Utility Cost Savings System Tariff Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current utility billing systems lack precision in identifying cost-saving opportunities, relying on statistical summaries rather than actual tariff data, and fail to provide tailored recommendations for reducing utility costs across multiple sites with similar layouts.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that administers a utility questionnaire and processes usage information to determine precise cost-saving recommendations, including theoretical contract demand values, power factor adjustments, tariff optimization, and curtailment programs, to reduce utility consumption and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If statistical summaries of past charges are used to identify cost-saving opportunities, then the analysis can be performed quickly and easily, but the precision and accuracy of cost savings identification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual statistical analysis methods with an automated computer-based system that performs precise tariff calculations. The system automatically retrieves actual tariff data, processes usage information, and calculates potential cost savings with high precision, eliminating the need for imprecise statistical summaries while maintaining operational efficiency through automation.
2Device complexity
If generic cost-saving recommendations are provided without site-specific analysis, then the system complexity is reduced, but the accuracy and applicability of recommendations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements site-specific analysis by tailoring the cost-saving recommendations to each individual site's characteristics, usage patterns, and applicable tariffs. The system processes site-specific usage information and generates customized recommendations rather than applying generic solutions, ensuring high accuracy and applicability for each location while managing complexity through modular processing.
3Measurement precision
If detailed actual tariff data and usage information are processed, then the accuracy of cost savings calculations improves, but the computational complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically retrieving actual tariff data and usage information, then processing this data through standardized calculation algorithms. The automated process eliminates manual intervention while maintaining high calculation accuracy, managing computational complexity through systematic data processing and algorithmic approaches rather than manual analysis.
4Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive site analysis including physical layouts and equipment is performed, then the ability to identify transferable cost-saving opportunities across multiple sites improves, but the time and resources required for analysis increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of site characteristics, physical layouts, and equipment configurations to identify cost-saving opportunities that can be transferred across multiple sites. By conducting this comprehensive analysis upfront and storing the results, the system enables quick identification of transferable opportunities without repeating the entire analysis process for each site, thus reducing subsequent analysis time while maintaining comprehensive evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system for identifying utility cost savings is provided. The computer system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to receive usage information gathered from at least one site via a first interface, administer a utility questionnaire via a second interface, and determine recommendation information describing a plurality of cost savings recommendations for the at least one site based on a set of responses to the questionnaire and the usage information.