Select Utility Companies: Google Nest Thermostat

JustinS6323

Aug 4, 2022 11:02 PM

1.2K Comments

Joined May 2013

JustinS6323Aug 4, 2022 11:02 PM

1.2K Comments

Ugh my coop never does ANYTHING!

Their website is from 1993 and still requires you to pay via dropping a check in the mail slot at their office. Even bank bill pay isn't allowed.

2

Lillybulldog

Aug 4, 2022 11:14 PM

2.4K Comments

Joined Oct 2008

LillybulldogAug 4, 2022 11:14 PM

2.4K Comments

Just purchased an Emerson sensi yesterday. Most brands have rebates by there gas or electric companies. Got a sensi touch screen on sale at Amazon for $99 and it had a consumer gas rebate for $75

1

FookNoe

Aug 4, 2022 11:15 PM

1.8K Comments

Joined Nov 2017

FookNoeAug 4, 2022 11:15 PM

1.8K Comments

Quote from djagger

:

I came here expecting some of these replies and wanted to give a reasonable answer.

First - no, the utilities are generally not "controlling" your thermostat. The situation these commenters are referring to is called demand response (DR). Where the utilities will pay their consumers to shift or reduce their demand during times of grid strain to reduce the likelihood of brown or blackouts. For this to happen you need to enroll in the DR program itself, you'll know if you're doing this. Utilities can't just enroll you without your notice.

Second - even if you are in one of these DR programs, you absolutely always have final control over your thermostat and temperature setting. You ALWAYS have the option to opt-out of DR events and keep your thermostat or AC humming along at whatever temperature you want. Yes, if you're enrolled in one of these DR programs and you opt-out, your electric bill may be higher. But that's the whole point. If the utility is offering free stuff (like a thermostat) and ongoing revenue to participate in a DR program, but you opt-out of actually participating? It hurts the utility (and the rest of the grid for that matter), who was expecting you to provide relief so there is some financial incentives there.

I'm just tried of people sensationalizing this stuff. Geeze.

My experience here is as someone who helps implement some of these types of programs for a few utilities around the country. I predominately work with commercial and industrial customers but interact with the residential side of things as well.

Yup, you have final control. I know my ecobee that I have the program which is fine. But when I want it on, I just cancel the program for the day.

3

HappyScent186

Aug 5, 2022 12:11 AM

2 Comments

Joined Dec 2021

HappyScent186Aug 5, 2022 12:11 AM

2 Comments

Might be a stupid question but What if we don't have a thermostat? Can we still order these even in the absence of central air conditioning?

1

2

Btrotta1

Aug 5, 2022 12:37 AM

44 Comments

Joined Jan 2021

Btrotta1Aug 5, 2022 12:37 AM

44 Comments

Quote from djagger

:

I came here expecting some of these replies and wanted to give a reasonable answer.

First - no, the utilities are generally not "controlling" your thermostat. The situation these commenters are referring to is called demand response (DR). Where the utilities will pay their consumers to shift or reduce their demand during times of grid strain to reduce the likelihood of brown or blackouts. For this to happen you need to enroll in the DR program itself, you'll know if you're doing this. Utilities can't just enroll you without your notice.

Second - even if you are in one of these DR programs, you absolutely always have final control over your thermostat and temperature setting. You ALWAYS have the option to opt-out of DR events and keep your thermostat or AC humming along at whatever temperature you want. Yes, if you're enrolled in one of these DR programs and you opt-out, your electric bill may be higher. But that's the whole point. If the utility is offering free stuff (like a thermostat) and ongoing revenue to participate in a DR program, but you opt-out of actually participating? It hurts the utility (and the rest of the grid for that matter), who was expecting you to provide relief so there is some financial incentives there.

I'm just tried of people sensationalizing this stuff. Geeze.

My experience here is as someone who helps implement some of these types of programs for a few utilities around the country. I predominately work with commercial and industrial customers but interact with the residential side of things as well.

I'm not trying to sensationalize anything.

I never said every utility requires enrollment in such a program. But there are some utilities that do require participation in such a program to get the best prices on the thermostats.

