Apparatus and method for transmitting operating cycle alerts

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by a processor, the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to:

• determine a remaining cycle time for an operating cycle of an appliance communicatively coupled to a home energy manager;
• compare the remaining cycle time to an alert trigger time that represents a time before the end of the operating cycle;
• generate an alert when the remaining cycle time is equal to the alert trigger time;
• transmit the generated alert to at least one remote device;
• and
• receive a user input that sets an advance alert trigger, the advance alert trigger identifying the appliance, the alert trigger time, and the at least one remote device.

A method for transmitting an operating cycle alert for an appliance communicatively coupled to a home energy manager, said method comprising:

• determining, using a processor, a remaining cycle time for an operating cycle of the appliance;
• comparing, using the processor, the remaining cycle time to an alert trigger time that represents a time before the end of the operating cycle;
• generating, using the processor, the operating cycle alert when the remaining cycle time is equal to the alert trigger time;
• transmitting the generated operating cycle alert to at least one remote device;
• and
• receiving a user input that sets an advance alert trigger, the advance alert trigger identifying the appliance, the alert trigger time, and the at least one remote device.