Load Management

The intentional, controlled reduction of electrical consumption to match available generation capacity. Executed automatically by a microgrid controller during low-generation periods (cloudy days, low fuel) or high-demand spikes. Load shedding prioritizes critical loads and temporarily suspends lower-priority loads (pool heaters, EV charging) to maintain system stability. Prevents battery depletion during extended outages.

The engineering process of ranking a property's electrical loads by criticality, and configuring the microgrid controller to sustain high-priority loads first when system capacity is constrained. Typical priority tiers: Tier 1 (life-safety) — security systems, medical equipment, communications; Tier 2 (comfort/protection) — HVAC, refrigeration, lighting; Tier 3 (convenience) — EV charging, pool heaters, decorative lighting. During extended low-generation periods, the controller automatically curtails Tier 3 loads before Tier 2, and Tier 2 before Tier 1. Load prioritization is programmed during system commissioning, not a factory default.

The intelligence layer of a residential microgrid — a dedicated power management computer that monitors all energy sources and loads in real-time, optimizes battery state of charge, decides when to start/stop generators, manages power flow between sources, executes load shedding if needed, and enables remote monitoring. A microgrid controller is what distinguishes a true microgrid from a collection of independently operating devices. Consumer battery products use basic inverter logic, not a dedicated controller.