Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power distribution
system for distributing a power supplied to dwellings or the
like by using remote electricity monitoring devices
installed in the dwellings or the like.
Background of the Invention
Conventionally, Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2005-070869 discloses a remote electricity
monitoring device. That is, with this device, a register
displaying accumulated electricity consumption and a
rotating disc of an induction type watt-hour meter
previously installed are imaged by an imaging unit. Then,
through the pattern recognition on respective obtained
images, the accumulated electricity consumption displayed on
the register and accumulated electricity consumption
estimated from the rotation of the rotating disc are
obtained, so that the accumulated electricity consumption of
the induction type watt-hour meter can be monitored based on
the obtained accumulated electricity consumption. Further,
the monitored accumulated electricity consumption of the
induction type watt-hour meter is transmitted to an
electricity metering center via a communication device.

With such remote electricity monitoring device,
accumulated electricity consumption is automatically read
from a watt-hour meter provided in each dwelling via a
communication device so that the accumulated electricity
consumption of a power supplied to each dwelling can be
easily obtained.
Summary of the Invention
However, an amount of a power consumed in a dwelling,
i.e., a power consumption amount, which is measured by the
remote electricity monitoring device, is typically different
for each dwelling, region, season, time period, or the like.
Accordingly, various types of information on power
consumption patterns of each dwelling, each region or the
like can be obtained based on the power consumption amount
obtained therefrom. However, although installation of a
remote electricity monitoring device in each dwelling or
region is completed, it cannot be a basic solution for
facilitating the effective use of a power. That is, there
is a demand or a requirement for the efficient supply of a
power to a supply destination, but the mechanism thereof has
not yet been established.
In view of the above, the present invention provides a
power distribution system capable of achieving a power
supply which satisfies power demands of power supply

destinations by distributing a power depending on excess or
deficiency of a power among the individual power supply
destinations.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a power distribution system including: a
remote electricity monitoring device which is provided in
each of supply destinations of a power for remotely
measuring an amount of power consumption of each supply
destination and an amount of a surplus power stored in a
storage battery in the supply destination via communication
means; and a management server for managing supply of the
power to each supply destination while collecting power
consumption amount information and surplus power amount
information, which are information obtained by the remote
electricity monitoring devices, via the communication means.
The management server distributes the power among the
supply destinations in line with a relationship between
power amounts based on the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information that
have been collected.
In accordance with the above configuration, when the
amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus power
of each power supply destination, the supply of power of
which is managed under the control of a management server,
are collected in the management server via the communication
means in the remote electricity monitoring device, the

management server can collectively manage the amount of
power consumption and the amount of surplus power of each
power supply destination such as a dwelling, a factory, a
facility or the like. Further, when a power is distributed
among power supply destinations in line with a relationship
between the amounts of power based on the amount of power
consumption and the amount of surplus power of each power
supply destination, which have been collectively managed in
this way, that is, the relationship between the excess and
deficiency of the amount of power of each power supply
destination, the excess and deficiency of power among the
power supply destinations are resolved in such a way that a
supply destination having a surplus power distributes the
power to a supply destination experiencing power deficiency
due to its excessive power consumption. Accordingly, power
demands among power supply destinations are satisfied.
The communication means preferably employs power line
communications using a power line as a medium.
In accordance with the above configuration, when PLC
(Power Line Communications) using a power line for supplying
power to each supply destination as a medium is employed as
the communication means, there is no need to ensure a
separate communications path for remotely measuring the
amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus power,
and a private network using an existing wiring path can be
constructed. Further, since the power line communications,

which uses a power line for supplying power to each supply-
destination as a medium, is employed as the communication
means as described above, management is facilitated when a
power that is supplied to each power supply destination
through the power line, and the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information that
are collected through the power line, are managed by the
management server.
The communication means may employ network
communications using Internet as a medium.
In accordance with the above configuration, when
network communication using the Internet as a medium is
employed as the communication means, network communications
having high generality can be implemented and the range of
application thereof can be extended in the case where the
amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus power
of each supply destination are collected in the management
server by the remote electricity monitoring device.
The management server preferably performs power
distribution among the supply destinations depending on a
balance of power amounts based on the power consumption
amount information and the surplus power amount information.
The power demands of the power supply destinations
vary in relation to a balance between the amounts of power
based on the amount of power consumption and the amount of
surplus power of each power supply destination. That is,

even when the amount of power consumption of a power supply
destination is excessively high, if a power to supplement
the amount of power consumption is stored, the balance
between the amount of power consumption and the amount of
surplus power exists. Therefore, the power demand is
satisfied in the power supply destination, and thus, there
is no need to perform power distribution.
In this regard, according to the configuration, power
distribution among the supply destinations is performed
depending on a balance between the amounts of power based on
Lhe amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus
power of each power supply destination. Accordingly, when
the power demands in the supply destinations is satisfied by
means of power distribution among the power supply
destinations, the equalization of power demands among the
supply destinations is achieved. Accordingly, power
distribution among the supply destinations can be
appropriately performed.
The management server preferably distributes the
surplus power to a supply destination expected to experience
power deficiency, based on changes in the power consumption
amount information and the surplus power amount information.
In general, the amount of power consumption or the
amount of surplus power changes depending on each dwelling
or each area, and in addition, on each season, each time
period and the like. A supply destination having power

deficiency can be previously determined based on the changes
in the amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus
power. In accordance with the above configuration, when the
surplus power is distributed and supplied to a supply
destination which is expected to experience power deficiency
on the basis of the changes in the amount of power
consumption and the amount of surplus power, the
distribution of power is performed before the power
deficiency occurs on the supply destination, thus preventing
the power deficiency from occurring.
The management server may primarily distribute the
surplus power to a supply destination that is previously
determined among the supply destinations.
In accordance with the above configuration, when the
supply destination having higher power consumption among the
power supply destinations is previously determined by a
contract or the like, and a surplus power is primarily
supplied to the determined supply destination, power
distribution among the supply destinations can be accurately
and easily performed.
The supply destination that is previously determined
is a supply destination having a small change in power
consumption.
The power supply destinations includes supply
destinations having a small change in the amount of power
consumption and a supply destinations such as a dwelling,

the power consumption of which greatly changes depending on
the time period or environmental conditions such as
meteorological conditions. In this regard, when surplus
power is distributed and supplied to a supply destination
having a small change in the amount of power consumption,
the power required by this supply destination can be
detected with high precision. Accordingly, a sufficient
surplus power can be distributed and supplied to a supply
destination requiring the surplus power, and in addition,
power distribution among the supply destinations can be
performed with high reliability.
The supply destination that is previously determined
is a supply destination having a small change in power
consumption and having a fixed period of time in power
consumption.
As described above, the power demand is almost fixed
in the case of a supply destination having a small change in
the amount of power consumption and having a fixed period of
time in power consumption, so that the amount of surplus
power required can be detected with high precision for
performing power distribution. In this regard, when a
supply destination having a small change in the amount of
power consumption and the fixed period of time in power
consumption is designated as a supply destination to which
the surplus power is to be supplied, as described above, the
power required by the supply destination can be detected

with high precision. Accordingly, a sufficient surplus
power can be distributed and supplied to the supply
'destination requiring the surplus power, and moreover, power
distribution among the supply destinations can be performed
with high reliability.
The supply destination may be an electrically driving
system of a public institution.
Generally, the system having a small change in the
amount of power consumption includes an electrically driving
system of a public institution such as a streetlight, an
incinerator or the like, and a change in the amount of power
consumption thereof is generally fixed. Due thereto, in
accordance with the above configuration, when the
distribution of power is performed based on the comparison
between the amount of surplus power collected in the
management server for a power distribution destination and a
demand for power required to operate the system of the
public institution, a sufficient power can be definitely
supplied to the system.
The supply destination may be an antitheft security
system provided in a building.
The security system is generally operated at a
specific time due to constant power consumption. Due
thereto, it is also possible to predict the amount of
surplus power required or a time period requiring the
surplus power with high precision, for the security system.

