DESCRIPTION
POWER CONNECTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD
5 TECHNICAL FIELD
[OOOl]
The present invention relates to a power connectio~cl ontrol system and a method
including energy provision equipment that can supply electric power to loads.
10 BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
In recent years, the global warnling problem has become noticeable; awareness about the
environment on the part of nations, corporations and consumers has grown; and there has been
an increasing trend to reduce the emission of global warming gas (COz) that accompanies the
15 consumption of energy. Therefore, renewable power sources, such as solar power generation
(photovoltaic generation) and wind power generation (a wind farm), which do not generate
global warming gas emissions, and which have limited adverse effects 011 the environment, and
which generate power using natural energy, are attracting attention.
[0003]
2 0 The amount of power generation in a renewable power source varies depending on the
weather. Therefore a renewable power source is ordinarily operated by being linked to an
electric power (distribution) system so that the quality of power supplied to a consumer is
maintained. In that case, surplus power generated by the renewable power source and not
consumed by the consumer is provided to the electric power system (reverse power flow)
25 through a power line (transmission line). However, in a case where the consumer has such a
contract with the electric power company that manages the electric power system such that there
will not be any reverse power flow, the renewable power source is disconnected from the electric
power system when surplus power is produced in the renewable power source. In some cases, a
renewable power source is used with a storage battery to limit wasteful discarding of generated
30 surplus electric power and to stabilize the amount of electric power supplied to a consumer. A
consumer is a unit such as a house, a corporation, a building or a factory connected to an electric
power system, which may also be an individual, a juridical person, a group, or the like who has a
power-demand-supply contract with an consumption-supply contract with an electric power
company. "Consumer" referred to in the following denotes both a unit such as the abovementioned
house, corporatio~ib, uilding or factory connected to an electric power system and an
individual, a juridical person, a group, or the like who manages the house, corporation, building
or factory, or denotes one from among the unit atid the person or group managing the unit.
[0004]
5 When supply of electric power from the electric power system to the consumer is stopped
by an accident or tlie like (in a power outage), there is a need to stop the operation of tlie
renewable power source operated by being linked to the electric power system or to disconnect
the renewable power source from the electric power system in order to prevent the abovedescribed
reverse power flow. This is because if a reverse power flow fiom the renewable
10 power source exists, voltage is generated in the power distribution line even during power outage
to cause difficulty in ascertaining the cause of the occurrence of the power outage, and because
the risk of an electric shock accident, a malfunction of electric facilities, or the like is increased
due to access to the electric power system after recognition of the power outage.
[OOOS]
15 On the other hand, it is desirable for the consumer to be able to use, just during the power
outage, electric power generated by the renewable power source held by the consumer or electric
power accumulated in a storage battery. Therefore a power conditioner that enables the
renewable power source to be connected to the electric power system ordinarily has a function to
disconnect the renewable power source from the electric power system (e.g., a circuit breaker).
20 When the renewable power source is not connected to the electric power system, electric power
can be supplied from an emergency receptacle provided on the power conditioner to a load by
activating an autonomous operation function.
[0006]
Patent Literatures 1 and 2, for example, describe configurations for supplying, during a
2 5 power outage, electric power generated by a generator for private power generation or a gas
cogeneration system to loads (electrical appliances) provided on the consumer side, each of
which includes no renewable power source used in generation facilities.
[0007]
Patent Literature I describes receiving online an expected restoration time from an
30 electric power company in a power outage, and selecting loads (electrical appliances) to which
electric power is to be supplied from a generator for private power generation according to
whether the time taken to complete power restoration from the outage is short or long.
[OOOS]
Patent Literature 2 describes accepting, upon the occurrence of a power outage, a
predicted outage ti~iiep eriod and predicted power demand fluctuation values with respect to
loads, input by an operator, controlling the anlount of power generation in a gas cogeneration
system and the amount of electricity accutnulated in a storage battery and the amount of
discharge from the storage battery based on the predicted time and the predicted values, and
5 selecting loads to which electric power is to be supplied.
[0009]
As described above, when supply of electric power from the electric power system to the
consumer is stopped (in a power outage), there is a need to stop operation of the renewable
power source that is operated by being linked to the electric power system or to disconnect the
10 renewable power source from the electric power system to prevent a reverse power flow.
[OO lo]
Therefore, the power conditioner is ordinarily provided with a circuit breaker or the like
for disconnecting the renewable power source from the electric power system when a power
outage is detected. When the renewable power source is not connected to the electric power
15 system, electric power can be supplied from the emergency receptacle to loads.
[OOll]
In ordinary cases, selection of the autonomous operation function is not automatically
made when a power outage occurs, and there is a need for the consumer to activate the
autonomous operation function. Also when the linking operation is performed by again linking
2 0 the renewable power source to the electric power system at the time of power restoration from
the outage, there is also a need for the consumer to stop the autonomous operation function and
to link the renewable power source to the electric power system. Thus, there is a problem that
the operation to change the operating mode of the renewable power source is burdensome.
2 5 RELATED ART LlTERATURE
PATENT LITERATURE
[0012]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-092844
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-01 1612
30
SUMMARY
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to provide a power connection control system and
method to facilitate switching of the autononlous operation function with the energy provision
equipment that a consumer owns when a power outage occurs in the electric power system.
[0014]
A power connection control system for achieving the above-described object according to
an exemplary aspect of the present invention is a power connection control system provided with
5 energy provision equipment to be linked to an electric power system, the energy provision
equipment that can supply electric power to electrical appliances that a consumer owns, the
power connection control system including:
a connection control apparatus that includes an opening/closing device capable of
connecting or disconnecting the electric power system and the consumer, and that, when a power
10 outage occurs in the electric power system, disconnects the electric power system and the
consumer from each other by the openinglclosing device at a command received from the
outside; and
a power supply control apparatus that, when the power outage occurs in the electric power
system, supplies electric power from the energy provision equipment to the electrical appliances.
