A method for controlling a district thermal energy distribution system comprising: a distribution grid for a liquid based distribution of heat or cold, the distribution grid comprising a feed line and a return line; a production plant configured to: produce heat or cold, deliver the heat or cold to a district thermal liquid of the distribution grid, and pump the heated or cooled district thermal liquid from the production plant out into the distribution grid; and a plurality of local control units, each local control unit being associated with a local distribution system connected to the distribution grid and configured to distribute heat or cold in a building, each local control unit further being configured to control an outtake of heat or cold of the associated local distribution system from the distribution grid, characterized in that the method comprises: determining whether a local pressure difference between the feed line and the return line of the distribution grid at a location of the distribution grid where a first local distribution system is connected to the distribution grid is below a predetermined threshold; upon the local pressure difference is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, generating a control signal associated with a local control unit of a second local distribution system, different from the first local distribution system, the control signal comprising information instructing the second local distribution system to reduce outtake of heat or cold from the distribution grid; sending the control signal to the local control unit of the second local distribution system; receiving the control signal at the local control unit of the second local distribution system; and reducing, in response to the control signal, the outtake of heat or cold of the second local distribution system from the distribution grid. a distribution grid for a liquid based distribution of heat or cold, the distribution grid comprising a feed line and a return line; a production plant configured to: produce heat or cold, deliver the heat or cold to a district thermal liquid of the distribution grid, and pump the heated or cooled district thermal liquid from the production plant out into the distribution grid; and produce heat or cold, deliver the heat or cold to a district thermal liquid of the distribution grid, and pump the heated or cooled district thermal liquid from the production plant out into the distribution grid; and a plurality of local control units, each local control unit being associated with a local distribution system connected to the distribution grid and configured to distribute heat or cold in a building, each local control unit further being configured to control an outtake of heat or cold of the associated local distribution system from the distribution grid, characterized in that the method comprises: determining whether a local pressure difference between the feed line and the return line of the distribution grid at a location of the distribution grid where a first local distribution system is connected to the distribution grid is below a predetermined threshold; upon the local pressure difference is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, generating a control signal associated with a local control unit of a second local distribution system, different from the first local distribution system, the control signal comprising information instructing the second local distribution system to reduce outtake of heat or cold from the distribution grid; sending the control signal to the local control unit of the second local distribution system; receiving the control signal at the local control unit of the second local distribution system; and reducing, in response to the control signal, the outtake of heat or cold of the second local distribution system from the distribution grid. determining whether a local pressure difference between the feed line and the return line of the distribution grid at a location of the distribution grid where a first local distribution system is connected to the distribution grid is below a predetermined threshold; upon the local pressure difference is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, generating a control signal associated with a local control unit of a second local distribution system, different from the first local distribution system, the control signal comprising information instructing the second local distribution system to reduce outtake of heat or cold from the distribution grid; sending the control signal to the local control unit of the second local distribution system; receiving the control signal at the local control unit of the second local distribution system; and reducing, in response to the control signal, the outtake of heat or cold of the second local distribution system from the distribution grid.