WO2010008301A1

WO2010008301A1 - Apparatus and method for computer implemented, automatic selection of a provider of utility power

Info

Publication number: WO2010008301A1
Application number: PCT/NO2009/000265
Authority: WO
Inventors: Siv Jensen; Geir Kilsti
Original assignee: Kraft Verket E.F., Siv Jensen
Priority date: 2008-07-15
Filing date: 2009-07-15
Publication date: 2010-01-21
Also published as: NO20083141L

Abstract

A computer apparatus for automatic selection of a utility power provider comprises a price element register adapted to store price element data (D1), a customer register adapted to store customer data (D2), and a provider register adapted to store provider data (D3), a data processing device adapted to generate processed data by processing, for each customer in the customer register, said price element data, said customer data and said provider data, and further adapted to, on basis of said process data, generate a decision to migrate, and to generate a migration instruction on basis of the decision to migrate, and a transfer device adapted to convey the decision to migrate to a customer register device of said utility power provider.

Description

Apparatus and method for computer implemented, automatic selection of a provider of utility power

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, is the present invention arranged such that it ensures that users of utility power or households at any time is a customer for utility power with the utility power provider who has the best utility power price agreement adapted to the needs and use pattern of the end user, automatically, and such that the end user does not have to keep track of the market at all times.

In advantageous variants, the present invention is embodied by way of various program modules, preferably such that operates on the Linux operating system, to carry out the tasks on a computer which has a connection to customer registration devices of one or more utility power providers.

Presently, there is a large number of contract types in the market for electric energy, and it is time consuming for the individual end user to maintain an overview which is sufficiently good to be able to choose the lowest priced utility power provider for a given consumption of electrical power in the associated geographical area, such as e.g. may be a particular municipality. The present invention is adapted to provide a survey of the utility power prices in the market, and changes the utility power provider for its customer when advantageous.

Utility power products can mainly be divided into 3 groups, where there are certain variations within each group:

Group 1 : "Standard variable power" (SV)

This is typically decided by each individual provider every week, and is normally based on the quality of the purchasing contracts made by the provider on the utility power bourse.

Group 2: "Market power" (MK, spot price with mark up)

The spot price is typically fixed by a broker institution, which in Norway may by Nordpool, for each hour in each geographical zone, and where each individual utility power provider has his or her mark up and his or her fixed monthly charges.

Group 3: "Utility power at fixed price" (FP) This is usually fixed by each individual provider, and is typically valid for a certain period ahead, usually with a binding period.

Prior art

Prior art solutions for covering needs corresponding to the purposes of the present invention, are based only on price data collected from a common reporting point for provider prices (such as e.g. the website of the Norwegian "Konkurransetilsynet"), which by experience has shown to be incomplete with regard to obtaining the best possible exploitation of available offers for utility power.

Of such prior art solutions are here mentioned products and services like:

1) Webpages which include calculator functions adapted to calculate the utility power provider with the lowest cost for the user based on data provided by the user himself, but they do not include a technical connection to a real source of data.

2) Utility power providers who guarantee for the user that your price will be the lowest at any time, such as e.g. the 10 lowest, but based on personal assessments does it not give any security for the user to at all time obtain the best price.

General description of the present invention

The present invention provides a computer apparatus for automatic selection of a utility power provider, characterised by the features recited in the accompanying independent patent claim 1.

Further advantageous features of the computer apparatus of the present invention for automatic selection of a utility power provider are recited in the accompanying dependent patent claims 2 to 6.

The present invention provides a method to be carried out in a computer apparatus for automatic selection of a utility power provider, characterised by the features recited in the accompanying independent patent claim 6.

Further advantageous features of the method of the present invention to beOarried out in a computer apparatus for automatic selection of a utility power provider are recited in the accompanying dependent patent claims 7 to 10. The invention will now be explained in further detail, and in part by way of reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. IA is a first flow chart part for illustrating a partial process for collecting information,

Fig. IB is a second flow chart part for illustrating a partial process for collecting information,

Fig. 2A is a first flow chart part for illustrating a partial process for generating migration proposal data and instructions,

Fig. 2B is a second flow chart part for illustrating a partial process for generating migration proposal data and instructions,

Fig. 3 A is a first flow chart part for illustrating a partial process for conveying and effecting migration proposal data and instructions,

Fig. 3B is a second flow chart part for illustrating a partial process for conveying and effecting migration proposal data and instructions, and

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of an example of an advantageous structuring of data structures for a utility power user migration motor implementation of the present invention.

