A method includes determining a commanded load rate of change of an industrial system, wherein the commanded load rate of change comprises a rate of load placed on an industrial machine of the industrial system. The method also includes determining a measured load rate of change of the industrial system based at least in part on an output power of the industrial system. The method further includes determining a variable multiplier based at least in part on the commanded load rate of change and the measured load rate of change. The method also includes applying the variable multiplier to a load rate command to the industrial system to generate a multiplied load rate command. The method further includes sending a signal to the industrial system to control the rate of the load placed on the industrial machine based at least in part on the multiplied load rate command.