Online trading and dynamic routing of electric power among electric service providers

1. A method for dynamically trading and distributing electric power, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting by a control node bids and asks from buyers and sellers of electric power;

(b) dynamically matching by the control node the collected bids and asks to form matches;

(c) receiving by the control node information related to current supply and demand conditions on an electric network through a feedback loop;

(d) generating, by the control node, a route plan for routing electricity between the matched buyer and seller and for simultaneously balancing loads and resources of the electric network based on the supply and demand conditions received through the feedback loop; and

(e) configuring the electric network to route electric power in response to the control node in accordance with the route plan.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (e) of configuring includes switching the flow of electric power in the electric network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (e) further comprises dynamically effecting the route plan.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (a) further comprises collecting the bids and asks in a spot market.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (a) comprises collecting the bids and asks via a wide area network.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said step (a) comprises inputting the bids and asks to the wide area network via respective buyer terminals and seller terminals.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (e) comprises configuring an electric network comprising a high voltage direct current system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises using the current supply and demand conditions received through the feedback loop for dynamically matching bids and asks.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said step (b) comprises continuously updating the matches based on changes in the bids and asks.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises continuously updating the matches based on changes in the bids and asks.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said step (b) further comprises matching an equal share of the power from a seller with the lowest asking price to all bids of buyers to which the power is available.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said step (b) further comprises matching a share of the power from a seller with the lowest asking price to all bids of buyers to which the power is available, wherein the share is proportional to the amount of power demanded by the buyer.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said step (b) further comprises matching the ask of the power from a seller with the lowest asking price first to the bids of buyers with the highest amount of power demanded.

14. A system for dynamically trading and supplying electric power, comprising a control node for receiving bids and asks from buyers and sellers, matching the received bids and asks to form matched bids and asks, and dynamically updating the matched bids and asks in accordance with changes occurring in the bids and asks, a feedback loop connected between the control node and an electric network, wherein the electric network is capable of routing electricity between buyers and sellers, said control node being configured for receiving information relating to current supply and demand conditions on the electric network through the feedback loop, generating a route plan for routing electricity between the matched buyer and seller and for simultaneously balancing loads and resources of the electric network based on the supply and demand conditions received through the feedback loop, and for activating switching devices connected to the electric network for switching a flow of electricity in the electric network to effect the generated route plan.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said control node is connectable to a wide area network for receiving the bids and asks from buyers and sellers.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein said control node comprises a deal maker module for matching said bids and asks and a route planner module for planning the route for effecting the matched bids and asks.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said control node comprises an accounting module connectable for determining the actual use of the buyer and determining the charge to the buyer.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electric network is a high voltage direct current system.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein said control node is configured to receive bids and asks in a spot market, and to dynamically match the bids and asks using the current supply and demand conditions received through the feedback loop.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein said control node is configured to dynamically generate the route plan.