of customer facilities and measure the second power consumption amount and are not managed by the electric power company; a distributed power source including at least one of a storage battery and a power generation device including at least one of a fuel cell, a solar power generation device, and a wind power generation device, the distributed power source being connected between the upper meter and the plurality of lower meters and capable of supplying electric power to the plurality of customer facilities and the common area; having A switch is not connected between the second breaker and the upper meter and between the second breaker and the distributed power source, A power supply system, wherein a contract capacity based on the capacity of the first breaker or the maximum power or maximum current acquired from the upper meter is smaller than a total value of the capacities of the second breakers.

Images