Abstract: A programmable electronic real-time load controller includes: a plurality of load control circuits, each being adapted to be interconnected with a load; a hardware clock; and, a data processor, operating under control of a set of program instructions stored in a program memory thereof, for implementing real-time control by comparing real-time information from the hardware clock with a time schedule stored in an event memory, and accordingly establishing an on state or an off state for each load, the on state representing a desired load-on state for the associated load control circuit and the off state representing a desired load-off state for the associated load control circuit.