In this regard, in accordance with the above configuration,
a sufficient surplus power can be securely distributed and
supplied during the required time span period for supplying
the surplus power to the security system.
The management server may further include a function
of calculating an optimal mixture form of various types of
power generation in a power supply facility, based on the
power consumption amount information and the surplus power
amount information, and feed back the calculated optimal
mixture form of the various types of the power generation to
the power supply facility.
In accordance with the above configuration, when the
optimal mixture form of various types of power generated
from thermal power generation, hydroelectric power
generation, nuclear power generation or the like is
calculated from each aspect such as stability, economic
efficiency, or environmental efficiency, on the basis of the
collected power consumption amount information and surplus
power amount information, the power demand in which the
amounts of power consumption and the amounts of surplus
power of supply destinations in an area managed by the
management server are taken into consideration can be
accurately obtained. Accordingly, a highly reliable optimal
mixture form of various types of power generation depending
on the power demand can be fed back to a power supply
facility, and, in addition, power can be efficiently

supplied to the supply destinations.
A. reduction in discharge of carbon dioxide may be
taken into consideration in the calculation of the optimal
'mixture form of the various types of the power generation.
In accordance with the above configuration, when a
reduction in the discharge of carbon dioxide is taken into
consideration in the optimal mixture form of various types
of power generation, environmental efficiency in the supply
of power can be further improved while a power is generated
by the power supply facility based on the optimal mixture
form.
A reduction in power generation cost is taken into
consideration in the calculation of the optimal mixture form
of the various types of the power generation.
In accordance with the above configuration, when a
reduction in the discharge of carbon dioxide is taken into
consideration in the optimal mixture form of various types
of power generation, economic efficiency in the supply of
power can be further improved when power is generated by the
power supply facility based on the optimal mixture form.
The management server may further include a function
of obtaining information reguired to improve power
utilization efficiency of each supply destination, based on
the power consumption amount information and the surplus
power amount information, and providing guidance of the
obtained information via the communication means, and each

supply destination further includes a reporting unit for
reporting the guidance through the remote electricity
monitoring device.
In general, the value of power supplied differs
depending on a time period for which power is supplied or
the amount of power supplied, and the efficiency of power
utilization also changes in relation to the time period for
which power is supplied or the amount of power supplied. In
accordance with the above configuration, when information
required to increase the power utilization efficiency is
obtained based on the collected power consumption amount
information and surplus power amount information, and the
obtained information is reported to the user of the supply
destination via a display device or a voice guidance device,
the efficiency of power utilization in each supply
destination is improved.
The management server may further include a function
of receiving environmental information including
meteorological information via the communication means and
correcting a distribution form of the power distribution
based on the received environmental information.
The amount of power consumption or the amount of
surplus power of the power supply destination changes in
relation to environmental conditions, e.g., meteorological
conditions such as weather or atmospheric temperature, or
political factors. In accordance with the above

configuration, a distribution form of the power distribution
is corrected based on the environmental information, thus
enabling power distribution to be performed with higher
reliability.
The management server may include a plurality of
servers implemented in a hierarchical structure in which
functions are assigned to corresponding levels, the remote
electricity monitoring device installed in each of the
supply destinations may be connected to a relevant server at
a lowermost level among the hierarchical servers via the
communication means, and the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information, which
are information obtained by the remote electricity
monitoring device, may be collected in the server at the
lowermost level, so that whenever a limitation caused in
power distribution by a lower-level server, targets for
power distribution are sequentially changed to supply
destinations managed by the server at a higher level.
In accordance with the above configuration, when the
management server includes a plurality of servers
implemented in a hierarchical structure in which functions
are assigned to respective levels, the power consumption
amount information and the surplus power amount information
of individual supply destinations that form a minimum group
(area) unit are collected in each server at the lowermost
level of the hierarchical structure. Further, the power

consumption amount information and surplus power amount
information of a minimum group unit collected in each
lowermost level server are managed by a management server at
a level higher than the lowermost level. Accordingly, the
power consumption amount information and the surplus power
amount information of individual power supply destinations
are collected by stages in the units of, e.g., a pole
transformer or the office of an electric power company. The
management of the power consumption amount information and
the surplus power amount information for each group (area),
and even power distribution based on the power consumption
amount information and the surplus power amount information,
are also facilitated.
Further, in regard to such power distribution,
whenever power distribution by a lower-level server is
restricted, targets for power distribution are sequentially
changed to supply destinations that are managed by a higher-
Level server. That is, in regard to power distribution
among the power supply destinations, power distribution is
primarily performed based the power consumption amount
information and surplus power amount information in minimum
groups (areas) managed by each server at the lowermost
level, and power demands is satisfied for each of the
minimum areas. Further, when excess or deficiency of power
of each supply destination are not resolved although power
distribution among supply destinations in the area has been

performed based on the amount of power consumption and the
amount of surplus power, power distribution among the
minimum areas (groups) is performed by higher level servers.
Accordingly, self-satisfaction for power demands can be
achieved by stages over a range from a minimum area (group)
unit such as between neighboring dwellings to a large group
unit such as a district. Moreover, a mechanism capable of
efficiently supplying a power to each supply destination can
also be easily established.
The server at the lowermost level is a sub-management
server and is installed at a pole transformer.
In general, under a pole transformer, five to ten
dwellings or the like are present as power supply
destinations, so that dwellings supplied with power from
this pole transformer are called a minimum group for power
distribution. Accordingly, micro-power distribution can be
performed among the five to ten dwellings as each unit that
is supplied with power from the pole transformer, and power
transmission loss is suitably reduced upon efficiently
supplying power to each supply destination. Further, when
the sub-management server is installed on the pole
transformer in this way, management is facilitated in the
case where the supply of power to each dwelling and both the
power consumption amount information and the surplus power
amount information are managed by the sub-management server.
A local server for managing supply of the power to an

area to which the supply destinations are assigned is
preferably installed as a server at a level higher than that
of the sub-management server installed at the pole
transformer, and the power distribution among the supply
destinations may be performed in units of the area.
In accordance with the above configuration, when the
local server for managing the supply of power to an area in
which supply destinations are assigned is provided as the
server at a level higher than that of the sub-management
server installed on the pole transformer, and the
distribution of power among the individual supply
destinations is performed in the units of the area managed
by the local server, the power distribution can take place
among areas, each forming a group of pole transformers, as
well as power distribution between individual pole
transformers at the level lower than that of the local
server. Accordingly, power demands among the areas can be
satisfied when power distribution among the supply
destinations is performed by the hierarchical servers.
In accordance with the power distribution system of
the present invention, the supply of power can be fulfilled
to satisfies power demands in power supply destinations via
power distribution based on the excess and deficiency of
power among the power supply destinations.

