A powered furniture system can include at least a first article of powered furniture having a control circuit, a first number of power outlets, and a first identification circuit, and a second article of powered furniture having a second number of power outlets and a second identification circuit. A method of controlling power distribution in the system can include separately communicating with the first and second identification circuits over a communications channel, receiving data representing the first and second numbers of power outlets, determining, using the received data representing the first and second numbers of power outlets, a total number of power outlets in the system, and controlling application of power to the first and second numbers of power outlets using the determined total number of power outlets in the system.