In the following description, references are made to the drawings and are to be understood in such a way that the disclosures provided in the drawings are also to be considered as disclosures that are part of the description, such as e.g. the result of a specific test indicated by a diamond shaped textbox in the flow chart which generally indicates for a test which provides one out of two possible results "yes" and "no", where the result indicated in a downwardly direction indicates the result "yes" and a result indicated sideways indicates the result "no".

Surveying utility power prices

Preferably, the present invention includes a program which at predefined intervals, such as e.g. daily, collects prices for utility power from a price data source. It has been found efficient to employ price data sources in the form of a webpage, such as e.g. the web pages of the Norwegian "Konkurransetilsynet", which represent a common reporting point for utility power prices. In the web page, and thereby also in the local data base, lie the prices which follow the price structure decided by the provider of the price data source, such as e.g. the price structure decided by the Norwegian

"Konkurransetilsynet". Typically, they cover a substantial part of the prices of the utility power providers within the group referred to as "standard variable price", most within the group "fixed price", and a small number within the group "spoWmarket price".

In order to include the prices that are not available from the Norwegian "Konkurransetilsynet", the program system of the present invention is adapted such that it can handle a number of different web pages, as they normally are available at the different providers of utility power with price and product information.

The web pages of the individual utility power providers are examined closely for acquiring prices and contracts, and a profile is prepared for each provider based on said acquired data.

The provider profile typically includes:

• One or more web links to respective web pages with price data.

• Search criteria defining wherein the web page a program may find and acquire price data of interest. • Price type (such as e.g. group, variation, or condition).

• Terms of payment

• Any restrictions

Retrieving prices from web pages The program of the invention has been developed to be particularly well adapted for searching and retrieving the relevant information from web pages, as no known template has been found for displaying information on the web. Some web pages include pure "html", some include "frames", and others make use of active Java script, often well hidden in several levels of Java script files. It is, however, well known that search criteria need to be entirely unique, to avoid retrieving wrong prices, and that small changes in a web page may easily make a search turn out wrong. The program system of the invention, however, makes special records of those web pages that have been changed in such a way that the price information may no longer be retrieved. This is marked by a flag and triggers an examination of the web page, with a subsequent adjustment of these search criteria, for in such a way to achieve that the search function at all times is adapted according to any change made.

In order to collect web pages, a standard program function is used, such as e.g. one of Linux which is known as "wget". Subsequently, the especially adapted script of the invention searches through web page, retrieves the price and stores it in the appropriate profile. The search may preferably be text based, and operates to find so-called "html tags", and possibly special text in the area surrounding a price data, for then to carry out extracting the actual number which represents the price, from the web page.

Further processing

All acquired information is formatted and made available within the administration system of the invention, which preferably may be web based. If so is preferred, here one may collect samples to perform a quality check of the information which has been acquired.

Each week, the program system of the invention reviews all information acquired and determines the utility power provider and product arrangement which is the most favourable for each individual user in the area in which the user has his/her facility/- facilities, based on the interval consumption, such as e.g. the yearly consumption, of each individual facility. This is stored in a data base and a migration instruction is generated for those customers who are to change utility power provider to obtain utility power at a lower price. For a more detailed explanation, reference is made to the description of the partial process 200.

Instruction controlled migration of user to a new utility power provider

The migration instruction is transferred automatically, preferably by way of e-mail, for direct registration in the customer registration device of the new provider in the facility of the respective new provider, such as e.g. explained in the following. For migration, the system of the present invention, by execution of a program in the computer, generates automatically lists of all facilities/meter points that are to be migrated to a new utility power provider. A list is made for each individual utility power provider who at migration to a new utility power provider is to receive new customers. Each list includes all information, which typically includes commands, which the system of the new utility power provider requires in order to receive and register in a new customer, including customer data by which customer conveys the power of attorney to the system to migrate his/her utility power customer relationship on his/her behalf. Further details of the instruction controlled migration are explained in the description of partial process 200.

The lists are transferred automatically by way of electronic means to the customer control systems of the various utility power providers for electronic registration and activation as customer for delivery of utility power according to the data of the instructions.

