Abstract: A digital multifunction relay, for controlling one or more protection devices of an power distribution network from fault events, which comprises a digital signal processor for executing a set of processing activities for regulating the operating state of said protection devices. The digital signal processor comprises a first computerized means for calculating the run-time computational load related to said digital signal processor and a second computerized means for reducing said run-time computational load, if said run-time computational load exceeds a predefined threshold.