15 [0015]
Alternatively, the power connection control system according to an exemplary aspect of
the present invention is a power connection control system provided with energy provision
equipment to be linked to an electric power system, the energy provision equipment that can
supply electric power to electrical appliances that a consumer owns, the power connection
2 0 control system including:
an outage management apparatus that, when a power outage occurs in the electric power
system, transmits a parallel-off command to disconnect the electric power system and the
consumer from each other and, at the time of power restoration from the power outage, transmits
a linkage command for linking the electric power system and the consumer to each other;
2 5 a connection control apparatus that includes an openinglclosing device capable of
connecting or disconnecting the electric power system and the consumer, and that, when the
power outage occurs in the electric power system, disconnects the electric power system and the
consumer from each other by the opening/closing device at the parallel-off command from the
outage management apparatus; and
3 0 a power supply control apparatus that, when the power outage occurs in the electric power
system, supplies electric power from the energy provision equipment to the electrical appliances.
[0016]
On the other hand, a power connection control method according to an exempla~ya spect
of the present invention is a power connection control method for disconnecting, from an electric
power system, energy provision equipment that can supply electric power to electrical appliances
that a consumer owns, the method including:
providing an openinglclosing device that connects or disconnects the electric power
system and the consumer;
5 a control apparatus disconnecting, when a power outage occurs in the electric power
system, the electric power system and the consumer from each other by the openinglclosi~tg
device at a command received from the outside; and
a first computer supplying electric power from the energy provision equipment to the
electrical appliances during the power outage in the electric power system.
10
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[OO 171
[Figure 11
Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a power connection
15 control system according to the present invention.
[Figure 21
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a consumer shown
in Figure 1.
[Figure 31
20 Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a connectiou
control apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[Figure 41
Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a power supply
control apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
25 [Figure 51
Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information
processor for realizing the power supply control apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[Figure 61
Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an outage
3 0 management apparatus shown in Figure 1.
[Figure 71
Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of process steps in the power
supply control apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0018]
The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
5 Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a power connection
control system of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a
configuration of a consumer shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the
configuration of consumer 2 by extracted from the power connection control system shown in
Figure 1.
10 [0020]
As shown in Figure 1, in the power connection control system of the present invention,
consumer 2 provided with energy provision equipment that can supply electric power to loads
(electrical appliances) is connected to outage management apparatus (second computer) 1 that
manages an electric power system when a power outage occurs, and that is provided in an
15 electric power company. While Figure 1 shows an example in which one consumer 2 is
connected to the electric power system and outage management apparatus 1, a plurality of
consumers 2 are connected to the electric power system and outage management apparatus 1 in
actuality.
[0021]
20 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, consumer 2 has connection control apparatus 21, power
supply control apparatus (first computer) 22, energy provision equipment 23 and one or a
plurality of electrical appliances (loads) 24. Energy provision equipment 23 and electrical
appliances 24 are ordinarily connected to power wiring in the consumer 2 through a distribution
panel not illustrated. The distribution panel includes a well-known earth leakage circuit breaker
2 5 and a molded-case circuit breaker and distributes electric power supplied from the electric power
system or energy provision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 provided in the consumer's
house or building. Consumer 2 may be capable of communicating various sorts of information
to and from a seiver apparatus or the like managed, for example, by the electric power company
though connection control apparatus 21, as shown in Figure 2. The apparatus connected to
30 connection control apparatus 21 is not limited to outage management apparatus 1 shown in
Figure 1. While Figures 1 and 2 show a configuration example in which energy provision
equipment 23 is provided outside consumer 2 (outside the house or building) and in which all
electrical appliances 24 are provided in consumer 2 (in the house or building), energy provision
equipment 23 may be provided in consumer 2 and some of electrical appliances 24 tnay be
provided outside consumer 2.
[0022]
Electrical appliances 24 are any of various appliances that consumer 2 owns consuming
electric power, including home appliances such as an electric light, an air conditioner, a
5 television receiver, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave oven, a rice cooker and a
cleaner, office appliances such as a copying machine, a facsimile transmitter and a computer, and
factory appliances such as machine tools and manufacturing machines.
[0023]
On each of electrical appliances 24 in the present exemplary embodiment, power
10 detection means for measuring the power consumption of the appliance and information
comnlunication means for transmitting measured values from the power detection means to
power supply control apparatus 22, for example, are mounted. As power detection means, a
well-known electronic-type electric-power sensor with a current transformer and a voltage
transformer, for example, can be used. As information communication means, Zigbee
15 (trademark), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), UWB (Ultra Wide Band), Bluetooth (trademark) or the
like, for example, may be used in the case of using wireless communication, and Ethernet
(trademark), PLC or the like may be used in the case of using wired communication. The
power consumption of electrical appliances 24 may be measured, for example, with respect to
each of receptacles or each molded-case circuit breaker instead of being measured with respect
2 0 to each electrical appliance 24. In such a case, power detection means and information
communication means may be provided that correspond to each receptacle or molded-case
circuit breaker instead of being mounted on each electrical appliance 24. In a case where some
of electrical appliances 24 are each an appliance called a smart home appliance, the appliance
called a smart home appliance is ordinarily provided with power detection means and
2 5 information communication means. In such a case, the power consumption of each smart home
appliance may be transmitted from the smart home appliance at the request of power supply
control apparatus 22 or periodically at predetermined intervals. For the power consumption of
each electrical appliance 24, the rated power consumption of electrical appliance 24 may be used.
The power detection means and the information communication means may be provided
30 according to need. It is not necessarily required that the power detection means and the
information communication means be provided on all electrical appliances 24 that consumer 2
owns.
[0024]
Energy provision equipment 23 is a renewable power source such as a well-known solar
power generator or a wind power generator, a storage battery, or the like. Energy provision
equipment 23 is not limited to a renewable power source or a storage battery. As energy
provision equipment 23, a well-known distributed power source such as a fuel cell, a generator
using fossil energy or a cogeneration system may be used.
5 [0025]
Energy provision equipment 23 is connected to the above-mentioned distribution panel
through a generally well-known power conditioner (not illustrated) to be linked to the power
wiring in consumer 2. The power conditioner is a device that enables linkage of electric power
generated in the renewable power source or the distributed power source to the electric power
10 system, and that controls the amount of power generation in the renewable power source or in
the distributed power source as required; If energy provision equipment 23 is a storage battery,
the power conditioner has a function to control charge and discharge of the storage battery. The
power conditioner may only be connected to energy provision equipment 23 and may be
provided in or outside of energy provision equipment 23.
