Load Shifting involves shifting load from on-peak to off-peak periods.

The most general applications of this measure are associated to heating and air conditioning. Shifting load demands related along with thermal storage includes load shifting related to conventional electricity applications (for instance, building heating through electric convectors).

One strategy generally used in developed countries is to charge more per kWh during high demand periods, such as during business hours in daytime or dinnertime. Such a pricing policy encourages consumers to defer non-critical electrical loads such as operating a washing machine, dish washer or clothes drier to off-peak times. Energy storage devices situated at the consumer's end are also used to shift the timing of energy consumption and therefore the loads.

All these measures are undertaken within response to the crunch in electricity supply. These focus on switching off or rescheduling of non-essential and non-critical loads through the end-users in response to the utilities' compulsions. These could save the system network from exceeding its peak rating while some equipment and applications are switched on or off at particular times thereby decreasing electricity demand from the network.