your homes thermostat... who is in kontrol?

[Mike Mercury]

A utility company locked thousands of customers out of their smart thermostats in Colorado

Xcel customers saved money by allowing the remote control option, but there’s a catch

Thousands of Colorado residents found themselves locked out of their smart thermostats during sweltering temperatures last week in an effort to prevent power demand from overwhelming the grid.

About 22,000 Xcel customers lost control of their smart thermostats for hours on August 30th, Denver7 News reports. That led to backlash on social media as some people said the temperatures inside their homes reached as high as 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Outdoor temperatures climbed into the 90s that day across parts of Colorado as much of the western US grappled with sweltering heat.

All of the customers affected had enrolled in an energy-saving program, called AC Rewards, that’s meant to ease the strain on the power grid during heatwaves. Xcel can adjust those customers’ smart thermostats when demand gets so high that there might not be enough supply to meet it. Xcel offers a one-time $100 credit on electricity bills upon signing up, and $25 a year afterward for participation.

When the utility adjusts a customer’s thermostat, the customer typically has the option to opt-out. But, “On rare occasions, system emergencies may cause a control event that cannot be overridden,” the company says on its website.

Last week was the first time Xcel barred customers from overriding their adjustments in the six years since the program started, according to Denver7. High temperatures, soaring power demand for air conditioners, and an unexpected outage all contributed to last week’s energy emergency, Xcel vice president Emmett Romine told Denver7. Xcel did not immediately respond to a press inquiry from The Verge.

[Steve_R]

This is the critical part of what you posted:

All of the customers affected had enrolled in an energy-saving program...

Those customers who voluntarily enrolled knew this could happen, but they happily took the $100 the utility company gave them to enroll, then they bitch when the inevitable happens. Stupid people are stupid.

[bsmith]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

This is the critical part of what you posted: Those customers who voluntarily enrolled knew this could happen, but they happily took the $100 the utility company gave them to enroll, then they bitch when the inevitable happens. Stupid people are stupid.

I have a Nest and signed up with the utility for the rebates.
It didn't take long to realize that it was a mistake.
Eveytime they do an "Energy Rush Hour", I override it and lose the rebates.

FWIW, our local provider says that "you always have control" in their literature, and it wouldn't shock me if the one in Colorado made the same claims.

[sublime1996525]

I am. Didn't fall for that crap.

[Onebadcad]

Moved into my current home in DEC 2020.
Was cold as hell the first week, for FL that is like below 45 degrees.
Damn heat would not come on, so I look at upstairs air handler, it had an FPL box next to it that was brown-out shit,,, previous owner signed up for it.
I call FPL and told them to come get their shit, as I would not continue in program.
They advised would take 10 days, I ripped it out after the phone call.
Problem solved!!

[6spdC6]

My thermostat, I paid for it and it did not come from no power company. If I was forced into a outside controllable thermostat, jumper wires are easy to hook up.

Got to be self sufficient up here in the boonies. Have Propane hot air heat in the winter and a decent air system for the summer months. Used the AC for about a week this year. That was 2 days more than last year, it was unusually hot this year. Have a whole house propane generator.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Have a whole house propane generator.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by bsmith

FWIW, our local provider says that "you always have control" in their literature, and it wouldn't shock me if the one in Colorado made the same claims.

Only for idiots that didn't read everything.

When the utility adjusts a customer’s thermostat, the customer typically has the option to opt-out. But, “On rare occasions, system emergencies may cause a control event that cannot be overridden,” the company says on its website.

Last week was the first time Xcel barred customers from overriding their adjustments in the six years since the program started, according to Denver7. High temperatures, soaring power demand for air conditioners, and an unexpected outage all contributed to last week’s energy emergency...

The utility company made it crystal clear that in the event of an "energy emergency" (which the utility declares BTW) they will take control and you CAN'T override it - but you can whine about something you signed up for and got paid for.

[CurtP]

Originally Posted by bsmith

I have a Nest and signed up with the utility for the rebates.
It didn't take long to realize that it was a mistake.
Eveytime they do an "Energy Rush Hour", I override it and lose the rebates.

Replace it with a Ecobee, but leave the Nest connected to your network for them to "control"

[DJ_Critterus]

I don't like people I know inside my home, much less some big brother-esque corporation. They can keep their $100 and stay the hell out of my home

[Mike Mercury]

[Aerovette]

I am. No one controls my thermostat except me and if it was ever hijacked, one or 2 small wires will resolve the issue very quickly.

[LisaJohn]

We got a new thermostat with the new hvac. We did not get the “Wi-Fi” model.

[Tikiman]

I am in control of two of them. My wife, who cannot sleep unless the room is cold enough to hang meat, controls the upstairs thermostat.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

This is the critical part of what you posted: Those customers who voluntarily enrolled knew this could happen, but they happily took the $100 the utility company gave them to enroll, then they bitch when the inevitable happens. Stupid people are stupid.

As much as I hate to agree with anything Steve_R has to say, this is absolutely correct. Most people will jump at the chance for instant gratification or cheap bling instead of looking at the big picture and choosing more wisely.

I control my own, and run the AC at 80 and the heat at 66. Today is going to be 113 to 115.

Last month was nowhere near as hot, and my electric bill was $620. In CA, land of fruits and nuts, I pay 49 cents per KWH for electricity, and we just hit the one week mark of requested 'no charging of EV's'. Has anybody seen Yadkin???

[Frankie the Fink]

Same here, wife can't sleep unless her bedroom is suitable for polar bears.

The difference between a post-menopausal woman and a terroist is that you can negotiate with a terrorist.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by aerovette

I am. No one controls my thermostat except me and if it was ever hijacked, one or 2 small wires will resolve the issue very quickly.

Do you use the engine stand or the engine hoist for that wiring job?

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink

The difference between a post-menopausal women and a terroist is that you can negotiate with a terrorist.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

Do you use the engine stand or the engine hoist for that wiring job?

The wiring is small enough that I can usually just use a sawhorse...or two.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

As much as I hate to agree with anything Steve_R has to say, this is absolutely correct. Most people will jump at the chance for instant gratification or cheap bling instead of looking at the big picture and choosing more wisely.

I control my own, and run the AC at 80 and the heat at 66. Today is going to be 113 to 115.

Last month was nowhere near as hot, and my electric bill was $620. In CA, land of fruits and nuts, I pay 49 cents per KWH for electricity, and we just hit the one week mark of requested 'no charging of EV's'. Has anybody seen Yadkin???

Slightly more aggressive than me. The AC is set at 77 this year, was 78 in the past but my wife asked me to set it a little lower for sleeping. I only turn the system on when the temperature outside gets above about 85. I find 83-84 degrees to be comfortable. This was one of the hottest summers I can remember, and I doubt I ran the AC more than maybe 25-30 days.

Winter I set it to 66, but usually turn the system off when my wife leaves for work. I turn it back on about an hour before she gets home, saves a few bucks on the gas bill.