15 [0026]
Energy provision equipment 23 in the present exemplary embodiment includes power
measuring means for measuring the amount of output of electric power and information
communication means for transmitting the measured value from the power lneasuring means to
power supply control apparatus 22 and for communicating various sorts of information
2 0 (including command signals or the like) to and from power supply control apparatus 22. The
value of the amount of output of electric power from energy provision equipment 23 measured
by the power measuring means is transmitted to power supply control apparatus 22. The
infolmation communication means transmits the measured value from the power measuring
means to power supply control apparatus 22 at a command from power supply control apparatus
2 5 22 or periodically at predetermined intervals. The power measuring means and the information
communication means may be provided in energy provision equipment 23 or, for example, in the
above-described power conditioner. As power measuring means, a well-known electronic-type
electric-power sensor with a current transformer and a voltage transformer, for example, may be
used. As information communication means, Zigbee (trademark), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity),
30 UWB (Ultra Wide Band), Bluetooth (trademark) or the like, for example, may be used in the
case of using wireless communication, and Ethernet (trademark), PLC (Power Line
Communication) or the like may be used in the case of using wired communication. While
Figures 1 and 2 show the configuration example in which consumer 2 is provided with one unit
of energy provision equipment 23, consumer 2 may be provided with a plurality of units of
energy provision equipment 23. The power measuring means and the information
communication means may be provided according to need. It is not ilecessarily required that
the power measuring means and the infollnation communication means be provided on all units
of energy provision equipnlent 23 of consumer 2.
5 [0027]
As shown in Figure 3, connection co~ltroal pparatus 21 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes
opening/closing device 21 1 inserted between an incoming line from the electric power system
and the above-described distribution panel, control device 212 that controls the operation of
opening/closing device 21 1, and communication device 213 for communicating information to
10 and from outage management apparatus 1 and power supply control apparatus 22 through a
communication line. A watt-hour meter (not illustrated) for measuring the amount of electric
power supplied from the electric power system to consumer 2 is ordinarily provided at a
connection ilode between the electric power system and consumer 2. As watt-hour meter, a
well-known smart meter, for example, is used. In the case of using a smart meter as watt-Itour
15 meter, the watt-hour meter is connected tlvough a communication line to a well-known MDNS
(Meter Data Management System) that manages electricity rates or the like with respect to each
consumer, and the watt-hour meter notifies the MDMS of the amount of electric power measured
periodically at predetermined intervals.
[0028]
20 Control device 212 in connection control apparatus 21 can be realized as a well-known
LSI or the like including a drive circuit for controlling the operations of a memoly and
opening/closing device 21 1, for example. As communication device 213, a device in
accordance with a well-known communication protocol using the Internet or a privately used line
may be used.
25 [0029]
Connection control apparatus 21 shown in Figure 3 can be realized as a well-known
transfer-trip-relay receiver, for example. In a case where the above-described watt-hour meter
includes an opening/closing device and control means for controlling the opening/closing device,
ftinctions of connection control apparatus 21 can be realized by means of the watt-hour meter.
30 [0030]
While Figure 1 shows a configuration example in which connection control apparatus 21
is connected to outage management apparatus 1 through a privately used line, connection control
apparatus 21 and outage management apparatus 1 may transmit and receive information by using
well-known wireless communication means. If well-known PLC is used for communication
between connection control apparatus 21 and outage management apparatus 1, there is no need
for any comn~unicationl ine.
[003 I]
Control device 212 in connection control apparatus 21 sets openinglclosing device 21 1 to
5 "closed" (short) at a command from outage management apparatus 1 when power transmission is
performed, and sets openinglclosing device 21 1 to "open" (disconnection) when a power outage
occurs in the electric power system. When openinglclosing device 21 1 is "closed" (short),
consumer 2 is connected to the electric power system. When opening/closing device 21 1 is
"open" (disconnection), consumer 2 is disconnected from the electric power system. At the
10 time of restoration from a power outage, however, when control device 212 is notified of "outage
restoration" from outage management apparatus 1, it transfers "outage restoration" to power
supply control apparatus 22 while maintaining openinglclosing device 21 1 in the "open" state.
Thereafter, when control device 212 receives from outage management apparatus 1 a "linkage
command", which is a command to establish linkage to the electric power system, it changes the
15 openinglclosing device 21 1 to "closed".
[0032]
If, at the time of restoration from a power outage, a number of units of energy provision
equipment 23, such as renewable power sources, are simultaneously linked to the electric power
system, the quality of distributed electric power is reduced due to reverse power flows from the
2 0 units of energy provision equipment 23 and there is a possibility of the system being, at worst,
again driven into a power outage. In the arrangement in which, as described above, connection
control apparatus 21 changes openinglclosing device 21 1 to "closed" at the stage at which a
"linkage command" is notified from outage management apparatus 1 managed by an electric
power company or the like, timings of linkages of the units of energy provision equipment 23
25 held by the consumers to the electric power system can be controlled by outage management
apparatus 1. That is, if outage management apparatus 1 performs control so that the units of
energy provision equipment 23 are not simultaneously linked to the electric power system,
degradation of the quality of distributed electric power due to reverse power flows from the units
of energy provision equipment 23 at the time of restoration from a power outage can be limited.
30 [0033]
As shown in Figure 4, power supply control apparatus 22 includes processing section 221,
storage section 222 and communication section 223.
[0034]
Storage section 222 holds information on the amount of electric power that can be output
from energy provision equipment 23, the power consumption of each electrical appliance 24 and
"the degree of importance" set for each electrical appliance 24 as described below.
[0035]
Communication section 223 enables communication of information to or from connection
5 control apparatus 21, energy provision equipment 23 and electrical appliances 24.
Communication section 223 may use, for example, Zigbee (trademark), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity),
UWB (Ultra Wide Band), Bluetooth (trademark) or the like in the case of performing wireless
communication of infonnation, and may use Ethelnet (trademark), PLC or the like in the case of
performing wired communication of information.
10 [0036]
Processing section 221 manages supply of electric power from energy provision
equipment 23 that consumer 2 owns to electrical appliances 24. For example, when consumer 2
is disconnected from the electric power system by connection control apparatus 21 at a command
from outage management apparatus 1, processing section 221 makes energy provision equipment
15 23 enter an autonomous operation mode to supply electric power to electrical appliances 24.
