Energy management

An electrical socket (9) and method, comprising: means (46) allowing a user to input load categorisation information (for example categorising the load as schedulable and/or interruptible) relating to a load plugged into the socket (9); and means for communicating the categorisation information to an energy management system (8). Also, energy management apparatus and method, comprising: receiving load categorisation information from one or more electrical sockets (9); and controlling provision of electricity to the one or more electrical sockets (9) according to a schedule determined at least in part according to the received load categorisation information. The one or more processors (26) may be further arranged to learn one or more characteristics of a load plugged into one of the electrical sockets (9), such as how much energy the load requires and/or how long the energy is required for.