Thousands of Colorado residents were locked out of adjusting their thermostats on a 90 degree summer day. The thermostats read “energy emergency” and customers had no way of moving the temperature down. Some in-home temperatures got as high as 88 degrees according to posts on social media by customers.
Energy company Xcel had placed a temporary lock on some smart thermostats. Customers were outraged as they could not adjust their air conditioning. The company said only customers who had signed up for a rewards program were impacted.
The company gives customers a small discount in exchange for control over their A/C when the energy grid is strained. The company indicates an energy emergency on the thermostat screens at times of a lockout. Enrolled customers receive a $100 credit for enrolling in the program and $25 annually.
“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,” said Emmett Romine, vice president of customer solutions and innovation at Xcel. “It’s a voluntary program. Let’s remember that this is something that customers choose to be a part of based on the incentives.”
A customer impacted by the energy emergency spoke to Denver’s ABC7 about his experience.
Excel said hot weather and high air conditioning usage were the reasons for the temporary lock. Many states are dealing with strains on their energy grids. California issued a state of emergency this week over blackout concerns involving issues with the state’s electrical grid.
