A method of controlling power consumption in a plurality of climate control appliances (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), each of which is connected to a plurality of neighbouring appliances and has a running cycle of predetermined length, the method including the steps of: setting a cap for the power consumption of each group of appliances comprising an appliance (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and its neighbours; setting a threshold value for a climate parameter separating values for said parameter into a preferred direction and a non-preferred direction; characterised in that: when a first of said climate control appliances reaches the end of its running cycle: measuring a climate parameter associated with the area around said first climate control appliance; the first climate control appliance determining whether being inactive for the following running cycle will result in said climate parameter falling on the preferred side of said threshold value; if so, said first appliance being placed in an inactive state for its next running cycle; if not, the first appliance: causing each of its neighbouring appliances which is currently active to determine the climate parameter associated with the area around that appliance at the end of its current running cycle if the appliance was to become inactive; determining a subset of the first appliance and the currently active neighbouring appliances which should be active, the subset being those appliances for which the determined climate parameter is least preferred and the number of appliances in said subset being selected so as to ensure that said cap is not exceeded. setting a cap for the power consumption of each group of appliances comprising an appliance (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and its neighbours; setting a threshold value for a climate parameter separating values for said parameter into a preferred direction and a non-preferred direction; characterised in that: when a first of said climate control appliances reaches the end of its running cycle: measuring a climate parameter associated with the area around said first climate control appliance; the first climate control appliance determining whether being inactive for the following running cycle will result in said climate parameter falling on the preferred side of said threshold value; if so, said first appliance being placed in an inactive state for its next running cycle; if not, the first appliance: causing each of its neighbouring appliances which is currently active to determine the climate parameter associated with the area around that appliance at the end of its current running cycle if the appliance was to become inactive; determining a subset of the first appliance and the currently active neighbouring appliances which should be active, the subset being those appliances for which the determined climate parameter is least preferred and the number of appliances in said subset being selected so as to ensure that said cap is not exceeded. when a first of said climate control appliances reaches the end of its running cycle: measuring a climate parameter associated with the area around said first climate control appliance; the first climate control appliance determining whether being inactive for the following running cycle will result in said climate parameter falling on the preferred side of said threshold value; measuring a climate parameter associated with the area around said first climate control appliance; the first climate control appliance determining whether being inactive for the following running cycle will result in said climate parameter falling on the preferred side of said threshold value; if so, said first appliance being placed in an inactive state for its next running cycle; if not, the first appliance: causing each of its neighbouring appliances which is currently active to determine the climate parameter associated with the area around that appliance at the end of its current running cycle if the appliance was to become inactive; determining a subset of the first appliance and the currently active neighbouring appliances which should be active, the subset being those appliances for which the determined climate parameter is least preferred and the number of appliances in said subset being selected so as to ensure that said cap is not exceeded. causing each of its neighbouring appliances which is currently active to determine the climate parameter associated with the area around that appliance at the end of its current running cycle if the appliance was to become inactive; determining a subset of the first appliance and the currently active neighbouring appliances which should be active, the subset being those appliances for which the determined climate parameter is least preferred and the number of appliances in said subset being selected so as to ensure that said cap is not exceeded.