摘要 |
A power utility manages the total load on its electricity supply system by remotely deactivating specific loads (12) connected to the system. This is accomplished by locating a power control unit (10) at a particular premises. The power control unit (10) is connected to, and powered by, a line supplying power to a specific load (12). The utility sends a signal (S4) to the power control unit (10) via a commercial paging network when it determines that a power control unit (10) be activated. When the signal (S4) received by a receiver is passed to control circuitry in the unit, the circuitry operates to activate a relay (15), which in turn opens a switch (14) which disconnects the load (12). After a predetermined time, the relay (15) changes state, causing the switch (14) to close, thus reconnecting the load (12) to the system. The unit (10) may be located in a housing adapted to be plugged into a fuse or circuit breaker socket of a switchboard.
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