Energy management method using utility-generated signals

In an energy management method for controlling electrical power consumption in each of a plurality of residential circuits having a plurality of loads including non-thermal loads having unpredictable demands, each said circuit having a controller for shedding and restoring certain ones of the loads in said residential circuit and including means for receiving utility-generated shed-restore signals form a remote location, and controlling the use by the residential consumer of certain of the loads in his residence by utility-generated shed-restore signals, the improvement in said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing each residential circuit with a variable-limit controller which limits the total demand imposed by said plurality of loads, including (i) means for receiving utility-generated demand-limit signals from a remote location;
• and (ii) means whereby each said consumer can optionally override said demand-limit signals;
• (b) establishing a total demand limit for each of said residential circuits which is independent of which of the specific loads in said residential circuit are responsible for said demand;
• (c) generating signals from said remote location to reduce said total demand limit by an equal percentage in all of said residential circuits;
• (d) measuring the total load on said utility imposed by said plurality of residential circuits;
• and
• (e) generating successive demand-limiting signals until said total load on said utility is reduced to a value preselected by said utility.