Xcel Energy also spoke to Denver7 and confirmed that 22,000 customers were indeed locked out of their thermostats. However, the affected customers were not just chosen at random — they were all members of the Colorado AC Rewards program who voluntarily agreed to give up some control of their thermostats in order to save energy and money. These customers receive a one-time $100 worth of credit and then $25 annually for as long as they are enrolled. In return, during energy emergencies, they may be locked out and unable to control the temperatures in their homes.
Emmett Romine, vice president of customer solutions and innovations at Xcel, told Denver7: “It’s a voluntary program. Let’s remember that this is something that customers choose to be a part of based on the incentives. It helps everybody for people to participate in these programs. It is a bit uncomfortable for a short period of time, but it’s very, very helpful.” However, it seems that many customers, including Talarico, were unaware of the fact that they might be fully locked out of their thermostats. The energy emergency was caused by an unexpected outage in Pueblo, Colorado, that took place on top of the extremely hot weather and increased air conditioner usage.
Are the yearly savings worth handing over the controls to something inside your home to a corporation? It’s up to each Xcel customer to judge, but in any case, it’s a truth that participants of the rewards program and owners of these smart thermostats just might have to deal with.
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