Patent ID: 7580775

Claim:
A method for managing a group of energy consuming loads comprising a plurality of loads, the method comprising: (a) generating a set of load state data from each of the loads in the group of loads, wherein at least one of the loads in the group of loads is comprised of a discretionary load, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has a duty cycle, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand and wherein the duty cycle for at least one of the discretionary loads is less than 100 percent; (b) making an enablement state decision for each of the loads using the sets of load state data from the loads, wherein each of the enablement state decisions reflects an enablement state of a corresponding load in the group of loads, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein each of the enablement state decisions is made independently of the enablement state decisions for the loads other than the corresponding load, wherein the enablement state decisions are made with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads, and wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads; and (c) implementing the enablement state decisions.