Load Management
Techniques to reduce or reshape a building electricity demand profile: scheduling high-draw appliances during off-peak hours, pre-cooling/heating, and using battery storage to flatten demand peaks.
Why It Matters
Load management reduces demand charges, shifts consumption to cheap/clean hours, and enables smaller (cheaper) electrical service. Smart panels automate this.
Related Terms
Load Shifting
Moving electricity consumption from one time period to another — typically from expensive peak hours to cheaper off-peak hours — using timers, smart controls, or batteries.
Peak Shaving
Using batteries or load management to reduce maximum power demand during peak hours, lowering demand charges (for commercial) or maximizing TOU savings (for residential).
Demand Charge
A utility charge based on your peak power usage (measured in kW) during a billing period, common for commercial customers.
Smart Electrical Panel
An intelligent breaker panel that provides circuit-level monitoring and control, enabling load management, backup prioritization, and integration with solar and battery systems.