Then, the system registers the change in customer relationship for customers affected, such that this becomes the basis for calculating/generating a next migration proposal. After completed migration the customer will automatically receive a final invoice from the previous utility power provider, and later automatically an invoice for his/her continued consumption from the new provider.

Embodiments of the present invention

The embodiments of the invention as method may advantageously for the purpose of creating an overview be described as comprising of three parts, herein referred to as partial processes 100, 200 and 300. Each partial process is illustrated in respective flow chart (in the accompanying drawing figures, IA and IB, 2A and 2B, and, 3A and 3B, respectively) with accompanying descriptions in this disclosure.

The present invention is contemplated to be realised as an apparatus or a system using a computer, wherein an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus of the invention comprises the following elements, and with the following functions which in operation will embody the method of the invention:

- reporting point profile register, in D2: comprises: reporting point ID and reporting point data address and locations,

- provider profile register DL, profile comprise: provider ID and provider data address and -location - price element register D 1 , D3, DLW price elements comprise: provider ID, products, price data for each product customer register, in D2 customer data comprises: customer Id, metering point ID, utility power product in use, utility power consumption data, consumption statistics, acquisition mechanism which makes use of the profile information in the profile registers to search and acquire data according to the profiles in the respective profile registers, - updating device which based on the profile information and the acquired data updates corresponding data registers,

- processing mechanism which processes data in the updated data registers, makes decisions with regard to migration and generates migrate instructions, and

- transferring device which conveys migration instructions to the customer registration devices of the providers.

The system computer will preferably be adapted with connections, which in operation will embody the method of the invention, to: a first data source (Dl) for reported utility power prices (price elements), in the reporting point, wherein: price elements include: provider ID, products, price data for each product a second data source (D2) for utility power consumption data, at user, wherein: utility power consumption data includes: utility power consumption, interval, and - a third data source (D3) for provider price data, at provider, wherein: provider price data includes: products, price data for each product.

Thus, the invention provides:

A computer apparatus for automatic selection of utility power provider, being characterised by that it is provided with means, which in operation will embody the method of the invention, to establish connections to: a first data source (Dl) for reported utility power prices (price elements), in the reporting point, a second data source (D2) for utility power consumption data, at customer, and a third data source (D3) for provider price data, at provider, and that it comprises a plurality of registers which include a reporting point profile register adapted to store reporting point ID and reporting point address and locations, a reporting point data address and locations, a provider profile register adapted to store provider ID and provider data address and location, a price element register adapted to store provider ID, products, price data for each product, a customer register adapted to store customer ID, product in use, utility power consumption data, and that it comprises computer processing and communication devices which include: an acquisition mechanism adapted to make use of profile information in the profile registers to search for and acquire data according to the profiles in the respective profile registers, an updating device adapted to update corresponding data registers on basis of the profile information and the acquired data, a data processing mechanism being adapted to process data in the updated data registers to determine a decision to migrate and to generate migration instructions, and a transfer device being adapted to convey migration instructions to the customer registration devices of the provider.

Furthermore, the invention provides:

A method for execution by a computer device for automatic selection of a utility power provider being characterised by that it comprises method steps adapted to affect the functionality being specified by the means which are included in the computer device being disclosed in the section above. Details of the method of the invention are disclosed by way of the attached flow diagrams and corresponding description.

Reference is now made to the accompanying flow charts in the figures IA, IB, 2A, 2B, 3 A and 3B, which illustrate the invention by way of the following partial processes 100, 200 and 300, which may be incorporated into one or more advantageous embodiments of the method of the invention, or in apparatuses which together constitute a computer device, preferably with communication means, being arranged such that they provide the functions for execution of the method, preferably as disclosed by way of one or more of its advantageous embodiments are described herein. For all tests being performed by way of the test process elements in the partial prosesses 100, 200 and 300, applies that the tests which give a result is either YES or NO, and for exit for all diamond shaped test boxes in the enclosed diagrams for illustration of the partial processes 100, 200 and 300, is the indication of "YES" in a downward direction, and "NO" an exit towards right.

Partial process 100, "Acquire information", illustrated in fig. IA and fig. IB, explained by way of examples of price data sources:

101. Acquires automatically web pages from a common reporting point (such as e.g. the Norwegian Konkurransetilsynet (KT)) for power prices having been reported in (i.e. price elements) that includes reported power prices from a plurality of utility power providers

102. A repeating part with start in 102A and end in 102B, which includes the process elements 102, 104, 105 and 106, which search through web pages to identify and find price elements. For each price element which has been found in the web page, 103, 104, 105 and 106 are preformed:

103. Test: Is this price element already stored in the price element register?

104. Storing new price element, in DLW.

105. Comparing with the stored (previously acquired) price. Is the price the same as before?

106. Updating of the stored information with the new price

107. Acquire spot prices from the web page of Nordpool (DSN) for each of the 4 zones into which the market has been devided.

