Abstract: A hot water control system for providing necessary hot water to a structure at optimum energy saving conditions includes a programmable control system for selectively programming preselected quantities of hot water at preselected time periods over a given interval of time and includes a mode selector for selectively overriding the control system to permit adjustment of the system to meet unscheduled changes in demand. The system includes mode selectors for selecting the programmed mode wherein predetermined supplies of hot water are available at predetermined time periods over a seven day period or the like and other modes may be selected such as pilot only operation, normal service wherein the water heater operates in its normal manner, pilot off or complete shutdown of the system for periods of time such as for vacation and the like.