Brief Description of the Drawings
The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of
embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
a power supply system to which a power distribution system
in accordance with the present invention is applied;
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of
the power distribution system in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an installation form
of a sub-management server in accordance with the embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a form of a
connection between an electricity meter and a the sub-
management server in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a hierarchical
structure of individual servers in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a graph showing a mixture form of various
types of power generation by a power supply facility
depending on power demands;
Figs. 7A and 7B present a flowchart showing a sequence

of power distribution by a sub-management server in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 8A and 8B show a flowchart showing a sequence of
power distribution by a local server in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a sequence of power
distribution by a center server in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the system
configuration of another embodiment of the power
distribution system according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings
which form a part hereof. The same reference numerals will
be assigned to the same or similar components throughout the
drawings, and redundant descriptions thereof will be
omitted.
As shown in Fig. 1, in a dwelling as a power supply
destination, a power supply system 1 for supplying a power
to various types of appliances installed at home
(illumination devices, air conditioners, electric home
appliances, audio and visual appliances or the like) is
provided. The power supply system 1 supplies not only a

power from a commercial AC (Alternating Current) power
source 2 (AC power source) for home use but also a power
from a solar cell 3 which generates a power by using solar
light, to various types of appliances. The power supply
system 1 supplies a power to an AC appliance 6 configured to
receive the AC power from the commercial power source (AC
power source) and be operated, in addition to DC (Direct
Current) appliances 5 configured to receive DC power from a
DC power source to and be operated.
The power supply system 1 is provided with a
controller 7 and a DC distribution board 8 (including a DC
breaker) as a distribution board of the system 1. Further,
the power supply system 1 is provided with a control unit 9
and a relay unit 10 for controlling the operations of the DC
appliances 5 of the dwelling.
An AC distribution board 11 for branching an AC power
is connected to the controller 7 via an AC power line 12.
The controller is connected to the commercial AC power
source 2 via the AC distribution board 11 and is connected
to the solar cell 3 via a DC power line 13. The controller
receives an AC power from the AC distribution board 11,
receives a DC power from the solar cell 3 and converts the
powers into a predetermined DC power as an appliance power.
Further, the controller outputs the resulting DC power to
the DC distribution board 8 via a DC power line 14 or
outputs it to a storage battery 16 as a power storage device

via a DC power line 15 to store the power in the storage
battery 16.
The storage battery 16 is used as, e.g., a backup
power source for a case of power failure or the like.
Further, in the storage battery 16, a surplus power of the
power generated by the solar cell 3 is stored. The
controller receives the AC power and also supplies an AC
power to the AC distribution board 11 by converting the
power from the solar cell 3 or the power from the storage
battery 16 into the AC power. The controller exchanges data
with the DC distribution board 8 via a signal line 17.
The DC distribution board 8 is a kind of breaker for a
DC power. The DC distribution board 8 branches the DC power
inputted from the controller and outputs the resulting DC
power to the control unit 9 via a DC power line 18, or to
the relay unit 10 via a DC power line 19. Further, the DC
distribution board 8 exchanges data with the control unit 9
via a signal line 20 or with the relay unit 10 via a signal
line 21.
The multiple DC appliances 5 are connected to the
control unit 9. These DC appliances 5 are connected to the
control unit 9 via DC supply lines 22, each of which is
capable of carrying both the DC power and data via the same
wiring. The DC supply lines 22 carry both power and data to
the respective DC appliances 5 over a single wire through
communications that superimpose, on a DC power,

communications signals transmitting data via a high-
frequency transmission wave, i.e., a power for the DC
appliances. The control unit 9 obtains the DC power of the
DC appliances 5 via the DC power line 18, and determines
which of the DC appliances 5 is to be controlled and which
method is to be used to control the DC appliance 5, based on
operating instructions obtained from the DC distribution
board 8 via the signal line 20. Moreover, the control unit
9 outputs the DC power and the operating instructions to the
determined DC appliance 5 over the DC supply line 22 to
control the operation of the DC appliance 5.
Switches 23 that are manipulated when the operations
of the household DC appliances 5 are switched are connected
to the control unit 9 via.the DC supply line 22. Further, a
sensor 24 for detecting, e.g., radio waves transmitted from
an infrared remote controller, is connected to the control
unit 9 via the DC supply line 22. Accordingly, the DC
appliances 5 are controlled by transmitting communications
signals over the DC supply line 22 in response not only to
the operating instruction from the DC distribution board 8
but also to the manipulation of the switches 23 or the
detection of the sensor 24.
Multiple DC appliances 5 are connected to the relay
unit 10 via respective DC power lines 25. The relay unit 10
obtains the DC power of the DC appliances 5 via the DC power
line 19 and determines which of the DC appliances 5 is to be

operated based on an operating instruction obtained from the
DC distribution board 8 via the signal line 21. Then, the
relay unit 10 controls the operation of the determined DC
appliance 5 in such a way that a relay provided therein
selectively starts or stops the supply of the DC power to
the DC power line 25. Moreover, multiple switches 26 for
manually manipulating the DC appliances 5 are connected to
the relay unit 10, and thus, the DC appliances 5 are
controlled by selectively starting or stopping the supply of
the DC power over the DC power line 25 using the relay in
response to the manipulation of the switches 26.
A DC outlet 27 that is properly attached to the
dwelling, e.g., in a form of a wall outlet or a bottom
outlet, is connected to the DC distribution board 8 via the
DC power line 28. When the plug (not shown) of the DC
appliance is inserted into the DC outlet 27, a DC power is
directly supplied to the appliance.
Further, an electricity meter 29, as a remote
electricity monitoring device capable of remotely measuring
the amount of the consumed power of the commercial AC power
source 2 (i.e., the amount of power consumption) or the
amount of surplus power that is generated by the solar cell
3 and is stored in the storage battery 16, is connected
between the commercial AC power source 2 and the AC
distribution board 11. The electricity meter 29 has a
function of, e.g., power line communications or wireless

communications, as well as the function of remotely
measuring the amount of power consumption or the amount of
surplus power. The electricity meter 29 collects the amount
of the power consumption and the amount of the surplus power
of each supply destination via power line communications or
wireless communications and transmits them to the center
server (not shown) in a power provider such as an electric
power company which manages the supply of power to the
supply destination. Such a center server obtains
information required to improve the power utilization
efficiency of each supply destination based on the power
consumption amount information and the surplus power amount
information transmitted from the electricity meter 29, and
transmits the obtained information to the electricity meter
29 provided in each dwelling.
The power supply system 1 is provided with a network
system 30 that enables various types of household appliances
to be controlled via network communications. The network
system 30 is provided with a home server 31 that functions
as a controller of the network system 30. The home server
31 is connected to an external home management server 32 via
a network N, such as Internet and is also connected to a
home appliance 34 via a signal line 33. Further, the home
server 31 operates by a DC power, obtained from the DC
distribution board 8 via the DC power line 35.
A control box 36 for managing the operational control

of various types of the home appliances through network
communications is connected to the home server 31 via a
signal line 37. The control box 36 is connected to the
controller and the DC distribution board 8 via the signal
line 17 and may also directly control the DC appliances 5
via a DC supply line 38. A gas/water meter 39 capable of
remotely measuring, e.g., the amounts of gas or water used
is connected to the control box 36 which is in turn
connected to a control panel 40 of the network system 30. A
monitoring device 41 including, e.g., a door phone receiver,
a sensor or a camera is connected to the control panel 40.
Further, a reporting unit 42 including a display device or a
voice guidance device for reporting various information
received via the electricity meter 29 to the resident of the
dwelling is connected to the control panel 40.
As information reported by the reporting unit 42,
model cases for a power usage pattern, such as an
appropriate usage example of each appliance for a power rate
per each hour, is guided. For example, when the resident of
the dwelling uses the washing machine once at each of 9 a.m.
and once at 18 p.m., the model case is reported as "it is
profitable to use twice a washing machine at 18 p.m. to
reduce a power rate". Further, in regard to the selling of
surplus power generated by the solar cell 3 or the like,
model cases for a power selling pattern appropriate for the
resident is guided.