108. Store the spot prices for a later comparison. 109. Retrieve stored profiles for all price elements to be acquired from the web pages of the providers.

110. A repeating part with start in 11 OA and end in 11 OB, which includes the process elements 111, 112, 113, 114 and 115, and which is performed for each price element or for each profile. For each profile, steps 111, 112, 113, 114 and 115 are performed.

111. Reading the acquisition description from a respective profile, and collecting price element from the web page of the provider.

112. A check is performed: Was the price element specified by the profile found? 113. Notify the administrator that a change of this web page has been made, such that the acquisition mechanism must be adjusted. 114. Collecting the newly acquired price element with data in the stored price element from previous acquisition, and determine whether the newly acquired price element exhibits amendments when compared with the price element that was stored in the register by the previous acquisition.

5 If amendments are determined in the process element 114, an updating is performed of price element data from the newly acquired price element. If no amendments are determined in the process element 114, no updating of the price element data is performed.

115. Registering of new acquisition of price element. Q

Partial process 200, "Generate migration instructions", illustrated in fig. 2A and fig. 2B:

201. A repeating part with start in 201 A and end in 201B, which includes thes process elements 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208 and 209, which is performed for the metering point ID of each active customer.

202. Retrieves stored information from data base D2:

- the static profile for this metering point

- the current utility power provider and utility power price contract of theQ customer

- the spot price for the geographical zone of the metering point.

203. Calculating what the customer pays for utility power (per kWh) to-day

204. Based on the annual consumption of this metering point, the spot price and the acquired prices from providers, the lowest price per IcWh for this5 metering point is computed.

205. Registering in the data base D2 those utility power providers who offer the lowest price and the related price type/product (for each customer)

206. Does this utility power provider already deliver utility power to this metering point? Q 207. Flagging the metering point as "to be migrated to a new provider"

208. Is the lowest price type/product the same as before for this metering point?

209. Flagging the metering point as "to change product at the same provider"

210. Preparing a list of all utility power providers to whom customers are5 migrating. 211. A repeating part with start in 21 IA and end in 21 IB, which includes the process element 212, to be performed for each utility power provider in this list

212. Preparing a list which includes details of all customers/metering points to be migrated to this provider

213. Preparing a list of all utility power providers to be notified of change in utility power products for one or more customers.

214. A repeating part with start in 214A and end in 214B, which includes the process element 215, to be performed for each power provider in this list. 215. Preparing a document which identifies the customer, the metering point and a new utility power product to be delivered to the customer.

The data processing of the migration evaluation computations disclosed above in the process steps 02 through 205 are in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention performed as described in the following:

For the computations, it is assumed that all data have been aquired and are available in a data base, from which the data then are retrieved as needed according to the computation step being performed in the data processing device of the invention and the corresponding method.

For each separate customer/metering point the following is performed by a suitably adapted computer program:

1) Retrieving stored data required for the computations:

(a) Spot price of the current week for the zone of the customer (from DSN)

(b) Annual utility power consumption (from D2)

(c) Current utility power provider (from D2)

(d) Current utility power product (from D2) (e) The price of to-day for this utility power product (from Dl or D3)

For SV/FP: The price is directly available in a data source For MK: The price/kWh = spot price (a) + mark up (f) Fixed part (annual fees) for this utility power product (from Dl or D3)

2) Computing what the customer pays for utility power as of to-day: Total price per kWh = price of to-day (e) + fixed part (f) /annual consumption (b) 3) Retrieving acquired and stored data required for the computation.

(i) All reported prices of type SV for the current week (from Dl) from all providers that can deliver in the municipality of the customer. (j) All retrieved prices of type SV for the current week (from D3) from all providers who can deliver in the municipality of the customer, (k) All reported prices of type MK for the current week (from Dl) from all providers who can deliver in the municipality of the customer. (1) All retrieved web prices of type MK for the current week (from D3) from all providers who can deliver in the municipality of the customer.

