CONTROLLING LOAD CENTERS BASED ON THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS

Systems/methods for managing a load center uses a thermal model of an overcurrent protection device to adjust the load center energy level. The systems/methods provide an energy management system that manages the amount of load energy in the load center to allow the load center to operate in an overloaded state without inducing thermal tripping of the load center. The energy management system determines a thermal shedding time that provides a margin or threshold against the thermal tripping, then determines, for a given load center energy level, whether the load center has been operating in an overloaded state for a time that equals or exceeds the thermal shedding time. The energy management system thereafter determines any load shedding that may be needed to reduce the load energy level. This arrangement allows the load center to remain in an overloaded state without thermal tripping.