SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A DUAL-FUEL HEATING SYSTEM IN A VIRTUAL POWER PLANT DURING PERIODS OF PEAK DEMAND TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION ON A POWER GRID

A heating system (130) having a first heating appliance (132) powered by electricity provided via: a transmission line (160) from an electric power grid (150) that provides electricity to a plurality of buildings including the building (130); a second heating appliance (134) powered via a fuel; and a controller (131) operationally coupled to the first heating appliance (132) and the second heating appliance (134), and configured to receive control signals over a telecommunications network (240), wherein the control signals are associated with reducing consumption of electricity via the electric power grid (150), wherein, responsive to receiving the control signals, the controller (131) is configured to switch between powering the first heating appliance (132) via the electric power grid (150) and the second heating appliance (134) with the fuel.