(m) All reported prices of type FP for the current week (from Dl) from all providers who can deliver in the municipality of the customer, (n) All retrieved web prices of type FP for the current week (from D3) from all providers who can deliver in the municipality of the customer.

4) SV: Computing what this customer has to pay for all prices in (i) and (j) Total price/kWh = price of current week + fixed part/annual consumption Results achieved in computations are compared, and the lowest SV total price and corresponding provider is selected.

5) MK: Computing what this customer has to pay for all prices in (k) and (1) Total price/kWh = spot price (a) + mark up + fixed part/annual consumption. Results achieved of computation are compared, and the lowest MK total price and the corresponding provider is selected.

6) FP: Computing what this customer will have to pay for all prices in (m) and (n)

Total price/kWh = price + fixed part/annual consumption Comparing results and selecting the lowest FP total price.

7) Prices computed and selected from method steps 4), 5) and 6) above are then compared, and the prices exhibiting lowest value is selected.

8) Name of the provider who offers the lowest price selected in method step 7) is registered, together with the price type of this lowest price. In the following is provided an actual number example of the performance of method steps 1) through 8) explained above.

This number example is based on the following conditions that there is a customer (Kl) in Arendal, Norway, two utility power providers, herein designated Ll and L2, respectively, who both report SV to the Norwegian Konkurransetilsynet. The provider Ll offers MK via his web pages, while L2 reports MK to the Norwegian "Konkurransetilsynet".

1) Retrieves stored data required for the calculation:

(a) Spot price in the current week for zone SOUTH in Norway is 36 øre/kWh

(b) Annual utility power consumption for Kl is 15.000 kWh

(c) Current power provider: L2

(d) Current utility power product: SV (e) To-day's price for this utility power product is 40 øre/kWh

(f) Fixed charge (annual charge) for this utility power product is: 600 kr.

2) Calculates what Kl pays for utility power as of to-day: Total price per kWh = 40 øre + 600/15.000 = 44 øre/kWh

3) Retrieves previously required and stored data required for calculation: (i) Ll delivers SV for 41 øre/kWh + 240/year

L2 delivers SV for 39 øre/kWh + 600/year (j) No SV product on web (Ic) L2 delivers MK with 1 øre mark up per kWh + 600/year (from Dl) (1) Ll delivers MK with 2 øre mark up per kWh + 240/year (from D3)

4) SV: Utility power from Ll is priced at 41 øre + 240/15.000 = 42,6 øre/kWh

Utility power from L2 is priced at 39 øre + 600/15.000 = 43,0 øre/kWh By comparing the result number one will see in this number example that Kl may receive SV utility power at lowest price from Ll .

5) MK: Utility power from Ll is priced at 40 øre + 2 øre + 240/15.000 = 43,6 øre/kWh

Utility power from L2 is priced at 40 øre + 1 øre + 600/15.000 = 45,0 øre/kWh By comparing the number results above in this number example one will see that

Kl may receive MK utility power at lowest price from Ll . 6) FP: No calculations or selections, because neither Ll nor L2 offer fixed price.

7) By comparing with the lowest calculated price for MK utility power from Ll , which is 43,6 øre/kWh, it is determined that the lowest price is SV utility power from Ll at 42,6 øre/kWh, which now is selected.

8) Kl is registered at provider with the lowest priced utility power at 42,6 øre/kWh, and at that the lowest priced utility power is of type SV. (The difference between the total price per kWh customer Kl pays to-day and the calculated lowest price for SV utility power from Ll is positive, resulting in a proposal to migrate to SV utility power from Ll in the next period.

Partial process 300, "Perform migration", illustrated in fig. 3 A and fig. 3B:

301. Retrieves "documents" with all migration/change proposal 302. A' repeating part with start in 302A and end in 302B, which includes the process elements 303, 304, 305 and 306, which are performed for each document previously generated in process element 215. 303. Retrieves stored address for receiver of the migration document (the new utility power provider), from DL. 304. Transmits the migration instructions of the document to the indicated address of the new utility power provider.

305. Registering that all customers in the document are requested migrated to new provider or new product with the same provider.

306. Stores the time of day for this migration. xxx. At this point in the process, it may be advantageous to introduce a waiting period, e.g. of a few days duration.

307. A repeating part with start in 307A and end in 307B, which includes the process elements 308 and 309, which is performed for all customers that were migrated by the transfer of migration instructions in the process element 304. 308. Was the migration of a customer aborted?