For example, with Iowa's Alliant Energy, to get the best price on the Learning Thermostat, $39.50, you must enroll in their "Smart Hours" program. You can pay more, $89.50, and are not required to enroll in the program.

There are others that do not require participation in the connected solutions program, but will offer additional incentives to those who do. For example, Connecticut's Eversource will give you a $25 gift card for enrolling and an additional $20 gift card for each year you remain enrolled.

And, as you noted, there are some utilities who have no requirements to get the deals.

2

Nobodyukno

Aug 5, 2022 1:09 AM

40 Comments

Joined Feb 2016

NobodyuknoAug 5, 2022 1:09 AM

40 Comments

I'm in the Google eco system. I have a regular Honeywell thermostat that has the ability to set a schedule. I work from home so someone's is home most of the time.

Sell me on some reasons why I should get a nest or ecobee. My schedule on my non smart Honeywell thermostat runs fine. I just find myself always wanting one of these but not sure if there's a point

1

rileyman501

Aug 5, 2022 1:19 AM

481 Comments

Joined Feb 2016

rileyman501Aug 5, 2022 1:19 AM

481 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank rileyman501

FYI even if you don't see your company on the list check the rebate section of your company as mine pays $35 a year per thermostat via bill credits in June,July and August. They give you a list of compatible thermostat on there website. It's not an immediate pay out but you will make money in the long run.

4

1

fishback

Aug 5, 2022 1:39 AM

43 Comments

Joined Dec 2007

fishbackAug 5, 2022 1:39 AM

43 Comments

Quote from TekkenLord

:

Do we actually crank it at 60 during a heatwave? Wow, that will be a chunk of my paycheck in my State.

only lunatics do

1

MiccalobL

Aug 5, 2022 1:54 AM

469 Comments

Joined Apr 2013

MiccalobLAug 5, 2022 1:54 AM

469 Comments

Mine randomly change temp to 82. Yes I checked and turn off all auto features. The app interface on these suck.

2

Zescion

Aug 5, 2022 2:06 AM

127 Comments

Joined Nov 2016

ZescionAug 5, 2022 2:06 AM

127 Comments

No luck from my utility company, but thumbs up to OP for the nicely organized post.

thischris

Aug 5, 2022 2:58 AM

859 Comments

Joined Jul 2016

thischrisAug 5, 2022 2:58 AM

859 Comments

We have a newish (Lennox Heat Pump 3T 14HPX-036, Lennox variable speed air handler CBX25UHV) heat pump/AC with emergency heat and was told by the Google app the Nest thermostat would not work with the unit. Anyone have any experience with that?

jrm523

Aug 5, 2022 3:07 AM

1K Comments

Joined Apr 2017

jrm523Aug 5, 2022 3:07 AM

1K Comments

Quote from reelbusy

:

that thermostat sucks, the home app is shockingly crappy too. get the ecobee if you want one of these data miners, reliable, good app, easy to program and setup.

I hate to say, they all suck. Ecobee is atrocious. Their Support is the most incompetent that I have ever dealt with. Ecobee also automatically enrolled me in there Eco+ program which forced me to go through my electric service provider to undo. It was causing my thermostat to automatically drastically change at random times.

2

jrm523

Aug 5, 2022 3:10 AM

1K Comments

Joined Apr 2017

jrm523Aug 5, 2022 3:10 AM

1K Comments

Quote from Btrotta1

:

Beware, that some utilities will require you to allow them to control the thermostat during peak usage periods in order to get the discounted price.

If you have privacy concerns or can't stand to have your house above 60 degrees during a heatwave, this may not be for you.

I'm amazed at how many people don't realize this. Nothing is free. Many service providers are trading a small discount to you for the ability to control your thermostat during peak power usage. Yes, typically you can change it back but that gets old real fast.

1

4

yuhhuhsure

Aug 5, 2022 3:11 AM

960 Comments

Joined Nov 2013

yuhhuhsureAug 5, 2022 3:11 AM

960 Comments

man the website sucks. says my account can't be found.. then SSO leads to a dead page..

1

Select Utility Companies: Google Nest Thermostat

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