A method of operating a microgrid (100, 500), the method comprising: operating one of a plurality of power sources to deliver power to the microgrid (100, 500), wherein the microgrid comprises a production system which can be divided into a plurality of load (124, 136) 1; measuring a quantity of power delivered to the microgrid (100, 500); drawing power from the microgrid (100, 500) to power one of the plurality of loads (124, 136), each load (124, 136) including a plurality of separately operable subsystems; calculating an automation level and a production change capability for each load (124, 136) and subsystem of the plurality of subsystems, wherein an automation level refers to a degree of automation of a load or subsystem which is high for a load or a subsystem whose start, stop or change operation requires little or no user intervention 2, wherein a production change capability refers to the speed or time required for a load or a subsystem to transition between operational setpoints, wherein a load or a subsystem that can change operational setpoints rapidly as compared to other load or subsystem in the microgrid have a high production change capability 3; measuring a quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500); and reducing the quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500) in response to a measured quantity of power drawn exceeding a measured quantity of power provided, the reducing step following a sequence of reductions which includes: reducing an operating level of a first load of the plurality of loads (124, 136); determining that the reduction in operating level was insufficient to reduce the measured quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500) to a point at or below the measured quantity of power provided; and limiting the power consumption of a first subsystem below the reduced operating level in response to the determining step concluding the reducing step did not sufficiently reduce the quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500), wherein the first subsystem is selected based in part on the calculated automation level and the production change capability. operating one of a plurality of power sources to deliver power to the microgrid (100, 500), wherein the microgrid comprises a production system which can be divided into a plurality of load (124, 136) 1; measuring a quantity of power delivered to the microgrid (100, 500); drawing power from the microgrid (100, 500) to power one of the plurality of loads (124, 136), each load (124, 136) including a plurality of separately operable subsystems; calculating an automation level and a production change capability for each load (124, 136) and subsystem of the plurality of subsystems, wherein an automation level refers to a degree of automation of a load or subsystem which is high for a load or a subsystem whose start, stop or change operation requires little or no user intervention 2, wherein a production change capability refers to the speed or time required for a load or a subsystem to transition between operational setpoints, wherein a load or a subsystem that can change operational setpoints rapidly as compared to other load or subsystem in the microgrid have a high production change capability 3; measuring a quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500); and reducing the quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500) in response to a measured quantity of power drawn exceeding a measured quantity of power provided, the reducing step following a sequence of reductions which includes: reducing an operating level of a first load of the plurality of loads (124, 136); determining that the reduction in operating level was insufficient to reduce the measured quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500) to a point at or below the measured quantity of power provided; and limiting the power consumption of a first subsystem below the reduced operating level in response to the determining step concluding the reducing step did not sufficiently reduce the quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500), reducing an operating level of a first load of the plurality of loads (124, 136); determining that the reduction in operating level was insufficient to reduce the measured quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500) to a point at or below the measured quantity of power provided; and limiting the power consumption of a first subsystem below the reduced operating level in response to the determining step concluding the reducing step did not sufficiently reduce the quantity of power drawn from the microgrid (100, 500), wherein the first subsystem is selected based in part on the calculated automation level and the production change capability.