When instructions to operate the various types of the
home appliances are inputted through the network N, the home
server 31 notifies the control box 36 of the instructions,
and operates the control box 36 so that the appliances
perform operations corresponding to the operating
instructions. Further, the home server 31 provides various
types of information, which is obtained from the gas/water
meter 39, to the home management server 32 via the network
N, and, upon receiving notification that the monitoring
device 41 has detected an abnormality from the control panel
40, also provides the notification to the home management
server 32 via the network N.
According to the power supply system 1, the operations
of various types of the appliances installed at the home can
be collectively managed by the home server 31, and powers
can be efficiently supplied to those appliances. Further,
required powers to be used by various types of appliances
can be supplemented with a surplus power such as the power
generated by a power generation device at the home including
the solar cell 3 or the like, or the power stored in the
storage battery 16, and thus power demands at the home can
be satisfied.
However, a balance between the amount of power
consumption and the amount of surplus power in the power
supply destination varies depending on each dwelling, each
area, environmental conditions such as meteorological

conditions, or time spans. Because of this, when the amount
of a power consumed at the home becomes excessively high, it
is difficult to supply a power depending on the power demand
at the home, and a deficiency of power occurs.
Meanwhile, compared to the amount of the power
consumed by various types of appliances, when the amount of
the power generated by the power generation device such as
the solar cell 3 or the amount of power stored in the
storage battery 16 increases, the amount of the surplus
power at the home increases. In this way, even if a power
demand has been satisfied in a single dwelling (supply
destination), it is difficult to maintain a balance between
the amount of the power consumption and the amount of the
surplus power and to resolve the excess and deficiency of a
power among individual dwellings.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the distribution
of a power among power supply destinations is performed
based on a balance between the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information of each
power supply destination. The schematic configuration of
the power distribution system in accordance with the present
embodiment is shown in Fig. 2.
As shown in Fig. 2, the power supply system includes a
management server for collecting the amounts of the power
consumption and the amounts of the surplus power measured by
the electricity meters 29 provided in respective dwellings

56, i.e., power supply destinations while managing a supply
of a power to the supply destinations.
The management server includes a plurality of servers
51 to 53 implemented in a hierarchical structure in which
functions are assigned to respective levels. Among the
servers 51 to 53, each server 51 at the lowermost level is a
sub-management server and is installed together with a pole
transformer 55 installed on an electric pole 54, as shown in
Fig. 3. Under the sub-management server 51 and the pole
transformer 55, about five to ten dwellings or the like are
present as supply destinations to which a power from a power
supply facility is supplied from the pole transformer 55 via
power lines L. Further, in each of the dwellings, the
electricity meter 29 is provided, as shown in Fig. 4, so
that the amount of the power consumption and the amount of
the surplus power in each of the dwellings 56 are measured
by the electricity meter 29. The power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information of each
supply destination 56 measured by the electricity meter 29
in this way are collected in the sub-management server 51
through power line communications over the power lines L.
Accordingly, the individual dwellings 5 6 supplied with
a power from the power supply facility via the pole
transformer 55 are set as a minimum group unit, so that
power consumption amount information and surplus power
amount information within the group are collected in the

sub-management server 51. Further, the supply of power from
the pole transformer 55 to each dwelling 56 is managed by
the sub-management server 51 in consideration of a balance
between the amounts of the consumed power and the surplus
power based on the power consumption amount information and
the surplus power amount information of the dwellings 56.
In a local server 52 provided at the higher level, an
area in which several tens of supply destinations, i.e., the
dwellings 56 belonging to a group of adjacent multiple pole
transformers 55 are present is set as a unit, so that power
consumption amount information and surplus power amount
information of individual supply destinations located in the
area are collected in the local server 52 through power line
communications over the power lines L. Further, as the unit
of the area managed by the local server 52, an area based on
the unit of each business office of an electric power
company, e.g., is set.
In this way, the local server 52 manages the power
consumption amount information and the surplus power amount
information of each supply destination present in the area
based on a unit of the pole transformers 55 while managing
the supply of the power to each pole transformer 55 in
consideration of the balance between the amounts of the
consumed power and the surplus power based on the power
consumption amount information and the surplus power amount
information from the respective pole transformers 55.

Further, the local server 52 provided in each area is
connected to the network PN of a power provider, i.e., the
electric power company or the like, so that a network for
dividing targets, to which a power from the power supply
facility is to be supplied, into multiple areas and
separately managing the divided targets is constructed.
Further, the center server 53 is located at the level
higher than that of the local servers 52 provided
corresponding to the multiple areas and is configured to
collectively manage the local servers 52. In the center
server 53, the power consumption amount information and the
surplus power amount information of the supply destinations
managed by individual local servers 52 are managed on the
basis of the areas, and the supply of the power to each area
is managed in consideration of a balance between the amounts
of the consumed power and the surplus power based on the
power consumption amount information and the surplus power
amount information in each area. Accordingly, the power
consumption amount information and the surplus power amount
information of the individual supply destinations divided in
the multiple areas are collectively managed by the center
server 53.
Further, the amount of power consumption and the
amount of surplus power also change depending on
environmental conditions including meteorological conditions
or the like. That is, the amount of the power generated by

the solar cell 3 is proportional to the amount of sunshine,
and the amount of the power generated is also decreased
during the night time or in bad weather. Further, the
frequency of use of an air-conditioning appliance, such as
an air-conditioner or the like, varies depending on a change
in atmospheric temperature, humidity, weather and the like,
and thus the amount of power consumption also changes.
In the present embodiment, meteorological information
such as weather forecast information of each area, e.g.,
rainfall probability, the amount of solar radiation, the
amount of clouds, temperature and humidity, is obtained by
the center server 53 from an information institution such as
the meteorological administration, and correction data is
obtained based on the obtained meteorological information of
each area. Further, the amount of the surplus power to be
distributed among the dwellings 56a to 56e (see Fig. 5)
based on the balance between the amount of the power
consumption and the amount of the surplus power is corrected
by using the obtained correction data.
That is, when worsening weather, for example, is
forecasted based on the meteorological information obtained
by the center server 53, the reduction in the amount of
power generated by the solar cell 3 is predicted, and thus
the amount of surplus power to be distributed from an area,
which generates a large amount of power by the solar cell 3,
is corrected to be reduced. Further, even in an area having

power deficiency, when an increase in the amount of power
generated from the area is predicted due to an increase in
the amount of solar radiation, the amount of surplus power
to be distributed to that area is corrected to be reduced.
Furthermore, in an area which is forecasted to have a
thunder (thunderbolt) , the amount of surplus power to be
distributed and supplied is corrected to be an amount of a
power for compensating a power failure caused by the falling
of a thunderbolt. In this way, in the present embodiment, a
form of power distribution among the supply destinations is
corrected based on the weather forecast for each supply
destination, thus enabling power distribution to be
performed depending on the variation in meteorological
conditions.
Next, the form of the power distribution performed by
the power distribution system configured in this way is
described with reference to Fig. 5. Further, each of the
dwellings 56a to 56e shown in Fig. 5 is assumed to have the
power supply system 1 of Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 5, the management server forming the
power distribution system is implemented in a tree-shaped
Hierarchical structure based on the sub-management servers
51, the local servers 52, and the center server 53 which are
hierarchically arranged by stages. The scale of groups
(areas) of supply destinations in which the form of power
supply is managed is expanded in the sequence of sub-

management servers 51 → local servers 52 → center server
53.
Under the above assumption, power consumption amount
information and surplus power amount information of
dwellings 56a to 56e, which are measured by electricity
meters 29 provided in the respective dwellings 56a to 56e to
be managed under the pole transformer 55, or the amounts of
deficient power of the dwellings 56a to 56e, are collected
in a sub-management server 51a at the lowermost level among
the hierarchical servers. Correction data based on the
meteorological information obtained by the center server 53
is delivered to the sub-management server 51 via the local
server 52.
Further, among the sub-management server 51a and the
electricity meters 29 provided in the dwellings 56a to 56e,
as shown in Fig. 6, a power is primarily purchased during a
time period for nighttime power set by an electric power
company, i.e., a time period in which power demands are
reduced (1 kwh = about 9 yen), and the power is sold up to
the maximum amount of surplus power within a range
previously determined by the electric power company.
Further, in relation to the power selling of the surplus
power, first, power selling is requested by the electricity
meters 29 provided in the dwellings 56a to 56e to the sub-
management server 51a, and thereafter notification of the
determination of an amount of the power to be purchased in

