An electrical power distribution system is disclosed that includes a gateway module (100) including logic (112) to interface to a vehicle management computer (VMC) (50) via a dual redundant standard data bus (1). The gateway module (100) has redundant microcontrollers (114, 116) operably connected to the VMC (50) for selectively controlling supply of electrical power to a plurality of separate electrical loads (120). A plurality of Load Management Modules (300) is provided. Each Load Management Module (300) includes a local microcontroller (310); power switching devices (320); and application specific integrated circuits ASICs (330) for interfacing the power switching devices (320) to the local microcontroller (310). Each ASIC (330) can be connected to a corresponding digital potentiometer (600) that is used to program an over current protection characteristic. Additionally, each ASIC (330) can include a voltage to frequency converter (381) that provides a true RMS current value to the local microcontroller (310).