Where I now live has a ‘smart’ thermostat. I made a point of learning the upstream wiring so that I can bypass it, if the Left starts getting cute (like cutting it off when the sun don’t shine, or raising the temperature setting).
Whether we like it or not, this will soon be a survival skill, so you might as well learn it, and help your kids learn it.
But even with those skills, eventually overriding of ‘commands from above’ will be outlawed and people will be screwed, unless they have backup power that they can slowly recharge, during times when the sun is shining.
Turning off the wifi disables the thermostat completely?
I have a smart thermostat too, “Hey babe? would you throw another chunk of wood in the wood stove when you go by?”
“smart thermostat”
The real problem is the smart meter. Your entire house will be throtteld so that those in charge can remain nice and comfy.
The powers that be came in a put anti-tamper covers over the thermostats at work many years ago because they deemed it to be too cold in the building.
Later they walked in and found a light bulb hanging by the thermostat and a “too cold” building. Do you know how hard it is to get a bulb the exact right distance to warm the thermostat up to get the exact right temperature?
They were not amused.