309. Updates stored information for the metering point in question with new provider, and possibly product.

310. Registration of the migration process as fully completed.

Additional explanation of some points identified above 101. Data are acquired from the web server of the Norwegian Konkurransetilsynet in text format with tab separated fields.

102. A price element comprises at least one of the following information elements: 1) The identity (ID) of the utility power provider 2) Price type:

Market power (MK) Standard variable (SV) Fixed price (FP)

3) Price per IcWh for standard variable (SV) and/or fixed price utility power (FP)

4) Mark up per IcWh in market utility power (MK)

5) Fee/fixed charge (amount per year)

6) Week number; the point in time from which the price is valid

103 : Compares all parts of the new price element to determine whether an identical price element has already been acquired and stored.

109: Profiles for those utility power providers who do not report their prices to the Norwegian Konkurransetilsynet are already stored (in data base). Such a profile includes the same price element (as A2), and in addition the following:

1) Web address (url) to the web page which includes this price element

2) Instruction (program code) for how a program may search to find the current price and read it from the web page

3) Any optional price ceiling and charge for a price element (such as e.g. a type of standard variable price that never exceeds a certain value, with no ? (some??) higher charge

4) Any optional date for the duration of which a price ceiling is valid

5) Any other information

112: It is expected that the search instructions mentioned in 109 leads to a price (a number) which gives information about the price of utility power. If any changes are made on the web page that affect the search description (the search instruct- tions), it will not lead to any number that may represent the price of utility power.

203, 204: Calculating the total price for utility power: 1) Reviewing the customer profile to determine the utility power provider and utility power type of the customer

2) Retrieving that price element from this utility power provider which corresponds to the contract of the customer. Calculating the total price:

For the types SV and FP: total price per kWh = utility power price (per kWh) + annual charge/annual consumption For MK: Retrieves the spot price of to-day for this zone (geographic) in which the customer is located. Total price per kWh = zone spot price + mark up + annual charge/annual consumption.

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s

1.

A computer apparatus for automatic selection of a provider of utility power, characterized in that it comprises

- a price element registered adapted to store price element data (Dl) with utility power provider identity (IDl), element product specification (PSl), and element price data (PRl), for each first product specification, a customer register adapted to store customer data (D2) with customer identity (ID2), customer product specification (PS2) for product in use, utility power consumption data (ST3) and utility power consumption interval data (IN2), and a provider register adapted to store provider data (D3) with provider product specification (PS3) and provider price data (PR3) for each provider product specification, and - a data processing device adapted to generate process data by processing, for each customer in the customer register, said price element data, customer data and provider data, and adapted to on basis of the processed data generate a migration decision and to generate a migration instruction based on the migration decision, and - a transmitting device adapted to convey the migration instruction to the customer registration device of a utility power provider.

2.

The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said product specifications (PSl, PS2, PS3) is at least one of market utility power (MK), standard variable (SV) or fixed price (FP), and said price data (PRl , PR2, PR3) is at least one of a price per kilowatt hour (KPR), a kilowatt hour mark up (KP A), a fixed charge (FGB) and a period of validity (GHP).

3.

The computer apparatus of claim 2, wherein a price per kilowatt hour (KPR) for market utility power (MK) is associated with a zone (SO).

4. The computer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data processing device is adapted to generate said processed data by a) a first data processing device for calculating for all providers in D3, an SV utility power total price/kWh equal to the price of this week added to fixed charge divided by annual consumption, comparing the calculated SV utility power total price/kWh, and selecting the lowest calculated SV utility power total price/kWh and the associated utility power provider by comparing all calculated SV utility power total prices/kWh, b) a second data processing device for calculating for all utility power providers in D3, an MK utility power total price/kWh equal to the spot price (a) added to said mark up and fixed charge divided by annual consumption, comparing the calculated MK utility power total prices/kWh, and selecting the lowest calculated MK utility power total price/kWh and associated utility power provider by comparing all calculated MK utility power total prices/kWh, c) a third data processing device for calculating for all utility power providers in D3, an FP utility power total price/kWh equal to price added to the fixed charge divided by annual consumption, and selecting the lowest calculated FP utility power total price/kWh and associated provider by comparing all calculated FP utility power total prices/kWh, d) a fourth data processing device for calculating based on D2 what the customer with customer identity DD2 pays as the present total price/ kWh equal to the present week price added to a fixed charge divided by annual consumption, e) a fifth data processing device for calculating differences between the calculated present total price/kWh and each of those in step a) selected SV utility power total price/kWh, in step b) selected MK utility power total price/kWh, and in step c) selected FP utility power total price/kWh, and selecting the utility power total price/kWh and the provider specification (PS3) of the associated provider which results in the largest calculated difference which is positive and greater than zero, and f) a registration device for making registrations in a location register the customer identity ID2 and that in step e) selected utility power total price/kWh and the provider specification (PS3) of the associated utility power providers.

