Systems and methods for integrating demand response with service restoration in an electric distribution system

Systems and methods for integrating demand response with service restoration in an electric distribution system (10). The electric distribution system may include a plurality of regions, zones, and/or areas (20) including at least an outage area (62) that includes a fault (60) and is not receiving electric current from the electric distribution system and a restoration area (80) that is receiving electric current from the electric distribution system (10) and that may be selectively configured to provide electric current to a selected portion of the outage area (62). The electric distribution system (10) also includes a plurality of demand responsive loads (52) configured to be selectively isolated from the electric distribution system (10) responsive to a load shed signal. The demand responsive loads (52) may be selectively utilized during service restoration, such as to provide additional excess capacity within the restoration area 880)and/or decrease a magnitude of the electric load applied by the selected portion of the outage area (62).