An energy management system for providing sequential application of power to electrical loads contains a series of electrical loads and at least one unit controller, wherein each unit controller connects to at least one electrical load and controls power application to the at least one electrical load. Each individual unit controller has a unique identification to allow for communication with the individual unit controller, wherein each unique identification has a unique power-on delay. The unit controller contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to: determine if a power-off condition has occurred, being followed by a power-on condition, referred to as a powerup event; and enable delivery of power, after a powerup event, to the at least one electrical load in accordance with the unique power-on delay of the unit controller. A building controller or central server may instead provide sequential application of power.