STANDBY POWER CONTROLLER COMMUNICATIONS AND VERIFICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

A standby power controller of a type including a power sensor which senses power drawn through the standby power controller and a processor which/uses the power sensor to determine that devices connected to the standby power controller are in a low power standby power sate, and a remote control use sensor to determine that a television connected to the standby power controller is in an active standby mode. The standby power controller operates a switch to remove power from connected devices when either standby mode is determined. There is a remote data link providing data communication between the standby power controller and a remote monitoring entity. The standby power controller may include' a simulation mode. When said simulation mode is active, the setting of the switch state value does not cause operation of the switch.