Abstract: This invention describes a power management system that may receive a total wind power forecast that can be provided to an electric grid that supplies power to a load. A power management system may receive a first total load forecast for the electric grid corresponding to a load. A power management system may classify time periods with a first characterization based on a relationship between the total wind power forecast and the first total load forecast. A power management system may transmit the first characterization with a corresponding period for the first characterization to a subscriber thereby allowing a subscriber to determine timing of power consumption based on a load plan. A power management system may receive the load plan from the subscriber, wherein each load plan includes a planned electricity consumption from the electric grid and at least one of the plurality of periods.

Abstract: An apparatus to receive a message (351) and detect if a delay should be applied (353). If so, delay (355) so that for each received message, at least a delay occurs between dispatch of a set of discrete message(s). Detecting a first priority class message (361) results in sending a first discrete message (367) and a second discrete message (369). However, failing to detect a first priority class message results in setting delay flag (363) and sending at least one discrete message (365).