load-shedding

or load·shed·ding

[ lohd-shed-ing ]

noun

1. the deliberate shutdown of electric power in a part or parts of a power-distribution system, generally to prevent the failure of the entire system when the demand strains the capacity of the system.

load shedding

noun

1. the act or practice of temporarily reducing the supply of electricity to an area to avoid overloading the generators

Word History and Origins

Origin of load-shedding¹

First recorded in 1945–50