Methods and apparatus for energy demand management

1. A meter controller apparatus for managing energy demands of a plurality of appliances, the meter controller apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface configured to receive a first message from a first appliance controller apparatus coupled to at least one first appliance of the plurality of appliances, the first message comprising first information regarding a first power demand of the at least one first appliance and a first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance, wherein the first demand category is one of a plurality of demand categories; and

at least one processor programmed to compute an updated meter controller model for the plurality of appliances based at least in part on the first message received from the first appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model for the plurality of appliances, wherein the meter controller apparatus is a first meter controller apparatus, and wherein:

the at least one communication interface is further configured to receive a second message from a second meter controller apparatus, the second message comprising a neighbor model; and

the at least one processor is further programmed to compute a representative model based at least in part on the updated meter controller model and the neighbor model.

2. The meter controller apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the updated meter controller model comprises a first plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories.

3. The meter controller apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a meter interface configured to receive a meter input indicative of a total power demand value for the plurality of appliances.

4. The meter controller apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to adjust at least one subtotal power demand value in the updated meter controller model based at least partially on the total power demand value indicated by the meter input.

5. The meter controller apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the updated meter controller model comprises a first plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories;

the neighbor model comprises a second plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the second plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories;

the representative model comprises a plurality of representative subtotal power demand values, each representative subtotal power demand value of the plurality of representative subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories; and

for each of the plurality of demand categories, a corresponding representative subtotal power demand value is computed based at least partially on a corresponding first subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values of the meter controller model and a corresponding second subtotal power demand value of the second plurality of subtotal power demand values of the neighbor model.

6. The meter controller apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one communication interface is further configured to receive a third message comprising a target demand model; and

the at least one processor is further programmed to compute a control input based at least in part on the target demand model and the representative model.

7. The meter controller apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the target demand model comprises information indicative of a degree to which a power demand reduction is requested.

8. The meter controller apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the target demand model comprises a present power demand value and a target power demand value.

9. The meter controller apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one communication interface is further configured to transmit a fourth message comprising the control input.

10. A combination comprising the meter controller apparatus of claim 9 and the first appliance controller apparatus, wherein the first appliance controller apparatus is configured to:

receive the fourth message; and

control the first power demand of the at least one first appliance based at least partially on the control input and the first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance.

11. The combination of claim 10 , wherein the control input comprises a control demand category, and wherein the first appliance controller apparatus is further configured to:

determine whether the first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance is inferior to the control demand category; and

reduce the first power demand of the at least one first appliance when the first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance is determined to be inferior to the control demand category.

12. A method for managing energy demands of a plurality of appliances, the method comprising:

A) receiving, via at least one communication interface of a meter controller apparatus, a first message from a first appliance controller apparatus coupled to at least one first appliance of the plurality of appliances, the first message comprising first information regarding a first power demand of the at least one first appliance and a first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance, wherein the first demand category is one of a plurality of demand categories; and

B) computing, by at least one processor of the meter controller apparatus, an updated meter controller model for the plurality of appliances based at least in part on the first message received from the first appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model for the plurality of appliances, wherein the meter controller apparatus is a first meter controller apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second message from a second meter controller apparatus, the second message comprising a neighbor model; and

computing a representative model based at least in part on the updated meter controller model and the neighbor model.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the updated meter controller model comprises a first plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving, via a meter interface of the meter controller apparatus, a meter input indicative of a total power demand value for the plurality of appliances.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein B) comprises:

adjusting at least one subtotal power demand value in the updated meter controller model based at least partially on the total power demand value indicated by the meter input.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the updated meter controller model comprises a first plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories;

the neighbor model comprises a second plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the second plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories;

the representative model comprises a plurality of representative subtotal power demand values, each representative subtotal power demand value of the plurality of representative subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories; and

for each of the plurality of demand categories, a corresponding representative subtotal power demand value is computed based at least partially on a corresponding first subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values of the meter controller model and a corresponding second subtotal power demand value of the second plurality of subtotal power demand values of the neighbor model.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a third message comprising a target demand model; and

computing a control input based at least in part on the target demand model and the representative model.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the target demand model comprises information indicative of a degree to which a power demand reduction is requested.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the target demand model comprises a present power demand value and a target power demand value.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transmitting a fourth message comprising the control input.

21. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that, when executed, perform a method for managing energy demands of a plurality of appliances, the method comprising:

receiving, via at least one communication interface of a meter controller apparatus, a first message from a first appliance controller apparatus coupled to at least one first appliance of the plurality of appliances, the first message comprising first information regarding a first power demand of the at least one first appliance and a first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance, wherein the first demand category is one of a plurality of demand categories; and

computing, by at least one processor of the meter controller apparatus, an updated meter controller model for the plurality of appliances based at least in part on the first message received from the first appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model for the plurality of appliances, wherein the meter controller apparatus is a first meter controller apparatus, and wherein:

the at least one communication interface is further configured to receive a second message from a second meter controller apparatus, the second message comprising a neighbor model; and

the at least one processor is further programmed to compute a representative model based at least in part on the updated meter controller model and the neighbor model.