Patent ID: 8271147

Claim:
An appliance controller apparatus for controlling a first power demand of at least one first appliance, the appliance controller apparatus comprising: a user interface configured to receive, from a consumer that requires power, a user input indicative of a first demand flexibility associated with the at least one first appliance; a communication interface configured to receive a control input indicative of a request to modify the first power demand of the at least one first appliance; and at least one processor programmed to determine whether the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is to be modified based at least in part on the user input and the control input; wherein the appliance controller apparatus is a first appliance controller apparatus, and wherein: the communication interface is further configured to receive at least one message from a second appliance controller apparatus, the at least one message comprising second information regarding a second power demand of at least one second appliance coupled to the second appliance controller apparatus and a second demand flexibility associated with the at least one second appliance; and the first appliance controller apparatus further comprises a storage medium, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to store in the storage medium summary information based at least in part on: first information regarding the first power demand and the first demand flexibility; and the second information regarding the second power demand and the second demand flexibility.