Patent ID: 8032260

Claim:
A method for controlling a power distribution system, said method comprising: defining at a central controller at least one normal mode configuration setting for at least one of a plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system; defining at the central controller at least one alternate mode configuration setting for the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system, wherein the at least one alternate mode configuration setting includes a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting; selecting with the central controller one of at least one normal mode configuration setting and at least one alternate mode configuration setting for the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on at least one event; and automatically operating the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using said one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting, wherein the at least one normal mode configuration setting provides that, upon a trip condition, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers trips after a normal mode tripping delay, and wherein the RELT mode setting provides that, upon a trip condition, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers trips faster than the normal mode tripping delay.