When "outage restoration" is notified from outage management apparatus 1 through connection
control apparatus 21, processing section 221 stops the operation with energy provision
equipment 23 in the autonomous operation mode and establishes linkage to the electric power
system.
20 [0037]
Processing section 221 also performs powering ordoff of each electrical appliance 24.
Powering onloff of electrical appliances 24 may be controlled with respect to each electrical
appliance 24 or may be controlled with respect to each receptacle, earth leakage circuit breaker
or molded-case circuit breaker. For powering odoff of each electrical appliance 24, if
2 5 electrical appliance 24 has a function to permit control from the outside, such a function may be
used. If electrical appliance 24 has no such function, it may be controlled by providing an
opening/closing switch on the power supply line. It is not necessary that processing section 221
perfom powering ordoff of all electrical appliances 24 that consumer 2 owns. Some of
electrical appliances 24 may be exempted from the objects to he controlled.
30 [0038]
When a power outage occurs in the electric power system, processing section 221 obtains
the value of the amount of electric power providable from energy provision equipment 23, such
as a predicted amount of electric power that will be generated from a renewable power source or
an amount of electricity stored in a storage battery, and also obtains the power consumption of
electrical appliances 24. Then, based on tlie amount of electric power providable from energy
provision equipment 23, the power consumption of electrical appliances 24 and on the degree of
impoltance set for electrical appliances 24 in advance, processing section 221 starts supply of
electric power from energy provision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 that has a higher
5 degree of importance within a range in which electric power can be provided from energy
provision equipment 23.
[0039]
When processing section 221 receives a "predicted outage time period" from outage
management apparatus 1 through connection control apparatus 21, it maintains supply of electric
10 power to electrical appliances 24 that has a higher degree of importance and that is operable
according to the predicted outage time period, and stops supply of electric power to the other
electrical appliances 24. A predicted amount of power generation, for example, with respect to
a solar power generation unit, may be computed by considering the relationship between
atmospheric phenomena data on a regional basis and the expected amount of power generation,
15 provided from the manufacturer of the solar power generation unit, a loss due to installation
conditions or the like, and other factors. If a public institution, a company or the like that
provides a predicted amount of power generation exists, the predicted amount of power
generation may be obtained from the institution, company or the like through a communication
line in tlie Internet or tlie like. The arrangement may alternatively be such that a database is
20 prepared by obtaining and storing the value of the amount of power generation from the
renewable power source periodically at predetermined intervals through power supply control
apparatus 22, and a predicted amount of power generation is determined based on the database.
In such a case, an amount of power generation in a past time period matching or close to the
weather condition in the predicted outage time period may be set as a predicted amount of power
25 generation. An amount of electricity stored in a storage battery may be obtained from the
power conditioner that controls charge and discharge of the storage battery. A predicted
amount of power generation or an amount of stored electricity may be obtained when a predicted
outage time period is received or may be periodically obtained and stored (updated) at intervals
set in advance.
30 [0040]
Further, when processing section 221 in power supply control apparatus 22 receives
"outage restoration" from outage management apparatus 1 through connection control apparatus
21 and stops the autonomous operation with energy provision equipment 23, it notifies outage
management apparatus 1 of "linkage ready" through connection control apparatus 21, and
notifies outage management apparatus 1 of "linkage operation time" indicating the time period
from reeeiviug the above-mentioned "linkage conln~and"to actually ellabling linkage of energy
provision equipnlent 23 to the electric power system and "predicted amount of reverse power
flow" indicating the amount of electric power of a reverse power flow to the electric power
5 system that is expected to be caused at the time of linkage.
[004 11
The linkage operation time is a time period required for processing (including frequency
adjustment and phase adjustment) from connecting energy provision equipment 23 to the electric
power system to enabling the linked operation of energy provision equipment 23. The linkage
10 operation time may be set in advance, for example, according to the characteristics of energy
provision equipment 23 and the power conditioner. As the predicted amount of reverse power
flow, a surplus amount of electric power (predicted value) computed from the predicted amount
of power generated from the renewable power source at the time of linkage and a predicted total
power consumption of electrical appliances 24 at the time of linkage may be used.
15 [0042]
In this ease, when outage management apparatus 1 receives the "linkage operation time"
and "predicted amount of reverse power flow" through connection control apparatus 21, it
schedules a time to establish linkage to the electric power system for each eonsumner based on the
"linkage operation time" and "predicted amount of reverse power flow" and transmits "linkage
2 0 command" to connection control apparatus 21 of consumer 2 according to the scheduled time.
At this time, outage management apparatus 1 may schedule the time in the linkage command to
be transmitted to connection control apparatus 21 in each consurner 2 so that the adjustment load
on the electric power system is minimized, for example, the amount of adjustment of power
generation by an adjusting power source (a thermal power plant or the like) necessary for
25 stabilizing the distributed voltage and the distributed frequency is minimized.
[0043]
Power suppiy control apparatus 22 shown in Figure 4 can be realized, for example, by
means of an infolmation processor (computer) shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 is a block diagram
showing an example of a configuration of an iuformation processor for realizing the power
3 0 supply control apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[0044]
The information processor shown in Figure 5 includes processing device 100 that
executes predetermined processing in accordance with a program, input device 200 for inputting
commands, information and the like to processing device 100, and output device 300 for
outputting the results of processing in processing device 100.
[DO451
Input device 200 is, for example, a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse, a
touch pad or a touch panel.
5 [0046]
Output device 300 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display and a printing
device such as a printing machine.
100471
Processing device 100 includes CPU 110, main storage device 120 that temporarily holds
10 information necessary for processing in CPU 110, recording medium 130 on which a program
for making CPU 110 execute the processing according to the present invention is recorded, data
accumulation device 140 that stores information, for example, on the amount of electric power
providable from energy provision equipment 23, the power consumptions of electrical appliances
24 and "the degrees of importance" of electrical appliances 24, memory control interface section
15 150 that controls data transfer with respect to main storage device 120, recording medium 130
and data accumulation device 140, VO interface section 160, which is a device for interfacing
with input device 200 and output device 300, and communication control device 170 for
communication of information to or from connection control apparatus 21 and electrical
appliances 24 through the communication line. These components are connected through a bus
20 180.
