A method for a demand response system to control load shedding and payback spiking in a population of appliances (102, 104, 106) or energy consuming devices by producing generated serial numbers from original serial numbers, executed via a controller with at least one memory storing executable instructions for the method, comprising: obtaining an original serial number from an appliance (102, 104, 106) or an energy consuming device to generate a generated serial number therefrom; generating a replacing number for a first number of the original serial number to be replaced; substituting the number to be replaced with the replacing number if the replacing number is less than ten, or with a remainder of the replacing number that is not divisible by 10, if the replacing number is greater than nine; generating a first additional replacing number for each number at a higher place holder than the first number to be replaced; replacing each number at the higher place holder than the first number to be replaced with the first additional replacing number if the first additional replacing number is less than ten, or with a remainder of the first additional replacing number that is not divisible by 10, if the first additional replacing number is greater than nine; generating a second additional replacing number for a second number from a last number to replace the second number; replacing the second number from the last number with the second additional replacing number if the second additional replacing number is less than ten, or with a remainder of the second additional replacing number that is not divisible by 10 if the second additional replacing number is great than nine to form a generated number; adding the original serial number to the generated number except for the last number to generate the generated serial number; and altering variables of the appliance (102, 104, 106) or energy consuming device that affect payback load spikes in the population by using the generated serial number to obtain a communication to the appliance (102, 104, 106). or energy consuming device. obtaining an original serial number from an appliance (102, 104, 106) or an energy consuming device to generate a generated serial number therefrom; generating a replacing number for a first number of the original serial number to be replaced; substituting the number to be replaced with the replacing number if the replacing number is less than ten, or with a remainder of the replacing number that is not divisible by 10, if the replacing number is greater than nine; generating a first additional replacing number for each number at a higher place holder than the first number to be replaced; replacing each number at the higher place holder than the first number to be replaced with the first additional replacing number if the first additional replacing number is less than ten, or with a remainder of the first additional replacing number that is not divisible by 10, if the first additional replacing number is greater than nine; generating a second additional replacing number for a second number from a last number to replace the second number; replacing the second number from the last number with the second additional replacing number if the second additional replacing number is less than ten, or with a remainder of the second additional replacing number that is not divisible by 10 if the second additional replacing number is great than nine to form a generated number; adding the original serial number to the generated number except for the last number to generate the generated serial number; and altering variables of the appliance (102, 104, 106) or energy consuming device that affect payback load spikes in the population by using the generated serial number to obtain a communication to the appliance (102, 104, 106). or energy consuming device.