A system for aircraft power distribution (100) includes a source of energy (112) to deliver an input power; a bus contactor (122); a set of switches (130) connected between the bus contactor and a set of essential and non-essential devices (132); a current analysis component (315) to determine a power level drawn from the source of current by the set of essential and non-essential devices (132); a variation reduction component (317) to determine an energization schedule of the set of essential and non-essential devices (132) based on reducing temporal variation in the input power drawn from the source of energy (112) to the bus contactor (122); and a switch control component (319) configured to adjust the set of switches (130) according to the energization schedule. If too much power is drawn, the set of switches (130) will be configured such as not to exceed the maximum power rating of the source (112).