Power/energy: Homeostatic control for electric power usage: A new scheme for putting the customer in the control loop would exploit microprocessors to deliver energy more efficiently

Presents a new scheme for putting the customer in the control loop that would exploit microprocessors to deliver energy more efficiently. A homeostatic control scheme (homeostasis denotes a biological balance of separate functions in an organism) calls for continual updating of electrical rates, based on supply and demand, and continual communication of those rates to customers by the electric utility. Drawing heavily on today´s load-management practices while greatly expanding the scope and nature of utility-customer interactions, homeostatic control would establish a marketplace for electric energy.