response to the power selling request is provided from the
sub-management server 51a to each electricity meter 29.
Further, changes in amounts of power consumption and
amounts of surplus power of individual dwellings 56a to 56e
are learned by the sub-management server 51a on the basis of
the amounts of the power consumption and the amounts of the
surplus power of the dwellings 56a to 56e collected by the
electricity meters 29. Furthermore, power usage pattern
models or power selling pattern models of the dwellings 56a
to 56e are transmitted to the electricity meters 29 provided
in the dwellings 56a to 56e on the basis of the changes in
the amounts of the power consumption and the amounts of the
surplus power of the dwellings 56a to 56e. In this way, in
the dwellings 56a to 56e, the power usage pattern models or
the power selling pattern models are guided to the residents
of the dwellings 56a to 56e via the reporting unit 42 that
reports guidance through the electricity meters 29 (remote
neter-reading devices).
On the basis of a balance between the amounts of the
consumed power and the surplus power based on the power
consumption amount information and the surplus power amount
information of the dwellings 56a to 56e collected in the
sub-management server 51a, e.g., when the dwellings 56a and
56b are expected to experience power deficiency, the surplus
power of the dwellings 56c to 56e is distributed and
supplied to the dwellings 56a and 56b. Further, in this

case, the amount of the surplus power to be distributed from
the dwellings 56c to 56e to the dwellings 56a and 56b which
are expected to experience the power deficiency is corrected
depending on the correction data based on the meteorological
information. That is, in regard to this correction,
correction is performed to reduce the amount of surplus
power to be distributed from the dwellings 56c to 56e, e.g.,
when the amount of power generated by the solar batteries 3
in the dwellings 56a and 56b, which has been expected to
experience a deficiency of power, is predicted to increase
with an increase in the amount of solar radiation on the
basis of meteorological information.
If such surplus power to satisfy the power demand has
been supplied to the dwellings 56a and 56b via the
distribution and supply of the surplus power to the
dwellings 56a and 56b performed in this way, information on
a balance between the amounts of the power consumption and
the amounts of the surplus power in the management area is
transmitted from the sub-management server 51a to the local
server 52 located at the higher level. In this way, in the
present embodiment, self-satisfaction for the power demand
in the area managed by the sub-management server 51a is
achieved via the distribution and supply of surplus power
performed among the dwellings 56a to 56e depending on the
amounts of power consumption and the amounts of surplus
power of the dwellings 56a to 56e.

Meanwhile, if it is difficult to resolve the excess or
deficiency of power in the management area via the
distribution and supply of the surplus power among the
dwellings 56a to 56e, notification indicating the situation
is transmitted from the sub-management server 51a to the
higher level-local server 52a. Similarly, in the local
server 52a, the balance information or the amounts of
deficient power, which are obtained in the area to be
managed based on the unit of the pole transformer 55, are
collected from the sub-management servers 51b to 51d.
When the balance information or the amounts of the
deficient power of the area to be managed are collected in
the local server 52a in this way, it is determined based on
Lhe collected information whether a balance among the
respective pole transformers 55 managed by the sub-
management servers 51a to 51d has been preserved, i.e.,
whether the excess or the deficiency of power has not
occurred. Further, when, e.g., it is assumed that a
deficiency of a power is predicted for the area managed by
the sub-management server 51b, and a surplus power is
present in the area managed by the sub-management server
51c, a power distribution instruction prompting the surplus
power of the area managed by the sub-management server 51c
to be distributed and supplied to the area managed by the
sub-management server 51b is issued from the local server
52a to the sub-management server 51c. Further, even in this

case, the amount of the surplus power to be distributed is
corrected depending on correction data based on the
meteorological information.
Moreover, when such surplus power to satisfy the power
demand is supplied to the area managed by the sub-management
server 51b through the distribution and supply of the
surplus power among the areas managed by the local server
52a, self-satisfaction for the power demand in the areas
managed by the local server 52a is achieved, and then the
power information on the areas managed by the local server
52a is transmitted to the center server 53. Similarly,
information on the balance between the amounts of power
consumption and the amounts of surplus power, the amounts of
deficient power and the like for the respective areas
managed by the local servers 52b to 52d are collected in the
center server 53.
In this way, when the balance information or the
amounts of deficient power for the areas managed by the
local servers 52a to 52d are collected in the center server
53 in this way, it is determined based on the collected
information whether a balance among the areas managed by the
local servers 52a to 52d has been preserved, i.e., whether
the excess or deficiency of power has not occurred. For
example, when it is assumed that a deficiency of a power is
predicted for the area managed by the local server 52b, and
a surplus power is present in the area managed by the local

server 52c, the center server 53 issues a power distribution
instruction, prompting the surplus power of the area managed
by the local server 52c to be distributed and supplied to
the area managed by the local server 52b, to the local
server 52c. Further, even in this case, the amount of the
surplus power to be distributed is corrected depending on
correction data based on the meteorological information. As
described above, a power demand in each of the areas managed
by the respective local servers 52a to 52d is satisfied
through distribution of a surplus power among those areas.
Meanwhile, if self-satisfaction for a power demand in
each area is not achieved in spite of the distribution of
the surplus power among the areas, information on an amount
of supply power, which is derived to satisfy the power
demand in each area on the basis of the balance information
or the amounts of deficient power of the individual areas,
is collected in the center server 53. Then, the information
on the supply power amount is transmitted to the power
supply facility.
Further, in addition to the information on the supply
power amount, the center server 53 calculates an optimal
mixture form of powers of various types that have been
generated by, e.g., thermal power generation, hydroelectric
power generation, and nuclear power generation in the power
supply facility, on the basis of the power consumption
amount information and the surplus power amount information

of the respective areas. In the optimal mixture form, a
reduction in the discharge of carbon dioxide, a reduction in
power generation cost, and importance exerted on nuclear
power generation are taken into consideration, so that a
mixture form that is suitable for each aspect such as
environmental efficiency, economic efficiency, or stability
is calculated.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the
excess or the deficiency of a power are resolved via power
distribution performed by stages in a micro area based on
the unit of the pole transformer 55. Due thereto, a path
for surplus power distribution can be set to the shortest
distance upon performing power distribution based on the
amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus power
of each supply destination. Accordingly, self-satisfaction
for power demands among the supply destinations and among
the areas can be achieved while power transmission loss is
appropriately reduced in the distribution and the supply of
the surplus power.
Hereinafter, a sequence of the distribution of a
surplus power performed by the sub-management server 51, the
local server 52, and the center server 53 will be described
with reference to Figs. 7 to 9. Figs. 7 to 9 illustrate the
sequences of the distribution of the surplus power performed
by the sub-management server 51, the local server 52 and the
center server 53, respectively.

As shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, the sub-management server
51 obtains, through power line communications, power
information including the amount of power consumption, the
amount of a surplus power, and the amount of a deficient
power, from respective electricity meters 29 provided in
dwellings assigned as targets to be managed by the sub-
management server 51in step S101. Then, correction data,
which has been acquired by the center server 53 based on a
weather forecast, is obtained via the local server 52 in
step S102.
Once various types of power information of respective
dwellings and the correction data based on the weather
forecast have been obtained in this way, a) a power
distribution form for satisfying the equalization of power
demands in respective dwellings 56, and b) model guidance
for power usage cases of each dwelling 56, are individually
obtained based on the various types of power information and
the correction data in step S103. Further, b) the model
guidance for power usage cases of each dwelling 56 may be
obtained by any of the sub-management server 51, the local
server 52, and the center server 53, but, in the present
embodiment, it is calculated by the sub-management server
51.
Next, a) the power distribution form for satisfying
the equalization of power demands among the dwellings 56 and
b) the model guidance for power usage cases of each dwelling

56, which have been obtained as described above, are
transmitted to the electricity meters 29 of the respective
dwellings 56 and are then provided to the residents of the
dwellings 56a to 56e via the reporting unit 42 in step S104.
Further, the distribution of surplus power among the
dwellings 56 is performed in response to the power
distribution instruction from the sub-management server 51,
and then self-satisfaction for the power demands among the
dwellings 56 is achieved via such power distribution.
In this way, once power distribution among the
dwellings has been performed, various types of power
information, such as the total amount of the power
consumption and the total amount of the surplus power of the
area managed by the sub-management server 51, a balance
based on the total amount of power consumption and the total
amount of surplus power, and the amount of deficient power
in the area, are transmitted to the local server 52 at the
nigher level in step S105.
Further, a) an instruction for power distribution to
neighboring sub-management servers 51 and b) model guidance
for power usage cases for the management area, which are
obtained based on the various types of power information or
the correction data based on the weather forecast, are
obtained from the local server 52 in step S106. In this
way, each sub-management server 51 performs power
distribution among the pole transformers 55 managed by each

sub-management server 51 in response to the power
distribution instruction from the local server 52 and
achieves self-satisfaction for power demands among the pole
transformers 55 present in the area managed by the local
server 52 in step S107.
Further, as shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, the local server
52 for managing the individual sub-management servers 51
obtains, through the power line communications, power
information including the amounts of power consumption, the
amounts of surplus power, and the amounts of deficient power
of respective pole transformers 55, from the sub-management
servers 51a to 51d, each of managing pole transformers 55
belonging to an area assigned to the local server 52 as a
rarget to be managed in step S201. Then, correction data,
which has been acquired by the center server 53 based on a
weather forecast, is transmitted to the individual sub-
management servers 51 at the lower level of the local server
52 in steps S202 and S203.
In this way, once the various types of power
information on the area managed by the local server 52 and
the correction information based on the weather forecast
have been obtained, a) a power distribution form for
satisfying the equalization of power demands on the basis of
the pole transformer 55, and b) model guidance for power
usage cases of the management area, are individually
obtained based on the various types of power information and

the correction data in step S204. Further, b) the model
guidance for power usage cases for the management area may-
be obtained by any of the local server 52 and the center
server 53.
Next, a) the power distribution form for satisfying
the equalization of power demands on the basis of each pole
transformer 55 and b) the model guidance of power usage
cases for the management area, which have been obtained in
this way, are transmitted to the individual sub-management
servers 51 at the level lower than that of the local server
52 in step S205. Further, the distribution of the surplus
power among the pole transformers 55 is performed in
response to a power distribution instruction from the local
server 52, and the self-satisfaction for power demands among
the pole transformers 55 in the area managed by each local
server 52 is achieved via such power distribution.
Once the power distribution among the pole
transformers 55 has been performed in this way, various
types of power information including the total amount of
power consumption and the total amount of surplus power of
the area managed by the local server 52, a balance based on
the total amount of the power consumption and the total
amount of the surplus power, and the amount of deficient
power in the area, are transmitted to the center server 53
at the higher level in step S206.
Further, a) an instruction for power distribution to

neighboring local servers 52 and b) model guidance for the
power usage cases of the management area, which are acquired
based on the various types of power information or the
correction data based on the weather forecast, are obtained
from the center server 53 in step S207. In this way, each
local server 52 performs power distribution among the areas
managed by the local servers 52 in response to the power
distribution instruction from the center server 53 and
achieves self-satisfaction for power demands among the areas
to which the power supply destinations are assigned in step
S208.
Further, as shown in Fig. 9, the center server 53 for
managing the local servers 52 acquires meteorological
information on a weather forecast for each area including
rainfall probability, an amount of solar radiation, an
amount of clouds, a temperature, and humidity, from an
information institution such as a meteorological
administration in step S301. In this way, once the
meteorological information on each area has been obtained,
various types of power information including the amount of
power consumption, the amount of surplus power, and the
amount of deficient power for each area, are obtained from
the individual local servers 52, each managing the supply of
power of an area assigned thereto instep S302.
When the meteorological information and various types
of power information for each area have been obtained as

described above, a) a power distribution form for satisfying
the equalization of power demands in each area, b) model
guidance for power usage cases, c) an optimal mixture form
of various types of power generation, and d) a correction
value based on the weather forecast, are individually
obtained based on the meteorological information and the
various types of power information in step S303.
Further, an instruction for surplus power distribution
among the areas managed by the local servers 52 is
transmitted to the individual local servers 52, the
instruction being on the basis of a) the power distribution
form for satisfying the equalization of power demands in
each area, and then the distribution of the surplus power
among the areas managed by the local servers 52 is
performed. Accordingly, self-satisfaction for power demands
among the areas managed by the local servers 52 is achieved.
Further, b) the guidance for model cases of power usage and
d) the correction value based on the weather forecast are
transmitted to the individual local servers 52 through the
power line communications in step S304.
When the various types of information have been
transmitted from the center server 53 to the local servers
52, the calculated c) optimal mixture form of the various
types of power generation is transmitted to the power supply
facility in step S305.
As described above, in accordance with the power

distribution system in the present embodiment, the following
advantages can be obtained:
(1) The power consumption amount information and the
surplus power amount information of the respective dwellings
56, which have been collected by the electricity meters 29
provided in the respective dwellings 56 as power supply
destinations, are collected by stages in the servers 51 to
53, and power distribution is performed among the dwellings
5 6 or among the areas in line with the relationship between
the power amounts based on the collected power consumption
amount information and the surplus power amount information.
Accordingly, the excess or deficiency of a power are
resolved for each supply destination through the
distribution of the surplus power among the dwellings 56 or
the areas that are managed by the servers 51 to 53.
Accordingly, self-satisfaction for power demands among the
power supply destinations is achieved.
(2) As communication means for transmitting or
receiving various types of power information including the
power consumption amount information and the surplus power
amount information, power line communications using a power
line as a medium is employed. Accordingly, in the power
distribution among the dwellings or areas, there is no need
to provide a separate communications path for remotely
measuring the power consumption amount information or the
surplus power amount information. Further it is possible to

construct a private network by using an existing wiring
path. Furthermore, by employing power line communications
as the communication means, paths for supplying a power to
individual supply destinations can be integrated with
communication paths for various types of power information,
and the management of the supplied power and the various
types of power information becomes easy.
(3) Power distribution among individual supply
destinations is performed depending on the balance between
the amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus
power of each power supply destination. Accordingly, self-
satisfaction for power demands in each supply destination is
achieved by means of power distribution among the power
supply destinations, while the equalization of power demands
in each supply destination is accomplished, and furthermore,
power distribution among the supply destinations can be
suitably performed.
(4) An optimal mixture form of power generation
sources viewed from various aspects such as stability,
economic efficiency, or environmental efficiency of various
types of a power generated from thermal power generation,
hydroelectric power generation, nuclear power generation or
the like is calculated based on the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information
collected in the center server 53. The calculated optimal
mixture form is fed back to the power supply facility.

