132 coordinates the control and security functions of the system and transmits and receives the required information over the electric power distribution network as described above the hand held unit 76 also includes a display such as liquid crystal display 134 to allow display of required information to the user additionally a user keypad 136 or other user interface is included to allow consumer input to the microcontroller 132 the microcontroller 132 also interfaces with a permanent data storage module 138 which is used to store the security and identification information of the coupled appliances installed within the system while not required the hand held unit 76 may preferably utilize the serial interface 140 of the microcontroller 132 to provide communication with for example a user 39 s personal computer 144 preferably the serial interface 140 will utilize an rs 232 level translator 142 to provide adequate signal level communication with the user 39 s personal computer alternatively the translator 142 may be replaced with a modem to provide remote communications via a telephone line in either case the hand held unit 76 may u201c dump u201d collected and stored data on appliance power usage operating states etc to collect this data the hand.