[0048]
Processing device 100 executes processing in accordance with the program recorded on
recording medium 130 to realize a power connection control method described in the description
of the present exemplary embodiment. Recording medium 130 may be a magnetic disk, a
25 semiconductor memory, an optical disk or any other recording medium. It is not necessary to
provide data accumulation device 140 in processing device 100. Data accumulation device 140
may be an independent device. Functions of processing section 221 shown in Figure 4 are
realized by means of processing device 100 shown in Figure 5; functions of storage section 222
shown in Figure 4 are realized by means of data accumulation device 140; and functions of
30 communication section 223 shown in Figure 4 are realized by means of communication control
device 170.
[0049]
As shown in Figure 6, outage management apparatus 1 includes processing section 11,
storage section 12 and communication section 13.
[OOSO]
To outage management apparatus 1, a distribution automation system (not illustrated) that
controls, for example, the operation of the electric power system is connected tluough a
communication line. When a power outage in the electric power system occurs, "outage section
5 information" indicating a distribution section where the power outage is occul~inga nd "system
consumer accommodation information" indicating consumers 2 accommodated in the electric
power system are provided from the distribution automation system through comtnunication
section 13. "Outage section inforu~ation"a nd "system consumer accom~nodationin formation"
provided from the distribution automation system are stored in storage section 12. The
10 distribution automation system is described, for example, in "Internet electric power lecture for
university students", 4. Power distribution techniques, Distribution automation system (Internet
URL: http://www.tepco.co.jp/kouza~haiden/haiden-j.html).
[OOSl]
When a power outage occurs in the electric power system, processing section 11 in outage
15 management apparatus 1 obtains the cusrent "outage section infolmation" from the abovedescribed
distribution automation system, extracts consumers 2 accommodated in the outage
section based on "system consumer accommodation information" provided from the distribution
automation system, and transmits "parallel-off command" to connection control apparatus 21 for
extracted consumers 2 through communication section 13 to make connection control apparatus
20 21 perform disconnection (paralleling off) from the electric power system. At this time,
processing section 1 1 transmits information on an expected outage time period (predicted outage
time period) to power supply control apparatus 22 through connection control apparatus 21. As
predicted outage time period at this stage, a value from past actual restoration time periods
corresponding to details of accidents prepared as a database by the electric power company, for
25 example, may be used. Outage management apparatus 1 is arranged so that a predicted outage
time period corresponding to the last restored state can be input to outage management apparatus
1 by the operator of outage management apparatus 1. When the predicted outage time period is
updated by the operator, processing section 11 in outage management apparatus 1 transmits this
predicted outage time period to connection control apparatuses 21 that consumer 2 owns in the
30 outage section.
[0052]
When the electric power system is restored from the power outage that has occurred in the
electric power system, processing section 11 in outage management apparatus 1 notifies
connection control apparatuses 21 for consutllers 2, to which the above-mentioned "parallel-off
comn~and"h as been transnlitted, of "outage restoration" indicating restoration from the outage,
and thereafter transmits "linkage command" to establish linkage to the electric power system.
[0053]
Outage management apparatus 1 can be realized, for example, by means of the
5 information processor (computer) shown in Figure 5, as in the case of power supply control
apparatus 22. In a case where outage management apparatus 1 is realized by means of the
infortnation processor, functions of processing section 11 shown in Figure 6 are realized by
means of processing device 100 shown in Figure 5; functions of storage section 12 shown in
Figure 6 are realized by means of data accumulation device 140; and functions of
10 comlnnnication section 13 shown in Figure 6 are realized by means of communication control
device 170. For input of a predicted outage tinle period by the operator of outage management
apparatus 1, input device 200 shown in Figure 5 may be used.
[0054]
In this arrangement, information on the degrees of importance of electrical appliances 24
15 set by consumer 2 in advance is stored in power supply control apparatus 22. The degree of
importance is set in a plurality of steps. The highest degree of importance may be set, for
exanlple, for a security system, disaster prevention equipment such as emergency lights, firefighting
facilities, or the like. Other degrees of importance may be attached to electrical
appliances 24 in order of decreasing priority with which consumer 2 wants to operate in the
20 event of a power outage. Electrical appliances 24 to which the highest degree of importance is
attached are assumed to include the above-described power supply control apparatus 22,
connection control apparatus 21, and the power conditioner provided on energy provision
equipment 23. It is not necessarily required that the degree of importance be attached to each
electrical appliance 24. For example, the degree of importance may be set with respect to each
25 receptacle or with respect to each earth leakage circuit breaker or molded-case circuit breaker, or
may be set with respect to each of predetermined areas including a plurality of loads (electrical
appliances) or each of predetermined places. For example, in a case where consumer 2 is
formed of comlnercial facilities or hotel facilities having a plurality of floors, a higher degree of
importance may be set for lights in an emergency stair case, emergency lights on common
30 passageways on the floors, or the like.
[0055]
Power supply control apparatus 22 is assumed to collect, by predetermined timing or
periodically, the values of the power consumptions of electrical appliances 24 and the amount of
electric power providable from energy provision equipment 23, and store the collected values in
storage section 222.
[0056]
Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of process steps in the power
supply control apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
5 [0057]
Figure 7 shows an example of setting degrees of importance in which three degrees of
importance: the highest degree of importance [A], the next degree of impo~tance[ B] and the
lowest degree of importance [C] are set for electrical appliances 24 in advance. The number of
degrees of importance attached to electrical appliances 24 is not limited to three. Any number
10 of degrees of importance, not smaller than two, may be set. Processing in power supply control
apparatus 22 described below is executed in processing section 221 shown in Figure 4.
[0058]
As described above, when a power outage occurs in the electric power system, connection
control apparatus 21 sets opening/closing device 21 1 to "open" at "parallel-off command" from
15 outage management apparatus 1, for example. Connection control apparatus 21 also notifies
power supply control apparatus 22 of the parallel-off state from the electric power system and
transfers a "predicted outage time period" received from outage management apparatus 1 to
power supply control apparatus 22. When connection control apparatus 21 receives an updated
"predicted outage time period" from outage management apparatus 1 during the power outage, it
20 transfers the "predicted outage time period" to power supply control apparatus 22.