Accordingly, the power supply facility can select a more
preferable power generation sources or calculate the amount
of power generated by each power generation source, based on
a power demand in which the amount of power consumption and
the amount of surplus power in each power supply destination
are taken into consideration, and can also efficiently
supply power to the supply destination.
(5) In the optimal mixture form of various types of
power generation, a reduction in the discharge of carbon
dioxide is taken into consideration. Accordingly, the
environmental efficiency in the power supply can be improved
when the power supply facility generates a power based on
the optimal mixture form.
(6) In an optimal mixture form of various types of
power generation, a reduction in power generation cost is
taken into consideration. Accordingly, the economic
efficiency of power supply can be further improved when the
power supply facility generates power based on the optimal
mixture form.
(7) On the basis of the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information
collected in the sub-management servers 51, the local
servers 52, and the center server 53, information required
to improve power utilization efficiency such as power usage
pattern models or power selling pattern models is obtained
and the obtained information is reported to the residents of

the dwellings 56 via the reporting unit 42. Accordingly,
the power utilization efficiency is improved through the
guidance of power usage forms based on the patterns of the
amount of power consumption or the patterns of the amount of
surplus power of individual dwellings 56 or the like.
(8) The meteorological information on each area is
received from an information institution, such as the
meteorological administration and is applied to the center
server 53, and the distribution form of power distribution
among the supply destinations is corrected based on the
meteorological information. Accordingly, there can be
performed suitable power distribution depending on
meteorological conditions that can influence the amount of
power consumption or the amount of surplus power of each
supply destination when performing power distribution among
the supply destinations.
(9) The management servers are configured with a
plurality of servers formed in a hierarchical structure in
which functions are assigned to respective levels. Power
consumption amount information and surplus power amount
information measured by the electricity meters 29 provided
in respective supply destinations are collected in sub-
management servers 51 at the lowermost level of the
hierarchical structure. Accordingly, the power consumption
amount information and the surplus power amount information
of the power supply destinations are collected in stages,

and are managed on the basis of groups (areas) which become
larger by stages, and power distribution among the groups
(areas) can be performed. Therefore, upon performing power
distribution among the supply destinations, self-
satisfaction for power demands is sequentially achieved over
the range of units from a micro unit such as neighboring
dwellings 56 to a business office unit of an electric power
company, and to a macro unit such as a single area, e.g., a
district.
(10) As the lowermost server of the hierarchical
servers, each sub-management server 51 is installed on the
pole transformer 55, and the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information of
dwellings supplied with a power from the pole transformer
55, or the power distribution of the dwellings, are managed
by the sub-management server 51. Accordingly, micro-power
distribution can be performed among five to ten dwellings as
each unit that is supplied with power from the pole
transformer 55, and power transmission loss is suitably
reduced when power distribution is performed. Further, when
the sub-management server 51 is installed on the pole
transformer 55, management is facilitated while the supply
of power to the dwellings 56 and the power consumption
amount information and the surplus power information of the
dwellings 56 are collectively managed by the sub-management •
server 51.

(11) The local server 52 for managing the supply of
power to each area to which individual supply destinations
are allocated is installed as a server at the level higher
than that of the sub-management server 51, so that power
distribution among the supply destinations is performed on
the basis of the area. This allows not only power
distribution among the pole transformers 55 located at the
level lower than that of the local server 52, but also power
distribution among areas, each of which is a group of pole
transformers 55, to be performed. Accordingly, self-
satisfaction for power demands among the areas to which the
supply destinations are assigned can be achieved.
Further, the embodiment of the present invention may
also be performed in the following forms.
A distribution form of power distribution among the
supply destinations is corrected based on meteorological
information. The distribution form is not limited to this
form, and environmental information may correct a
distribution form of power distribution among the supply
destinations. The environmental information may include
political factors such as power regulation or the like.
Further, the environmental information required to correct
the distribution form of power distribution among the supply
destinations may be, but is not limited to, information for
influencing the amount of power consumption or the amount of
surplus power of each supply destination. In addition, in

the case where power is distributed among the supply
destinations in line with the relationship between the power
amounts based on the amount of power consumption and the
amount of surplus power of each supply destination, it is
possible to omit correcting the distribution form of power
distribution based on the environmental information.
There is provided the reporting unit 42 which obtains
the information required to improve the power utilization
efficiency of supply destinations to be managed from the
servers 51 to 53 and which guides the information. The
information may be obtained only by the center server 53 at
the uppermost level, and it is optionally determined which
of the servers 51 to 53 is to be used to obtained
information required to improve the power utilization
efficiency of the supply destinations. Further, in the case
where power distribution among the supply destinations is
performed in line with the relationship between the power
amounts based on the amount of power consumption and the
amount of surplus power of each supply destination, the
reporting unit 42 for calculating information required to
improve power utilization efficiency and providing guidance
of the information may be omitted.
In the calculation of the optimal mixture form of
various types of power generation, a reduction in the
discharge of carbon dioxide and a reduction in power
generation cost are taken into consideration. The optimal

mixture form is not limited to this, and only a reduction in
the discharge of carbon dioxide may be taken into
consideration in the calculation of the optimal mixture form
for the various types of power generation when environmental
efficiency is regarded as an important factor. Further,
only a reduction in power generation cost may be taken into
consideration in the calculation of the optimal mixture form
for the various types of power generation when economic
efficiency is regarded as important. In addition, in the
calculation of the optimal mixture form for the various
types of power generation, any one of various aspects such
as stability, economic efficiency, and environmental
efficiency for the various types of power generation may be
taken into consideration to calculate the optimal mixture
form.
Further, in the case where power distribution among
the supply destinations is performed in line with the
relationship between the power amounts based on the amount
of power consumption and the amount of surplus power of each
supply destination, the calculation of the optimal mixture
form for the various types of power generation, which has
been performed by the center server 53, may be omitted.
The supply destination of the surplus power is defined
as a supply destination requiring the supply of surplus
power on the basis of the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information of each

supply destination. The supply destination is not limited
thereto, and a surplus power may be primarily distributed to
a supply destination, which is previously determined, among
the supply destinations. Accordingly, the distribution of
power among the supply destinations can be precisely and
easily performed.
Further, when a supply destination having a small
change in power consumption is designated as a supply
destination that can be previously determined, a power
required by the supply destination can be predicted with
high precision. Accordingly, sufficient surplus powers can
be distributed and supplied to supply destinations requiring
a surplus power. In addition, the distribution of a power
among the supply destinations can be performed with high
reliability.
Further, when a supply destination having a small
change in power consumption and having a fixed time period
in power consumption is designated as the supply destination
that can be previously determined, a power required by the
supply destination can be detected with high precision.
Accordingly, sufficient surplus powers can be distributed
and supplied to supply destinations requiring surplus power.
In addition, the distribution of power among the supply
destinations can be performed with high reliability.
Moreover, an electrically driving system of a public
institution, such as a streetlight, an incinerator or the

like, may be designated as a supply destination having a
small change in power consumption, or as a supply
destination having a small change in power consumption and a
fixed time period in power consumption. In general, the
electrically driving system of the public institution has a
small change in power consumption caused by the driving
thereof and is driven during a limited time period. As a
result, the electrically driving system of the public
institution is previously designated as the supply
destination of the surplus power, so that a sufficient power
can be precisely supplied to the electrically driven system
of the public institution during the required time period.
Further, an antitheft security system installed in a
building may be designated as a supply destination having a
small change in power consumption, or as a supply
destination having a small change in power consumption and a
fixed time period in power consumption. Even in the case of
the security system, the amount of surplus power required,
or a time span requiring the surplus power, can be predicted
with high precision, so that it is possible to accurately
distribute and supply a sufficient power to the security
system during the required time period.
In addition, in regard to the designation of the
supply destination of the surplus power, changes in power
consumption amount information and surplus power amount
information collected in the sub-management servers 51, the

local servers 52, and the center server 53 are learned, and
the surplus power may be distributed to a supply destination
expected to experience a deficiency of power on the basis of
the learned changes in power consumption amount information
and surplus power amount information.
In this case, as a supply destination having power
deficiency can be predicted in advance, power distribution
can be definitely performed before the power deficiency
occurs on the supply destination, and thus, the power
deficiency can be prevented.
In the above configuration, the surplus power of each
dwelling 56 is distributed and supplied to each supply
destination.
Configuration is not limited thereto, and as shown in
Fig. 10, which is a diagram corresponding to Fig. 2, power
storage complement equipment 51s for storing the surplus
power from individual dwellings 56 may be provided in each
of pole transformers 55 managed by the sub-management
servers 51. Further, a power storage complement equipment
52s for storing the surplus power from each of areas managed
by the local servers 52 may be provided in that area.
According to the configuration of the power distribution
system, surplus powers stored in the power storage
complement equipment 51s and 52s are used to distribute a
power among the pole transformers 55 and among the areas,
thus complementing the power distribution among the power

