Remotely controllable wireless energy control unit

A method of controlling power distribution from a power source to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of:

• disposing, in a common housing, a plurality of controllable switches, a wireless receiver, and a controller, said common housing having a user interface for receiving manual user commands and displaying status or other information;
• disposing said common housing in a circuit breaker panel, and electrically connecting each of said controllable switches to a passive circuit breaker in said circuit breaker panel, whereby said controllable switches are electrically disposed between a power source and an electrical load connected to the passive circuit breaker in series therewith;
• programming a locally configurable priority via said user interface;
• receiving messages via said wireless receiver, said messages broadcast by a power utility;
• and
• in response to said messages, selectively switching one or more of said plurality of controllable switches according to said locally configurable priority, thereby selectively disengaging the power source from the electrical loads in accordance with said locally configurable priority.

A wireless energy control unit, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of controllable switches located within said housing, each of said controllable switches having a first position wherein a power source is electronically connected to an electrical load in the absence of an applied control signal and a second position wherein the power source is disconnected from the electrical load when the switch's control signal is applied;
• a plurality of output terminals from said housing, said plurality of output terminals each adapted for connection to one of a plurality of local electrical loads, whereby the controllable switch is capable of connecting or disconnecting its respective electrical load;
• a wireless receiver located within said housing;
• an antenna coupled to said wireless receiver;
• a user interface integrated with or mounted on said housing, whereby operation of said controllable switches is selectable according to a locally configurable priority;
• and
• a controller located within said housing and electrically coupled to said wireless receiver and said user interface, said controller receiving power utility messages via said wireless receiver and, in response thereto, selectively switching one or more of said controllable switches between said first position and said second position according to the locally configurable priority, thereby connecting and disconnecting the electrical loads from the power source.