A method includes performing by a local processor corresponding to a power consumer: detecting a power system frequency that is less than a low frequency threshold, receiving a ratio of a power demand reduction goal to a total responsive load from a power grid management processor, determining a portion of all of the appliances that are managed by the power consumer to be deactivated based on the ratio responsive to detecting the power system frequency being less than the low frequency threshold, and deactivating respective ones of the portion of appliances based on the ratio.