Patent ID: 8082068

Claim:
A system for remotely managing a power load that is associated with a particular power meter, comprising: a management host processor storing a plurality of records that are associated with a plurality of power meters, the management host processor operatively connected to a distribution network and operative to send and receive messages of a first protocol over the distribution network for managing activation of a power load; at least one on-premise processor co-located with at least one of the plurality of power meters, operatively connected to the distribution network and operative to receive messages of the first protocol for managing activation of the power load from the management host processor over the distribution network, the at least one on-premise processor including an 802.11X-based wireless communications link interface operative to send and receive messages of a second protocol for controlling activation of the power load and using 802.11X-based wireless communication over a wireless communications link; and a power load controller operatively connected to the power load and the wireless communications link, operative to receive the messages of the second protocol from the at least one on-premise processor over the wireless communications link to control activation of the power load.