A method for controlling a distributed power system is provided, the system including an aggregator communicatively coupled to a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes including an associated load. The method includes receiving, at the aggregator, a commanded power profile from an independent service operator, the commanded power profile including a commanded power deviation for the distributed power system, calculating, using the aggregator, a score for each of the plurality of nodes based on a current operating power of each node, selecting, using the aggregator, a subset of the plurality of nodes based on the calculated scores, and commanding, using the aggregator, each node in the subset to adjust its current power by a respective predetermined amount, the predetermined amounts determined based on the commanded power deviation.