Abstract: For use in a digital process controller (DPC), a system for, and method of, balancing a control algorithm processing load and distributing the load over a given time interval and a real time plant control system employing the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a model for estimating execution time of at least one control algorithm based on configuration data applied to that algorithm, the DPC capable of balancing and distributing the load based on the estimate generated by the model and (2) a data entry process, associated with the model, that allows an empirically-determined execution time to be associated with at least one control algorithm, the DPC capable of balancing and distributing the load based on the time in lieu of the model based estimate and balancing and distributing the load upon configuration of at least one control algorithm.