Florida Power h Light (FPhL) is currently involved in the development and testing of a large, computer based Master Station (US) for implementing its Load Management (LM) program. The Direct Load Control (DLC) function of the FPhL Load Management System (WS) has several unique features and provides for a comprehensive range of functions for the effective utilization of the available Load Control (LC) capacity.This paper discusses the design of the DLC function implemented in the Master Station.Specifically, the paper focusses on the scheduling and utilization flexibilities provided in the design to yield a valuable system resource. INTRODUCTIOUFPhL is the fifth largest investor owned utility in the nation with a service area that includes the Atlantic coast from Jacksonville to the Florida Keys and the south west coast of Florida. FPhL's customer base is heavily ,residential, approximately 89.3%. Within the residential rate category, 90% of the customers use air conditioning and 82% use electric heat, giving FPhL one of the highest saturations of electric heat ana air conditioning (AIC) in the nation.The FPhL system experienced peak loads of 10,600 MW and 12.500 MW during the sumer and winter of 1985, respectively. The installed net capacity is 13.257 MW. With an expected customer growth rate of 3% (actual rate in 1985 was 3.92). the need for demand side measures in the form of a Load Management program becomes clear. FPhL is therefore, currently poised to begin implementation of a comprehensive, system-wide LU program to achieve the utility's LM goals through the 1990's and beyond. The LM program will utilize: o Direct Load Control (DLC) of 510,000 residential appliances to provide an estimated 800 MW of load reduction capability; and o 162,000 Time-of-Use (TOW demand rate customers (industrial, conmercial and residential) to provide an estimated 98 MW of load relief during peak hours. The LM program will be implemented ana controlled via a central, computer based Master Station (US) with bidirectional communication links, over telephone lines, with substation level field equipment. An interim MS, incorporating a large subset of the Load Control (LC) function discussed in 87 SM 446-8 A paper recommended and approved by the IEEE Power System Engineering Committee of the IEEE Power Engineering Society for presentation at the IEEE/PES