An electrical distribution site energy management and router device, or SER device, may be installed between a customer premises and a distribution grid, and one or more alternative energy sources and energy storage devices may be electrically connected to the SER device. The SER device may intelligently route power from alternative energy sources to the customer premises, energy storage devices, even to the grid, through various modes of operation. The SER device may efficiently and economically route power during peak electricity price periods and outside of peak periods.

The methods and apparatus described enable automatic configuration, or commissioning, of controller devices and load control devices through a low voltage communication network controlled by one or more controller devices. These methods and apparatus further enable expansion of the load control system by connection of additional loads and or load control devices and or controller devices which will reinitialize the low voltage communication network and automatically reconfigure the controller devices and load control devices connected to the network.

An advanced power strip includes a housing. The housing includes: at least one control outlet; at least one always-on outlet; at least one switched outlet; and at least one high-level interface operatively connecting a control device connected to the at least one control outlet, and a device connected to the at least one always-on outlet. The advanced power strip is configured to determine a status of the control device via the high level interface and, if the status of the control device is determined to be in an off state: (1) placing the device connected to the at least one always-on outlet into a low power sleep state by sending a command to the device via the high-level interface; and (2) switching the at least one switched outlet to an off state.

The methods and apparatus described enable automatic configuration, or commissioning, of controller devices and load control devices through a low voltage communication network controlled by one or more controller devices. These methods and apparatus further enable expansion of the load control system by connection of additional loads and or load control devices and or controller devices which will reinitialize the low voltage communication network and automatically reconfigure the controller devices and load control devices connected to the network.