This study examines how the energy management optimization on household level affects the maximum power flow in a community of houses and the contribution to load smoothening in the community. A detailed model of a single-family house with exhaust air heat pump and photovoltaic system is used in combination with high-resolution weather, electricity use and hot water use data. All five houses in the community are identical but the occupancy of the residents and their use of electric appliances and hot water differ. Results show no reduction of the maximum power delivered to the grid if the houses are operated to optimize the individual self-consumption and self-sufficiency. The highest aggregated power from the grid for the whole community occurred when the heat pumps were controlled by the PV electricity production but without any battery storage. This case also resulted in least smoothing of the aggregated household loads in the community. The conclusion of the study is that energy optimization for individual households in a community do not have to result in a reduction of the aggregated load and power production.