The technology is generally directed to a coordinated power throttling mechanism for a payload using power provided by a rack such that the rack power does not exceed a threshold amount for greater than a predetermined period of time. The coordinated power throttling mechanism includes the rack providing a power throttling signal to the payload and the payload executing the power throttling upon detection of the throttling signal. The payload may detect the throttling signal and, after a delay, execute the power throttling. The delay may ensure that all payloads within the rack have detected the power throttling signal.