A system and method are provided for saving energy for an electric motor having periodic load variations by reducing the supply voltage to the motor during an open loop mode. The motor and system will speed up, allowing the natural kinetic energy of the cyclic motion to perform part of the pumping action. A closed loop controller computes information from the observed phase angle between the voltage and current supplied to the motor. By reducing the supply voltage to the motor, the observed phase angle may be reduced to a target phase angle value. By allowing some current flow, primarily of a reactive nature, an observable feedback parameter may be used in the closed loop control system as an indication of the load condition, to which the closed loop motor controller may react, supplying power when needed, such as in the energy consumption mode.