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Some providers taking liberty in home energy conservation
Residents on the core deregulated power grid of Texas have unknowingly been allowing some energy companies to alter their home’s temperature.
According to Jason Thomas, co-founder of Vault Electricity, it is becoming more common for electrical providers to remotely control the thermostats of their customers during surge periods and time of high demand.
Vault Electricity compares Texas-based electricity companies to provide insight for their clients, and reports that customers have been complaining about waking up to unusually high temperatures in their homes.
“They don’t warn you, nope, as long as the state says we need to conserve, they will proactively go in and change yours for you,” said Devon Bass, managing partner.
The ability to control energy consumption helps with grid management and the prevention of potential blackouts, but Thomas believes that stability is not the sole motivation.
“The electric company loses money when they have to pay surge pricing and resell it to consumers at the lower fixed rate on their contract,” he said. “These energy conservation measures therefore serve dual purposes, maintaining grid stability and reducing the financial burden on energy companies.”
An Xcel Energy representative, a common central Texas provider, confirmed that temperature manipulation is a possibility. They are allowed to change the readings of thermostats connected to the internet by one or two degrees during surges, typically mid-afternoon on days with a high heat index – but when they do this, they alert customers via text or email.
Thomas believes that customers enroll in programs without being fully aware of what their new “smart thermostats” may bring. This can be of concern for families with pets, elderly or infants that require a well-maintained temperature.
This is not commonplace for every electricity company in Texas, but concerned residents are encouraged to check with their providers.
