Save With the Season

The leaves are beginning to fall, the days are getting shorter and the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air. The sights and smells of the season only mean one thing – cooler weather is around the corner.

As lower temperatures move in, energy use increases. Luckily, there are ways to save energy and money, and one of the greatest savings is with a programmable thermostat. Smart thermostats can help your family, the environment, and your community.

Whatever the reason, we are here to help. One of our most effective efforts is with programmable thermostats and our My Thermostat Rewards program. For the fourth year in a row, we’re bringing back our Black Friday Bring Your Own Thermostat (BYOT) special.  Our one-time rebate on eligible thermostats is increasing from $85 to $150. This increase, paired with the annual $30 bill credit per household, gives new participants an immediate return on investment.

“Having a smart thermostat helps save 10 -12 percent on your energy usage,” said Touseef Mohammed, Market Analyst Program Manager. Since purchasing his thermostat and enrolling in the My Thermostat Rewards program, he’s seen his bill drop.

With energy information at his fingertips, he’s now able to see how long his HVAC is running and get an idea of the size of his energy bill through the thermostat’s app.

The Black Friday promotion begins Friday November 23, 2018 and runs through January 31, 2019. All CPS Energy customers are eligible to enroll.

Josh Cormican, a Financial Analyst with our Corporate Planning department, has been on the program for almost a year. Like Touseef, he bought his thermostat during a Black Friday promotion and could immediately see it was helping him be more energy efficient.

For those contemplating participating, Josh asks, “Why wouldn’t you?  It really helps (you) be more efficient. And when Demand Response is going on, it’s usually because it’s super hot (or cold) outside so it helps you save money.”

Demand Response is a reduction in demand during peak periods. Participants have control of their thermostat and can opt out at any time.  For Josh, his thermostat has learned his habits so he just lets it do its thing especially during conservation events. The events have had no impact on him.

For Touseef, the conservation events haven’t been an issue either. His family participates in almost all events. “What I really appreciate is that CPS Energy encourages customers to participate and you do not get penalized for not participating in an event.

More than 35,000 customers are participating in the My Thermostat Rewards program, including our employees. In addition to helping conserve electricity, there are personal benefits like having more control of energy use, earning a rebate and saving a little money to help offset the expenses of the season.

Having control of energy settings remotely has helped both Touseef and Josh. A few weeks ago while traveling to Florida, Josh forgot to turn off his thermostat. “I just got on my phone and turned it off. It was pretty cool.”

“Our family feels a sense of accomplishment because we are doing our part in energy conservation,” said Touseef.  “We are saving on our energy bill and also helping CPS Energy manage the grid when energy prices are high. What it technically does is lowers overall costs for the entire community.”

For Touseef’s friends, family, coworkers and the customers he meets at our community events, he gives this insight. “A smart thermostat gives you an opportunity to analyze your usage and a chance to change your behavior. If you are get a high bill at the end of the month, there is nothing you can do about it. But if you have control and ability to monitor your usage, you could have changed your behavior to actually save money.”

Learn more about the My Thermostat Rewards program by visiting cpsenergy.com/mythermostatrewards.