Abstract: To solve the problems among multiple combined heat and power supply units, such as scattered heating load scheduling, large pressure fluctuations and poor heating economy, this study firstly proposes a centralized and intelligent control system of multiple-plant heating based on MODBUS communication. Then, a simulation model is built through unit test data, and the relationship between cold/heat re-extraction steam volume and coal consumption under different electric loads is obtained. Finally, considering the safety operation boundary of the units, an economic heat load distribution model is established. Taking lowest coal consumption as the optimization goal, the heat load distribution scheme for each unit is obtained, and the model is successfully applied to a 6-unit coal-fired power plant with a total capacity of 3 320 MW. The results show that the intelligent control and management system can automatically adjust the heat supply of each unit within the safe operation boundary of the unit through flow command. When the external heat supply varies from 50 to 400 t/h, the control and management system can keep the deviation of pressure within 0.03 MPa comparing with the setting value. Through the intelligent and optimal allocation of the total heat supply load, the total coal consumption of the whole plant can be reduced by 0.13~3.53 t/h.