[0059]
On the other hand, when connection control apparatus 21 is notified of "outage
restoration" from outage management apparatus 1 at the time of restoration from the power
outage, it transfers "outage restoration" to power supply control apparatus 22 while maintaining
2 5 opening/closing device 21 1 in the "open" state. Thereafter, when "linkage command" is
transmitted from outage management apparatus 1, connection control apparatus 21 sets
opening/closing device 211 to "closed" and notifies power supply control apparatus 22 of linkage
to the electric power systeni.
[0060]
30 As shown in Figure 7, power supply control apparatus 22 determines whether or not the
parallel-off command has been notified from connection control apparatus 21 (step Sl), and
repeats processing in step S1 if the parallel-off command has not been notified. When the
parallel-off command is notified from the electric power system (e.g., outage management
apparatus l), power supply control apparatus 22 changes energy provision equipment 23 into the
autonomous operation mode (step S2).
[0061]
When energy provision equipment 23 is in the autonomous operation mode, power supply
control apparatus 22 first determines whether or not the outage restoration has been notified (step
5 S3). When the outage restoration is notified, the process proceeds to processing in step S 12.
[0062]
If the outage restoration has not been notified, power supply control apparatus 22
determines whether or not a predicted outage time period or an updated predicted outage time
period has been notified (step S4). If no predicted outage time period or updated predicted
10 outage time period has been notified, processing from step S3 is repeated.
[0063]
If a predicted outage time period or an updated predicted outage time period has been
notified, power supply control apparatus 22 obtains information on the amount of electric power
providable from energy provision equipment 23 in the predicted outage time period, e.g., a
15 predicted amount of power generation from the renewable power source or an amount of
electricity stored in the storage battery (step S5).
[0064]
Next, power supply control apparatus 22 compares the amount of electric power
providable from energy provision equipment 23 in the predicted outage time period and the total
2 0 amount of electric power to be consumed by the load or loads (electrical appliances 24) with the
degree of importance [A] in the predicted outage time period to determine whether or not
electrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance [A] can be operated within the predicted
outage time period (step S6). If electrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance [A] can
be operated, electric power is supplied to the same electrical appliances (step S7), and the
2 5 process proceeds to processing in step S8.
[0065]
If electrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance [A] cannot be operated, power
supply control apparatus 22 repeats processing from step S3 without executing supply of electric
power from energy provision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 with the degree of
30 importance [A]. Even in the case where electrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance
[A] cannot be operated through the predicted outage time period, they may be operated within a
time period in which electric power can be supplied from energy provision equipment 23.
[0066]
In step S8, power supply control apparatus 22 compares the amount of electric power
providable from energy provision equipment 23 in the predicted outage time period and the total
amount of electric power to be consuined by electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of
impo~tance[A ] and [B] in the predicted outage time period to determine whether or not electrical
appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A] and [B] can be operated within the predicted
5 outage time period. If electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A] and [B] can
be operated, electric power is supplied to the same electrical appliances (step S9), and the
process proceeds to processing in step S10.
[0067]
If electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A] and [B] cannot be operated,
10 power supply control apparatus 22 repeats processing fro111 step S3 without executing supply of
electric power from energy provision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 with the degree of
impoi-tance [B].
[0068]
In step S10, power supply control apparatus 22 compares the amount of electric power
15 providable from energy provision equipment 23 in the predicted outage time period and the total
amount of electric power to be consumed by electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of
impoltance [A], [B], and [C] in the predicted outage time period to determine whether or not
electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A], [B], and [C] can be operated within
the predicted outage time period. If electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A],
20 [B], and [C] can be operated, electric power is snpplied to the same electrical appliances (step
S1 I), and the process proceeds to processing in step S3.
[0069]
If electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A], [B], and [C] cannot be
operated, power supply control apparatus 22 repeats processing from step S3 without executing
25 supply of electric power from energy provision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 with the
degree of impo~tance[C ].
[0070]
When, in step S4, power supply control apparatus 22 receives an updated predicted
outage time period from connection control apparatus 21, repeats processing in the above-
30 described steps S5 to S11 to execute supply of electric power to electrical appliances 24 having
higher degrees of importance operable within the predicted outage time period on the basis of the
amount of electric power providable from energy provision equipment 23 at the current point in
time.
[0071]
When, in step S3, "outage restoration" is notified from outage management apparatus 1
through connection control apparatus 21, power supply control apparatus 22 stops energy
provision equipment 23 in the a~ttonomouso peration mode, notifies outage management
apparatus 1 of "linkage ready" through connection control apparatus 21, and notifies outage
5 management apparatus 1 of "linkage operation time" indicating the time period from receiving
the above-mentioned "linkage command" to actually enabling linkage of energy provisio~l
equipment 23 to the electric power system and "predicted amount of reverse power flow"
indicating the amount of electric power of a reverse power flow to the electric power system that
is expected to be caused at the time of linkage (step S12).
10 [0072]
Thereafter, when "linkage command" is notified from outage management apparatus 1,
power supply control apparatus 22 enters a linked operation mode (step S 13) and thereafter
repeats processing from step S 1.
[0073]
15 In the present exemplary embodiment, when a power outage occurs in the electric power
system, connection control apparatus 21 sets opening/closing device 21 1 to "open" at the
parallel-off command from outage management apparatus 1 to disconnect energy provision
equipment 23 from the electric power system. At the time of restoration from the power outage,
connection control apparatus 21 sets openinglclosing device 21 1 to "closed" at the linkage
2 0 command from outage management apparatus 1 to link energy provision equipment 23 to the
electric power system, thus enabling automatic switching between the autonomous operation and
the linked operation of energy provision equipment 23. Thus, the autonomous operation of
energy provision equipment 23 in a power outage is enabled while the need for a burdensome
switching operation at the time of occurrence of the power outage and at the time of restoration
2 5 from the power outage is eliminated.
[0074]
Power supply control apparatus 22 starts tlie autonomous operation of energy provision
equipment 23 after disconnection from the electric power system made by connection control
apparatus 21 in a power outage in the electric power system. When the electric power system is
30 restored from the power outage, power supply control apparatus 22 links energy provision
equipment 23 to the electric power system after establishing connection with the electric power
system, so that no adverse influence on the electric power system is caused.
