A method of controlling an electric tank-style water heater having at least an upper heating element and a lower heating element is provided. Operating electricity is denied to at least the lower heating element at an initial scheduled shutdown time according to an initial control protocol. Then, supply of the operating electricity to at least the lower heating element is resumed at an initial scheduled restart time according to the initial control protocol. Recovery activation time of the water heater following the resumption of the supply of the operating electricity is monitored. Responsive to a function of the recovery activation time of the water heater exceeding an upper threshold, the initial control protocol is adjusted to obtain a first adjusted control protocol to reduce the recovery activation time. An electric tank-style water heater and a control module therefor are also described.

A method of controlling an electric tank-style water heater having at least an upper heating element and a lower heating element is provided. Operating electricity is denied to at least the lower heating element at an initial scheduled shutdown time according to an initial control protocol. Then, supply of the operating electricity to at least the lower heating element is resumed at an initial scheduled restart time according to the initial control protocol. Recovery activation time of the water heater following the resumption of the supply of the operating electricity is monitored. Responsive to a function of the recovery activation time of the water heater exceeding an upper threshold, the initial control protocol is adjusted to obtain a first adjusted control protocol to reduce the recovery activation time. An electric tank-style water heater and a control module therefor are also described.