Abstract: A controlled system and method for operating a lower resistive heating element of an electric water heater is described to kill bacteria in a lower portion of a water holding tank of an electric water heater. A controller having a timer circuit operates the lower resistive heating element bypassing the control of the thermostat associated with the upper and lower resistive heating element to maintain the lower resistive heating element active during a predetermined sanitizing time period whereby the temperature in the lower portion of the tank is maintained at a predetermined temperature sufficient to kill bacteria. The controller is programmed to override a load shedding function during the predetermined sanitizing time operiod.