A method of controlling electrical energy consumption within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network supplying electrical energy to a geographical area, a plurality of electric devices being distributed within said geographical area, wherein each of the electric devices is connectable to the electricity distribution network to consume electrical energy provided therefrom, thereby increasing a net amount of electrical energy consumption in said geographical area, and/or to provide electrical energy to the electricity distribution network, thereby decreasing a net amount of electric energy consumption in said geographical area, the method comprising: maintaining a device database comprising profile information relating to said electric devices in said geographical area; identifying a time period during which consumption of electrical energy supplied by the electricity distribution network is to be controlled; characterized by: allocating electric devices to generate a plurality of models of groups of electric devices on the basis of said profile information, each of the models specifying an association of one or more time intervals with each of the groups, the one or more time intervals associated with a given group being different to the one or more time intervals associated with the other groups and each said time interval being a time interval of said time period during which net electrical energy consumption of an associated group is to be controlled; evaluating the plurality of models against one or more energy management criteria; determining one or more characteristics of a preferred model on the basis of said evaluation; selecting, based on the determined characteristics, a plurality of groups of said electric devices located within said geographical area, each said group comprising a plurality of said electric devices; associating, based on the determined characteristics, one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups; sending one or more requests, for receipt at the electric devices of the selected groups, to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices, thereby reducing a net consumption of electrical energy in said geographical area, during a respective associated time interval. maintaining a device database comprising profile information relating to said electric devices in said geographical area; identifying a time period during which consumption of electrical energy supplied by the electricity distribution network is to be controlled; characterized by: allocating electric devices to generate a plurality of models of groups of electric devices on the basis of said profile information, each of the models specifying an association of one or more time intervals with each of the groups, the one or more time intervals associated with a given group being different to the one or more time intervals associated with the other groups and each said time interval being a time interval of said time period during which net electrical energy consumption of an associated group is to be controlled; evaluating the plurality of models against one or more energy management criteria; determining one or more characteristics of a preferred model on the basis of said evaluation; selecting, based on the determined characteristics, a plurality of groups of said electric devices located within said geographical area, each said group comprising a plurality of said electric devices; associating, based on the determined characteristics, one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups; sending one or more requests, for receipt at the electric devices of the selected groups, to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices, thereby reducing a net consumption of electrical energy in said geographical area, during a respective associated time interval. allocating electric devices to generate a plurality of models of groups of electric devices on the basis of said profile information, each of the models specifying an association of one or more time intervals with each of the groups, the one or more time intervals associated with a given group being different to the one or more time intervals associated with the other groups and each said time interval being a time interval of said time period during which net electrical energy consumption of an associated group is to be controlled; evaluating the plurality of models against one or more energy management criteria; determining one or more characteristics of a preferred model on the basis of said evaluation; selecting, based on the determined characteristics, a plurality of groups of said electric devices located within said geographical area, each said group comprising a plurality of said electric devices; associating, based on the determined characteristics, one or more time intervals with each of the selected groups; sending one or more requests, for receipt at the electric devices of the selected groups, to control electrical energy consumption and/or provision by the electric devices, thereby reducing a net consumption of electrical energy in said geographical area, during a respective associated time interval.