Everything You Need to Know

The 9388A is a demand controller — also called a Demand Management Computer. It installs at your electrical panel and automatically manages your home's large, non-essential appliances to prevent demand spikes. It monitors your total electricity usage in real time and cycles appliances with thermal storage (AC systems, water heaters, pool pumps, dryers, EV chargers) on and off in short intervals so your peak demand stays low. Your total electricity consumption stays the same. Your demand charges drop dramatically.

Most customers save between 30% and 60% on their electric bills, depending on their utility's demand rate structure, the number of controllable loads in their home, and the demand limit they set. Customers with higher usage — multiple AC systems, pools, EVs — typically see the largest dollar savings.

The majority of homeowners see full ROI within 1–5 years. After the system pays for itself, all savings go directly to your bottom line — year after year, protected by our 5-year warranty.

No. The 9388A manages loads with thermal storage — these appliances can be cycled off for brief periods without any perceptible change in comfort or convenience. Your air conditioner may cycle a few minutes earlier or later than it normally would. Your water heater may delay heating by a short interval. You set the priorities, and the system ensures your most important loads are always the last to be deferred and the first to be restored.

The 9388A controls large loads with thermal storage: air conditioning systems, water heaters, pool pumps and heaters, clothes dryers, EV chargers, and hot tubs. Loads like lighting, televisions, computers, refrigerators, and other plug-in appliances are monitored but never controlled.

Yes. The Energy Sentry works with or without solar PV and battery storage. In fact, demand control is often the missing piece that maximizes the value of solar and battery investments. Solar generates energy. Batteries store energy. The 9388A manages when your home uses energy — which is what demand charges are actually based on.

Every Energy Sentry 9388A comes with a 5-year manufacturer warranty. We've maintained a <1% historical failure rate across more than 35,000 installations. Lifetime technical support is included.

The 9388A is programmable for straight demand rates, time-of-use (TOU) rates, and TOU with demand components. It works with major demand-based residential plans including SRP E-16, APS TOU with Demand, TEP Demand TOU, Duke Energy R-TOUD, Georgia Power TOU-RD-11, and others.

Check your electric bill for a line item labeled "demand charge" or "demand fee" — it's usually measured in kW (kilowatts), not kWh (kilowatt-hours). If you see a kW charge, you're on a demand rate and the Energy Sentry can save you money. Not sure? Contact us for a free bill review.

Yes. The 9388A features automatic daylight savings adjustment and season changeover. It can be set to automatically change your demand limit up to 12 times per year, optimizing for summer peaks, winter patterns, and everything in between.

Every Energy Sentry system includes the 9388A controller, current transformers (CTs) matched to your electrical service, relay control hardware for your AC systems and additional controllable loads, professional installation by a certified technician, full system programming tailored to your utility rate plan, and a 5-year warranty with lifetime support.

Typical installation takes 4–6 hours. A certified technician handles everything — mounting the controller, installing current transformers at your main panel, connecting relay controls to your managed loads, and programming the system for your specific rate plan and preferences.

Each air conditioning system requires its own relay control hardware and wiring. Homes with more AC systems require more hardware and installation time. All other controllable loads (water heaters, pool pumps, dryers, EV chargers) are included at no additional charge regardless of the package you select.

Contact us to discuss financing options. Many customers find that monthly financing payments are significantly less than their monthly demand charge savings — meaning the system effectively pays for itself from day one.

We currently serve homeowners in Arizona (SRP, APS, TEP), North Carolina (Duke Energy), South Carolina (Duke Energy), Virginia (Dominion Energy), and Georgia (Georgia Power). Missouri is coming soon. Contact us if you're in a different market — we're expanding rapidly.