Grid friendly appliance controller, is a playing-card sized integrated circuit developed by researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. It is a two by two-and a half inch circuit board, is at the heart of Grid Friendly appliances. Installed in refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters and various other household appliances, this device would monitor the power grid and turn appliances off for a few seconds to a few minutes in response to power grid overload. When power plants cannot generate enough power to meet customer's needs, Grid Friendly appliances reduce some of the load on the system to balance supply and demand. Consumers will benefit from avoided blackouts and from lower electric rates since they won't have to pay for unneeded backup power plants. It could help stabilize power grids and prevent outages.