Patent ID: 8805597

Claim:
A power control system configured to receive power and a power consumption signal from an electrical power distribution system during an off-peak power consumption period, the power consumption signal indicative of a desire for energy to be consumed, the system comprising: a plurality of electrical appliances each comprising an energy storage device comprising: a heat storage medium; a heater configured to heat the heat storage medium at a heating rate; and a temperature sensor that produces a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the heat storage medium; and a controller adjusts the heating rate of each energy storage device from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based on the power consumption signal, the temperature of the heat storage medium, and the temperatures of the heat storage mediums of the other energy storage devices; wherein: the first and second heating rates are greater than zero; and the second heating rates for the energy storage devices having lower temperature heat storage mediums are higher than the second heating rates of the energy storage devices having higher temperature heat storage mediums.