Method and apparatus for managing an energy consuming load

1. An apparatus for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a transmitter configured to transmit a set of load state data generated from the load;

(b) a receiver configured to receive sets of load state data generated from the other loads;

(c) a processor configured to generate the set of load state data from the load, to compile the set of load state data from the load with the sets of load state data from the other loads, and to process the compiled sets of load state data in order to make an enablement state decision for the load, wherein the enablement state decision reflects an enablement state of the load, and wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the enablement state decision is taken utilizing an enablement need of the load, wherein the enablement need is defined by a period of time during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle; and

(d) a controller for implementing the enablement state decision.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller is comprised of a control circuit and a switch.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the load is connected within an energization circuit and wherein the switch is actuatable so that the energization circuit is closed when the load is in the load enabled state and so that the energization circuit is open when the load is in the load disabled state.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the load is connected within a control line circuit and wherein the switch is actuatable so that the control line circuit is closed when the load is in the load enabled state and so that the control line circuit is open when the load is in the load disabled state.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the enablement slate decision further includes utilizing the enablement needs of the other loads in the plurality of loads.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the enablement state decision is implemented during a predetermined segment of time, wherein the segment of time is one of a plurality of segments comprising a period, and wherein the enablement need of each of the loads is defined by a remaining number of segments in the period during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle.

7. A system for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, the system comprising:

(a) a transmitter to transmit a set of load state data generated from the load;

(b) a receiver to receive sets of load state data generated from the other loads;

(c) a processor in communication with the transmitter and receiver to generate the set of load state data from the load, to compile the set of load state data from the load with the sets of load state data received from the other loads, and wherein the processor is configured to process the compiled sets of load state data in order to make an enablement state decision for the load, wherein the enablement state decision reflects an enablement state of the load, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, and wherein the enablement state decision is taken utilizing an enablement need of the load: wherein the enablement need of each of the loads is defined by period of time during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle; and

(d) a controller in communication with the processor for causing the enablement state decision to be implemented.

8. The system as in claim 7 , wherein the enablement state decision further includes utilizing the enablement needs of the other loads in the plurality of loads.

9. The system as in claim 8 , wherein the enablement state decision is implemented during a predetermined segment of time, wherein the segment of time is one of a plurality of segments comprising the period, and wherein the enablement need of each of the loads is defined by a remaining number of segments in the period during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle.

10. The system as in claim 9 , wherein the duty cycle is a natural duty cycle of the load.

11. The system as in claim 9 , wherein the duty cycle is an assigned duty cycle of the load.

12. The system as in claim 11 , wherein the assigned duty cycle is less than the natural duty cycle of the load.

13. The system as in claim 9 , wherein an enablement state decision for the load is made at least once per segment.

14. The system as in claim 8 wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand indication, and wherein the enablement state decision is further dependent upon the energy demand indication of each of the loads.

15. The system as in claim 14 , wherein the enablement state decision is made with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads, wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand indication of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads.