Patent ID: 8505831

Claim:
A method for temporarily reducing energy demand on an energy grid comprising: receiving a first power-save signal by a power meter of a user, the power meter being a remotely accessible power meter through which power is supplied to the user, the first power-save signal being received before a need to reduce power consumption; transmitting a second power-save signal from the power meter to a control device, the control device associated with a thermostat; changing a target temperature of the thermostat to a power-save target temperature in response to the second power-save signal; transmitting a third power-save signal by the control device to a power-save adapter of an associated energy-consuming unit; and upon receiving the third power-save signal by the power-save adapter, the power-save adapter permitting operation of the energy-consuming unit for a first period of time and at least substantially preventing operation of the energy-consuming unit following the first period of time.