Real-time pricing control system and methods regarding same

A real-time pricing control method for use in controlling one or more points at one or more sites includes receiving real time utility rate data. At least one point component is defined for use in the method. The at least one point component includes one or more points. A control strategy is specified for each point component based on at least two utility rate ranges and a command for each point is generated as a function of the control strategy specified and the real time utility rate data. The points of the at least one point component include one of digital points, multistage digital points, and analog points. Further, one or more points may be monitored. A real-time pricing control system for performing the method is also provided. The system includes a utility rate interface which receives real time utility rate data from the utility service provider and deposits such utility rate data in a utility rates database. The interface also provides the utility rate data from the database to the real-time pricing controller for generating commands for controlling the one or more points as a function of real time utility rate data. The system further includes communications interface for communicating with an associated management system. A user interface for use with the methods and system is also provided along with a reporting system for generating reports for the user of the system and methods.