[0075]
Thus, adverse influence on the electric power system can be reduced while switching of
the autonomous operation function with energy provision equipment 23 performed by consulner
2 at the time of occurrence of a power outage and at the time of restoration fiom the power
outage is facilitated.
[0076]
5 Further, outage management apparatus 1 can schedule, at the time of restoration from the
power outage, a time for a linkage command to be transmitted to connection control apparatus 21
for each consunler 2 based on a linkage operation time and a predicted amount of reverse power
flow transmitted from power supply control apparatus 22 so that the load on the electric power
system is minimized, for example, the amount of adjustment of power generation by an adjusting
10 power source (a thermal power plant or the like) necessary for stabilizing the distributed voltage
and the distributed frequency is minimized, thus enabling linkage of energy provision equipment
23 for each consumer 2 while reducing the adjustment load on the electric power system.
100771
The present invention has been described by referring to the exemplary embodiment
15 thereof. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary
embodiment. Various changes and modifications understandable by those skilled in the a ~ctan
be made in the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present
invention.
[0078]
20 This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese
Patent Application No. 201 1-209371, field on September 26,201 1; the entire contents of which
are incorporated therein by reference.

CLAIMS
1. A power connection control system provided with energy provision equipment to be
linked to an electric power system, the energy provision equipment that can supply electric
5 power to electrical appliances that a consumer owns, the power connection control system
comprising:
a connection control apparatus that includes an openinglclosing device capable of
connecting or disconnecting the electric power system and the consumer, and that, when a power
outage occurs in the electric power system, disconnects the electric power system and the
10 consumer from each other by the openinglclosing device at a com~nandre ceived from the
outside; and
a power supply control apparatus that, when the power outage occurs in the electric power
system, supplies electric power from the energy provision equipment to the electrical appliances.
15 2. The power connection control system according to claim 1, wherein when the power
outage occurs in the electric power system, said power supply control apparatus obtains an
amount of electric power providable from the energy provision equipment and power
consumption of the electrical appliances, and supplies electric power from the energy provision
equipment to part of the electrical appliances having a higher degree of importance within a
20 range in which electric power can be provided from the energy provision equipment, based on
the amount of electric power providable from the energy provision equipment and the power
consumption of the electrical appliances obtained and degree of importance set for the electrical
appliances in advance.
2 5 3. The power connection control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, at the time of
restoration from the power outage in the electric power system, said connection control
apparatus connects the electric power system and the consumer to each other by the
opening/closing device at a command received from the outside.
30 4. The power connection control system according to claim 3, further comprising an outage
management apparatus that, when the power outage occurs in the electric power system,
transmits to said connection control apparatus a parallel-off command for disconnecting the
electric power system and the consumer fionl each other, and transmits a predicted outage time
period, which is a predicted value of an outage time period, and that, at the time of restoration
fro111 the power outage, transmits to said connection control apparatus a linkage command for
linking the electric power system and the consumer to each other,
wherein said connection control apparatus disconnects the electric power system and the
consumer from each other by the openingiclosing device at the parallel-off command, and
5 connects the electric power system and the consumer to each other by the opening/closing device
at the linkage command, and
wherein upon receiving the predicted outage time period through said connection control
apparatus, said power supply control apparatus determines to which of the electrical appliances
the electric power is to be supplied based on the amount of electric power providable from the
10 energy provision equipment in the predicted outage time period, the power consumption of the
electrical appliances in the predicted outage time period and the degree of impol-tance of the
electrical appliances.
5. The power connection control system according to claim 4, wherein, when the predicted
15 outage time period is updated by an operator, said outage management apparatus transmits the
updated predicted outage time period to said connection control apparatus.
6. The power connection control system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, at the time of
restoration from the power outage, when outage restoration is notified from said outage
2 0 management apparatus, said connection control apparatus notifies said power supply control
apparatus of the outage restoration while maintaining the opening/closing device in the open
state and, when the linkage command is transmitted from said outage management apparatus,
closes the openingiclosing device to connect the electric power system and the consumer to each
other,
2 5 wherein, when the outage restoration is notified from said connection control apparatus,
said power supply control apparatus notifies said outage management apparatus of a linkage
operation time representing the time period from receiving the linkage command to actually
enabling linkage of the energy provision equipment to the electric power system and a predicted
amount of reverse power flow representing the amount of electric power of a reverse power flow
30 to the electric power system expected to be caused at the time of linkage, and
wherein said outage management apparatus schedules a time to transmit the linkage
command for each consumer based on the linkage operation time and the predicted amount of
reverse power flow so that the adjustment load on the electric power system is minimized, and
transmits the linkage command to said connection control apparatus according to the scheduled
time.
7. A power connection control method for disconnecting, from an electric power system,
energy provision equipment that can supply electric power to electrical appliances that a
5 consumer owns, the method comprising:
providing an openinglclosing device that connects or disconnects the electric power
system and the consumer;
a control apparatus disconnecting, when a power outage occurs in the electric power
system, the electric power system and the consumer from each other by the opening/closing
10 device at a command received from the outside; and
a first computer supplying electric power from the energy provision equipment to the
electrical appliances during the power outage in the electric power system.
8. The power connection control niethod according to claim 7, wherein when the power
15 outage occurs in the electric power system, the first computer obtains an amount of electric
power providable from the energy provision equipment and power consumption of the electrical
appliances, and supplies electric power from the energy provision equipment to part of the
electrical appliances with a higher degree of importance within a range in which electric power
can be provided from the energy provision equipment, based on the amount of electric power
20 providable from the energy provision equipment and the power consumption of the electrical
appliances obtained and degree of importance set for the electrical appliances in advance.
9. The power connection control method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, at the time of
restoration from tlie power outage in the electric power system, the first computer connects the
25 electric power system and the consumer to each other by the opening/closing device at a
command received from the outside.
