Patent ID: 8352083

Claim:
A method for establishing local control of a space conditioning load during a direct load control event having a duration and issued by a utility provider, comprising: receiving one or more control parameters associated with the direct load control event from the utility provider; initiating climate control, commanded by a load control logic, to maintain a room temperature of a climate controlled space within a comfort temperature range, the comfort temperature range comprising a temperature threshold value set relative to a desired temperature set point of a thermostat; automatically measuring the room temperature during the direct load control event; automatically determining, by the load control logic, if the temperature threshold value is reached during the direct load control event; when the load control logic determines that the temperature threshold value is reached, the load control logic automatically and completely disables direct load control of the space conditioning load from the utility provider, setting a new temperature set point of the thermostat to the temperature threshold value, and automatically transitioning control to a temperature setback method of the thermostat; performing the temperature setback method of the thermostat until the direct load control event duration expires; and when the load control logic determines that the direct load control event duration expires, changing the new temperature set point of the thermostat back to the desired temperature set point.