Patent ID: 8825219

Claim:
A method of distributing power over a plurality of actual energy loads, said method comprising: receiving an energy level for consumption by a virtual load for a particular time interval, said virtual load representing said actual loads; receiving a percentage of said energy level for each of said actual loads and calculating a portion of said energy level to be distributed to each actual load based upon said percentage for each actual load; for each of said actual loads, inputting said portion of said energy level to an inverse model of each actual load to determine a set of control parameters and values for each actual load during said time interval; delivering said sets of control parameters and values to said actual loads; determining said percentages of said energy level by maximizing a global value function that includes an individual value function for each of said actual loads, each of said individual value functions including a term describing the difference between a maximal energy consumption of said each actual energy load allowed within its load constraints and a minimal energy consumption of said each actual energy load allowed within its load constraints during time intervals of a time period; and controlling each of said actual loads using said sets of control parameters and values during said time interval while operating each of said actual loads within a set of constraints unique to each actual load in order to consume energy at said energy level, each set of constraints indicating conditions under which each actual load should be operated.