A method of restoring electrical service to a selected portion of an electric distribution system, the method comprising: forecasting an estimated electrical load within the selected portion of the electric distribution system during an expected fault reparation time; estimating an excess capacity of a restoration area; comparing the excess capacity to the estimated electrical load over the expected fault reparation time to identify a portion of the expected fault reparation time in which the excess capacity of the restoration area is insufficient to satisfy the estimated electric load; evaluating a plurality of demand responsive loads, wherein the plurality of demand responsive loads is configured to be selectively isolated from the electric distribution system responsive to a load shed signal; selecting an isolated portion of the plurality of demand responsive loads to be isolated from the electric distribution system effective to decrease the estimated electrical load to be less than the excess capacity during said portion of the expected fault reparation time, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on at least one of the comparing and the evaluating; sending the load shed signal to the isolated portion of the plurality of demand responsive loads; receiving an acknowledgment signal indicating that at least one of the demand responsive loads will be isolated from the electric distribution system during the time period; and providing an electric current from the restoration area to the selected portion of the electric distribution system; wherein the act of providing an electric current from the restoration area is initiated in response to the act of receiving an acknowledgement signal. forecasting an estimated electrical load within the selected portion of the electric distribution system during an expected fault reparation time; estimating an excess capacity of a restoration area; comparing the excess capacity to the estimated electrical load over the expected fault reparation time to identify a portion of the expected fault reparation time in which the excess capacity of the restoration area is insufficient to satisfy the estimated electric load; evaluating a plurality of demand responsive loads, wherein the plurality of demand responsive loads is configured to be selectively isolated from the electric distribution system responsive to a load shed signal; selecting an isolated portion of the plurality of demand responsive loads to be isolated from the electric distribution system effective to decrease the estimated electrical load to be less than the excess capacity during said portion of the expected fault reparation time, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on at least one of the comparing and the evaluating; sending the load shed signal to the isolated portion of the plurality of demand responsive loads; receiving an acknowledgment signal indicating that at least one of the demand responsive loads will be isolated from the electric distribution system during the time period; and providing an electric current from the restoration area to the selected portion of the electric distribution system; wherein the act of providing an electric current from the restoration area is initiated in response to the act of receiving an acknowledgement signal.