Disconnect load control receiver for resistive heating loads

An electrical power distribution control system configured to regulate at least one resistive water heater to reduce power consumption within an electrical power grid during a peak power demand, the electrical power distribution control system comprising:

• a plurality of disconnect load control receivers (DLCRs) operably coupled to a corresponding plurality of resistive water heaters;
• and
• a utility operated controller, remotely located from the DLCRs, configured to communicate with each of the DLCRs to provide a demand response control signal,
• wherein each of the DLCRs is configured to generate actual power consumption data of its respective resistive water heater for the generation of a 24-hour power consumption demand model for each resistive water heater,
• wherein one of the controller and the plurality of DLCRs is configured to use 24-hour power consumption demand model to forecast an expected output consumer demand for each resistive water heater over a 24-hour period such that the DLCRs on an individual basis selectively manage a flow of electrical power its respective resistive water heater to meet the expected output consumer demand over the 24-hour period, while reducing power consumption within the electrical power grid during a peak power demand, and
• wherein the selective managing of the flow of electrical power to the at least one resistive water heater is constrained by a deferred runtime limit, the deferred runtime limit representing a time delay permissible to achieve a consumer satisfaction threshold of the at least one resistive water heater over the 24-hour period.

A method of reducing a peak power demand within an electrical power grid, comprising:

• establishing a communication link between at least one disconnect load control receiver (DLCR) and a controller, the DLCR operably coupled to at least one resistive heating load within the electrical power grid;
• receiving actual power consumption data of the at least one resistive heating load from the DLCR;
• generating of a 24-hour power consumption demand model based on the received actual power consumption data;
• forecasting an expected output consumer demand for the at least one resistive heating load over a 24-hour period;
• causing the DLCR, in response to a demand response signal from the remotely located utility operated controller, to selectively delay a flow of electrical power to the at least one resistive load to reduce power consumption within the electrical power grid during a peak power demand by managing a flow of electrical power to the at least one resistive heating load based on the 24-hour power consumption demand model, wherein the selective delay of the flow of electrical power to the at least one resistive water heater is constrained by a deferred runtime limit, the deferred runtime limit representing a time delay permissible to achieve a consumer satisfaction threshold of the at least one resistive water heater over the 24-hour period.

A disconnect load control receiver (DLCR) comprising:

• a load control switch configured to control electrical power flow to one or more resistive loads;
• a sensing circuit configured to receive power consumption data from the one or more resistive loads;
• a communications interface configured to communicate with a utility-operated controller;
• an electronic processor;
• and
• an electronic memory coupled to the electronic processor, the electronic memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the electronic processor to:
• generate a 24-hour power consumption demand model for one or more resistive loads based on the power consumption data from the one or more resistive loads;
• and
• control the load control switch to manage the electrical power flow to the one or more resistive loads based on the 24-hour power consumption demand model, wherein the management of the flow of electrical power to the one or more resistive water heaters is constrained by a deferred runtime limit, the deferred runtime limit representing a time delay permissible to achieve a consumer satisfaction threshold of the at least one resistive water heater over the 24-hour period.