General

New thermostat program offers $100 bill credit

OPPD’s Thermostat Program is a new way for customers to conserve energy while also helping the utility reduce demand at times such reductions are most needed.

In turn, customers can receive a one-time $100 bill credit when they sign up and a $20 credit annually.

Currently, the program is only available for Nest thermostat™ owners who sign up for Nest Rush Hour Rewards. Customers may enroll online.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

By signing up, customers agree to allow OPPD and Nest to manage their Nest thermostats™ during Rush Hour events. There may be up to 15 a year, from May to October. Events would last up to four hours, and they can happen anywhere between the hours of noon and 9 p.m.

Customers typically will be given a two-hour notice before an event through the thermostat or the Nest app, though in rare critical Rush Hour events, there might be a 10-minute advance notice.

Nest will pre-cool participants’ homes, then adjust the air conditioning to lower usage during the Rush Hour Customers are always in control. If it ever gets too warm, they can adjust their temperature at any time.

There will be no curtailment events on weekends or holidays and no more than three per week.

OPPD plans to expand its thermostat program to other smart, Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat manufacturers in the future. OPPD’s thermostat program is part of the district’s Power Forward solutions, a portfolio of demand-side-management programs.

More information about the program can be found here.