10. The power connection control method according to claim 9, wherein when the power
outage occurs in the electric power system, a second computer transmits to a connection control
30 apparatus a parallel-off command for disconnecting the electric power system and the consumer
from each other, and transmits a predicted outage time period, which is a predicted value of an
outage time period, and, at the time of restoration from the power outage, transmits to the control
apparatus a linkage command for linking the electric power system and the consumer to each
other,
wherein the control apparatus disconnects the electric power system and the consumer
from each other by the opening/closing device at the parallel-off command, and connects the
electric power system and the consumer to each other by the openinglclosing device at the
linkage command, and
5 wherein upon receiving the predicted outage time period through the control apparatus,
the first computer determines to which of the electrical appliances the electric power is to be
supplied based on the amount of electric power providable from the energy provision equipment
in the predicted outage time period, the power consumption of the electrical appliances in the
predicted outage time period and the degree of importance of the electrical appliances.
10
11. The power connection control method according to claim 10, wherein, when the predicted
outage time period is updated by an operator, the second computer transmits the updated
predicted outage time period to the control apparatus.
15 12. The power connection control method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, at the time of
restoration from the power outage, when outage restoration is notified from the second computer,
the control apparatus notifies the first computer of the outage restoration while maintaining the
opening/closing device in the open state and, when the linkage command is transmitted from the
second computer, closes the opening/closing device to connect the electric power system and the
2 0 consumer to each other,
wherein, when the outage restoration is notified from the control apparatus, the first
computer notifies the second computer of a linkage operation time representing the time period
from receiving the linkage command to actually enabling linkage of the energy provision
equipment to the electric power system and a predicted amount of reverse power flow
25 representing the amount of electric power of a reverse power flow to the electric power system
expected to be caused at the time of linkage, and
wherein the second computer schedules a time to transmit the linkage command for each
consumer based on the linkage operation time and the predicted amount of reverse power flow so
that the adjustment load on the electric power system is minimized, and transmits the linkage
30 command to the control apparatus according to the sclieduled time.
13. A power connection control system provided with energy provision equipment to be
linked to an electric power system, the energy provision equipment that can supply electric
power to electrical appliances that a consumer owns, the power connection control system
comprising:
an outage management apparatus that, when a power outage occurs in the electric power
system, transmits a parallel-off command to disconnect the electric power system and the
consumer from each other and, at the time of restoration from the power outage, transmits a
5 linkage command for linking the electric power system and the consumer to each other;
a connection control apparatus that includes an opening/closing device capable of
connecting or disconnecting the electric power system and the consumer, and that, when the
power outage occurs in the electric power system, disconnects the electric power system and the
consumer from each other by the opening/closing device upon receiving the parallel-off
10 command from the outage management apparatus; and
a power supply control apparatus that, when the power outage occurs in the electric power
system, supplies electric power from the energy provision equipment to the electrical appliances.
14. A power supply control apparatus that supplies electric power from energy provision
15 equipment that can supply electric power to electrical appliances that a consumer owns, the
apparatus comprising:
a processing section that when a power outage occurs in an electric power system, obtains
an amount of electric power providable from the energy provision equipment and power
consumption of the electrical appliances, and supplies electric power from the energy provision
20 equipment to part of the electrical appliances with a higher degree of importance within a range
in which electric power can be provided from the energy provision equipment, based on the
amount of electric power providable fiom the energy provision equipment and the power
consumption of the electrical appliances obtained and degree of importance set for the electrical
appliances in advance;
25 a storage section that holds the amount of electric power providable from the energy
provision equipment, the power consumptions of the electrical appliances and the degrees of
importance set for the electrical appliances in advance; and
a conlmunication section that communicates information to or from the energy provision
equipment and the electrical appliances.
30
15. The power supply control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein upon receiving a
predicted outage time period from the outside in a power outage in the electric power system,
said processing section determines to which of the electrical appliances the electric power is to
be supplied based on the amount of electric power providable from the energy provision
equipment in the predicted outage time period, the power consumption of the electrical
appliances in the predicted outage time period and the degree of importance of the electrical
appliances.
5 16. A connection control apparatus comprising:
an opening/closing device that connects or disconnects an electric power system and a
consumer;
a control device that, when a power outage occurs in the electric power system,
disconnects the electric power systenl and the consumer from each other by the openinglclosing
10 device upon receiving a parallel-off command supplied from the outside as a command for
disconnecting a consumer accommodated in a power distribution section in which the power
outage is occurring; and
a communication device that receives the parallel-off command and a linkage command
through a predetermined communication line and outputs the commands to said control device.
15
17. The connection control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein, at the time of
restoration from the power outage, said control device connects the electric power system and
the consumer to each other by the opening/closing device at the linkage command supplied from
the outside as a command for linking the consunler to the electric power system.
20
18. An outage management apparatus comprising:
a storage section that, when a power outage occurs in an electric power system, holds
outage section information provided from the outside and indicating a distribution section where
the power outage is occurring, and system consumer accommodation information as information
25 indicating consumers accommodated in the electric power system;
a processing section that extracts some of the consumers accommodated in the outage
section where the power outage is occurring based on the outage section information and the
systenl consumer accommodation information, transmits to the extracted consumer a parallel-off
command for disconnecting the consumer in the outage section from the electric power system
30 and a predicted outage time period input by an operator as a predicted value of an outage time
period, and transmits to the consumer in the outage section a linkage command for linking the
consumer to the electric power system at the time of restoration from the power outage; and
a communication section that, under the control of said processing section, receives the
outage section information and the system consumer accomnlodation information through a
predetemiined cotilniunication line, and transmits the parallel-off colnniand and the linkage
command to the consumer accommodated in the distribution section \vliere the power outage is
occur-ring.
5 19. The outage management apparaks according to claim 18, wherein when said processing
section receives, from the consumer, with respect to a notice of restoration from the power
outage, a linkage operation time representing the time period from receiving the linkage
command to actually enabling linkage of energy provision equipment that can supply electric
power to electrical appliances to the electric power system and a predicted amount of reverse
10 power flow representing the amount of electric power of a reverse power flow to the electric
power system expected to be caused at the time of linkage of the energy provision equipment to
the electric power system, said processing section schedules a time to transmit the linkage
command for each consumer based on the linkage operation time and the predicted amount of
reverse power flow so that the adjustmelit load on the electric power system is minimized, and
15 transmits the linkage colntnand to the consumer according to the scheduled time.
Dated this 22"' Day of April, 2014