5.

The computer apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the data processing device comprises a device for performing migration of a customer to a new utility power provider on basis of data recorded in the migration register which indicates the customer identity (ID2) and a selected utility power type on basis of the calculated total price/kWh of a plurality of utility power types and the provider specification (PS3) of the associated utility power provider, which associated provider's provider specification (PS3) indicates a new utility power provider different from the present utility power provider, and adapted to transmit to a first utility power provider computer device at the associated utility power provider an instruction for registering in the customer with the customer identity as customer for the selected utility power type.

6.

A method for execution in a computer apparatus for automatic selection of a utility power provider, characterised in that the method comprises

- storing in a price element register price element data (Dl) with provider identity (IDl), element product specification (PSl), and element price data (PRl), for each first product specification,

- storing in a customer register customer data (D2) with customer identity (ID2), customer product specification (PS2) for product in use, utility power consumption data (ST2), and utility power consumption interval data (IN2), and

- storing in a provider register provider data (D3) with provider product specification (PS3) and provider price data (PR3) for each provider product specification, and

- generating processed data by processing, for each customer in said customer register, said price element data, customer data and provider data, and on basis of the processed data generating a migration decision and generating a migration instruction on basis of the migration decision, and - conveying by use of a transmission device said migration instruction to a customer registration device of said utility power provider.

7.

A method of claim 6, where each of said product specifications (PSl, PS2, PS3) is at least one of market power (MK), standard variable (SV), or fixed price (FP), and said price data (PRl, PR2) is at least one of price per kilowatt hour (KPR), kilowatt hour mark up (KP A), fixed charge (FGB) and validity period (GHP).

8. A method of claim 7, wherein a price per kilowatt hour (KPR) for a market power (MK) is associated with a zone (SO).

9.

A method of anyone of claims 7 or 8, further comprising generating said process data by a) calculating for all providers in D3, a SV utility power total price/kWh equal to a price of the current week added to fixed charge divided by annual consumption, comparing said calculated SV utility power total prices/kWh, and selecting the lowest calculated SV utility power total price/kWh and associated provider by comparing all calculated SV utility power total prices/kWh, b) calculating for all providers in D3, a MK utility power total price/kWh equal to the spot price (a) added to mark up and fixed charge divided by annual consumption, comparing the calculated MK utility power total prices/kWh, and selecting the lowest calculated MK utility power total price/kWh and associated provider by comparing all calculated MK utility power total prices/kWh, c) calculating for all providers in D3, a FP utility power total price/kWh equal to the price added to fixed charge divided by annual consumption, and selecting the lowest calculated FP utility power total price/kWh and associated provider by comparing all calculated FP utility power total prices/kWh, d) calculating on basis of D2 what the customer with customer identity ID2 pays as his current total price/kWh equal the price of the current week added to the fixed charge divided by annual consumption, e) calculating differences between said calculated present total price/kWh and each of said in step a) selected SV utility power total price/kWh, said in step b) selected MK utility power total price/kWh, and said in step c) selected FP utility power total price/kWh, and selecting that utility power total price/kWh and associated provider's provider specification (PS3) which gives the largest calculated difference that is positive and greater than zero, and f) registering in a migration register the customer identity ID2 and that in step e) selected utility power total price/kWh and associated provider's provider specification (PS3).

10.

A method of anyone of claims 6, 7, 8 and 9, further comprising executing migration of a customer to new provider on basis of data recorded in a migration register which indicates the customer identity (ID2) and a selected utility power type on basis of the calculated total price/kWh of a plurality of utility power types and associated provider's provider specification (PS3), which associated provider's provider specification (PS3) indicates a new provider different from the present provider, and transmitting to a first computer device of a provider at the associated provider an in registering instruction for registering in the customer with the customer identity for the selected utility power type.