Patent ID: 8744638

Claim:
A method for controlling load in a distribution network of customers of a utility, wherein each of the customers has corresponding premises, comprising: receiving information from the utility for a node in the distribution network demanding power above a predetermined threshold, wherein the information comprises node identification information, a shed amount and a shed duration required to reduce the power demand below the predetermined threshold, and information identifying participating customer premises associated with the node and participating in a load shed program from the utility; estimating a load shed response for the participating customer premises; estimating an adjusted load shed response based on a network connectivity; comparing the adjusted load shed response with the shed amount and the shed duration required to reduce the power demand below the predetermined threshold to determine a node response to the adjusted load shed response; initiating a load shed event when the node response is sufficient to reduce the power demand below the predetermined threshold; and selecting one or more of the participating customer premises for the load shed event based on the node response.