Reduce zero power events of a heated system

A method comprising:

• identifying, by a processor, a first time period and a second time period during which power is to be applied to components of a heated system, the first time period including a first set of power events and a first zero power event for the components and the second time period including a second set of power events and a second zero power event for the components;
• assigning, by the processor, a portion of a second power event of the second set of power events from the second time period;
• applying, by the processor, the assigned portion of the second power event to a first power event of the first set of power events during the first time period to remove the first zero power event from the first time period;
• and
• adding, by the processor, a time corresponding to the first zero power event from the first time period to another zero power event in another time period.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine readable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• for a maintenance heating cycle of a heated system, identify a first time period and a second time period during which power is to be applied to components of the heated system, the first time period including a first set of power events and a first zero power event for the components and the second time period including a second set of power events and a second zero power event for the components;
• track a credit corresponding to a portion of a second power event of the second set of power events from the second time period to be applied to a first power event of the first set of power events;
• and
• apply the tracked credit to the first power event during the first time period to remove the first zero power event from the first time period.