Controlling groups of electrical loads

A method comprising:

• receiving at least one first message comprising at least one first command for controlling an intensity level of a lighting load from a starting intensity level, wherein the first command comprises a first fade period or a first fade rate;
• in response to the receipt of the at least one first message, transmitting a second message configured to initiate adjustment of the intensity level of the lighting load to a second intensity level over a second fade period or according to a second fade rate;
• while the intensity level of the lighting load is being adjusted based on the second message:
• determining an updated intensity level at which the intensity level of the lighting load is to be controlled over a third fade period or according to a third fade rate and
• transmitting a third message configured to initiate control of the intensity level of the lighting load to the updated intensity level over the third fade period or according to the third fade,
• wherein the second fade period and the third fade period are each longer than a transmit interval between the second message and the third message.

At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions for configuring at least one control circuit to:

• receive at least one first message comprising at least one first command for controlling an intensity level of a lighting load from a starting intensity level, wherein the first command comprises a first fade period or a first fade rate;
• in response to the receipt of the at least one first message, transmit a second message configured to initiate adjustment of the intensity level of the lighting load to a second intensity level over a second fade period or according to a second fade rate;
• while the intensity level of the lighting load is being adjusted based on the second message:
• determine an updated intensity level at which the intensity level of the lighting load is to be controlled over a third fade period or according to a third fade rate and
• transmit a third message configured to initiate control of the intensity level of the lighting load to the updated intensity level over the third fade period or according to the third fade rate,
• wherein the second fade period and the third fade period are each longer than a transmit interval between the second message and the third message.