supply destinations is more securely improved.
As a place in which the power supply system 1 is
installed, a dwelling 56 has been described by way of
example, but the place is not limited thereto, and the power
supply system 1 may be installed in a multi-family house, an
apartment, an office, a factory or the like.
Further, a dwelling 56 or the like provided with the
power supply system 1 has been given as the power supply
destination, but a factory or facility unequipped with a
power generation device such as the solar cell 3, the
storage battery 16 or the like may be used as the supply
destination to which the surplus power is distributed. In
brief, as long as a power is distributed depending on the
amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus power
among the supply destinations, the present invention can be
applied to such power distribution.
Power distribution by the servers 51 to 53 is
performed depending on a balance between the power amounts
based the power consumption amount information and the
surplus power amount information collected in the servers.
The present invention is not limited thereto, and power
distribution among the supply destinations may be performed
in line with a relationship between the power amounts based
on the power consumption amount information and the surplus
power amount information of each supply destination, but
power distribution is not limited thereto.

The communication means is implemented as power line
communications using a power line as a medium. The
communication means is not limited thereto, and network
communications using the Internet as a medium may be
employed as the communication means. In this case, network
communications having higher generality can be constructed,
and the range of application thereof can be extended when
the amount of power consumption and the amount of surplus
power of each supply destination are collected in the
management server by the remote electricity monitoring
device.
In addition, the communication means can also be
configured using various types of wireless communication
such as UWB (Ultra Wide Band), WILAN (Wireless Local Area
Network), specific low-power wireless communications, or
Zigbee. In brief, any means capable of transmitting the
power consumption amount information and the surplus power
amount information that are information measured by
electricity meters 29 to the sub-management servers 51 can
be used.
Each local server 52 for managing the supply of power
to an area to which supply destinations are assigned is
installed as the server at the level higher than that of the
sub-management server 51, so that power distribution among
the supply destinations has been performed on the basis of
the area. The present invention is not limited thereto, and

it is possible to omit the local servers 52, to directly-
collect the power consumption amount information and the
surplus power amount information, which have been collected
in the sub-management servers 51, in the center server 53
and to perform power distribution to the supply destinations
through power distribution only among the pole transformers
55.
Further, in the ' above configuration, the sub-
management servers 51 at the lowermost level, among multiple
servers formed in a hierarchical structure, are installed on
the pole transformers 55, so that power distribution is
performed in the units of a group of supply destinations to
which power is supplied by the pole transformers 55. The
present invention is not limited thereto, and the unit of
supply destinations managed by the server at the lowermost
level of the hierarchical structure may be two adjacent
supply destinations or several tens to several hundreds of
supply destinations that have been assigned.
The management servers includes multiple servers
implemented in a hierarchical structure, in which functions
are assigned to corresponding levels, and power consumption
amount information and surplus power amount information
measured by the electricity meters 29 are collected in the
servers at the lowermost level of the hierarchical
structure. The present invention is not limited thereto,
and the management server may include only the center server

53, so that the power consumption amount information and the
surplus power amount information measured by the electricity
meters 29 may be directly collected in the center server 53.
While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes and modification may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.

WE CLAIM:

1. A power distribution system comprising:
a remote electricity monitoring device which is
provided in each of supply destinations of a power for
remotely measuring an amount of power consumption of each
supply destination and an amount of a surplus power stored
in a storage battery in each supply destination via
communication means; and
a management server for managing supply of the power
to each supply destination while collecting power
consumption amount information and surplus power amount
information, which are information obtained by the remote
electricity monitoring device, via the communication means,
wherein the management server distributes the power
among the supply destinations in line with a relationship
between power amounts based on the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information that
have been collected.
2. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the
communication means employs power line communications using
a power line as a medium.
3. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the
communication means employs network communications using

4. The power distribution system of any one of claims 1 to
3, wherein the management server performs power distribution
among the supply destinations depending on a balance of
power amounts based on the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information.
5. The power distribution system of any one of claims 1 to
3, wherein the management server distributes the surplus
power to a supply destination expected to experience power
deficiency, based on changes in the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information.
6. The power distribution system of any one of claims 1 to
3, wherein the management server primarily distributes the
surplus power to a supply destination that is previously
determined among the supply destinations.
7. The power distribution system of claim 6, wherein the
supply destination that is previously determined is a supply
destination having a small change in power consumption.
8. The power distribution system of claim 6, wherein the
supply destination that is previously determined is a supply
destination having a small change in power consumption and

having a fixed period of time in power consumption.
9. The power distribution system of claim 7 or 8, wherein
the supply destination is an electrically driving system of
a public institution.
10. The power distribution system of claim 7 or 8, wherein
the supply destination is an antitheft security system
provided in a building.
11. The power distribution system of any one of claims 1 to
10, wherein the management server further includes a
function of calculating an optimal mixture form of various
types of power generation in a power supply facility, based
on the power consumption amount information and the surplus
power amount information, and feeds back the calculated
optimal mixture form of the various types of the power
generation to the power supply facility.
12. The power distribution system of claim 11, wherein a
reduction in discharge of carbon dioxide is taken into
consideration in the calculation of the optimal mixture form
of the various types of the power generation.
13. The power distribution system of claim 11 or 12,
wherein a reduction in power generation cost is taken into

consideration in the calculation of the optimal mixture form
of the various types of the power generation.
14. The power distribution system of any one of claims 1 to
13, wherein the management server further includes a
function of obtaining information required to improve power
utilization efficiency of each supply destination, based on
the power consumption amount information and the surplus
power amount information, and providing guidance of the
obtained information via the communication means, and each
supply destination further includes a reporting unit for
reporting the guidance through the remote electricity
monitoring device.
15. The power distribution system of any one of claims 1 to
14, wherein the management server further includes a
function of receiving environmental information including
meteorological information via the communication means and
correcting a distribution form of the power distribution
based on the received environmental information.
16. The power distribution system of any one of claims 1 to
15, wherein the management server includes a plurality of
servers implemented in a hierarchical structure in which
functions are assigned to corresponding levels, the remote
electricity monitoring device installed in each of the

supply destinations is connected to a relevant server at a
lowermost level among the hierarchical servers via the
communication means, and the power consumption amount
information and the surplus power amount information, which
are information obtained by the remote electricity
monitoring device, are collected in the server at the
lowermost level, so that whenever a limitation caused in
power distribution by a lower-level server, targets for
power distribution are sequentially changed to supply
destinations managed by the server at a higher level.
17. The power distribution system of claim 16, wherein the
server at the lowermost level is a sub-management server and
is installed at a pole transformer.
18. The power distribution system of claim 17, wherein a
local server for managing supply of the power to an area to
which the supply destinations are assigned is installed as a
server at a level higher than that of the sub-management
server installed at the pole transformer, and the power
distribution among the supply destinations is performed in
units of the area.

ABSTRACT

A power distribution system includes: a remote
electricity monitoring device which is provided at each
power supply destination, and remotely reads, via
communication means, an consumed power amount and an surplus
power amount stored in a power storage device at each supply
destination; and a management server which manages the power
supply of each supply destination while collecting, via the
communication means, the consumed power information and the
surplus power information, both of which are read by the
remote electricity monitoring device. The management server
distributes the power among the supply destinations in line
with the relationship between the power amounts based on the
consumed power information and surplus power information.