Abstract: An appliance control system (1) comprising: a plurality of nodes (A, B, C), each said node being operable to control an electrical socket (5, 7, 9) and to generate operating data concerning the operation of an appliance (11, 13, 15) plugged into a socket associated with the node; a plurality of appliances (11, 13, 15), each said appliance being plugable into a said socket for the supply of electrical power from the socket to the appliance; a plurality of sensors (17, 19, 21), wherein each said sensor is operable to generate consequential data concerning an appliance of said plurality of appliances to which the sensor is related; and a system controller (3) in communication with said nodes for the receipt of operating data and with said sensors for the receipt of consequential data, said system controller (3) being operable to implement an energy policy by signalling one or more of said nodes to turn the associated electrical socket on or off, said system controller (3) being further operable to establish for

Abstract: An energy management system (1) comprising: policy establishment means (3) for establishing one or more energy policies, the one or more said energy policies being configured for managing the energy consumption of at least one energy consuming appliance (7); and at least one energy node (5) configured to communicate with said energy policy establishing means (3) to implement an energy policy for the control of at least one energy consuming appliance (7) with which said energy node (5) is configured to communicate.

Abstract: An energy management system (1) comprising: policy establishment means (3) for establishing one or more energy policies, the or each said policy being configured for managing the energy consumption of at least one energy consuming appliance (7); and at least one energy node (5) configured to communicate with said energy policy establishing means (3) to implement an energy policy for the control of at least one energy consuming appliance (7) with which said energy node (5) is configured to communicate.