GPO Power Options

Configuring Power Options Using Domain Policies

Policies

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Power Management

Preferences

Using group policies to manage the power profiles on Windows systems is a feature that has been missing and desired for many years. Starting with Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista and Windows 7 power plans can be defined and applied using domain policies using computer preference settings. To configure a centrally managed power plan for Windows Vista and later operating systems, perform the following steps:

1. Log on to a designated Windows Server 2008 R2 administrative server.
2. Click Start, click All Programs, click Administrative Tools, and select Group Policy Management.
3. Add the necessary domains to the GPMC as required.
4. Expand the Domains node to reveal the Group Policy Objects container.
5. Create a new GPO called PowerProfileGPO and open it for editing.
6. After the PowerProfileGPO is opened for editing in the Group Policy Management Editor, expand the Computer Configuration node and expand the Preferences node.
7. Expand the Control Panel Settings, right-click the Power Options node, and select New - Power Plan (Windows Vista and Later).
8. On the Advanced Settings page, change the default action to Update, change the default power plan from Balanced to High Performance, check checkbox Set as the Active Power Plan, and click OK to complete the settings. If desired, change any of the default settings to other values.
9. Close the Group Policy Management Editor and link the policy in the Group Policy Management Console to a test organizational unit.
10. Once the new policy passes validation testing, link it to a production organizational unit as desired.