Posted on 09/08/2022 9:15:19 AM PDT by EBH
For the time ever, Xcel Energy locked the smart thermostats of thousands of Colorado customers on Tuesday because of what it called an energy emergency.
Xcel started a program six years ago, called the AC Rewards program, in which customers get rebates in exchange for allowing Xcel to adjust their thermostat on the hottest summer days to ease strain on the electrical grid. Participating customers need to sign up for the program, and about 22,200 have done that in Colorado.
Tuesday was the first time that Xcel locked those thermostats, a company spokesperson said.
The grid experienced an energy emergency that day, due to high temperatures and a unit at a power plant that went offline. The company was not selling energy out of state, Xcel said.
Xcel customers who have certain types of smart thermostats can opt into the AC Rewards Program. They get a onetime $100 enrollment bill credit and $25 every year they participate in the program.
“We understand the need to keep cool on hot summer days and work hard to provide our customers with the energy they rely on," Xcel said in a statement provided to 9NEWS. "Our customers have a choice to participate in this voluntary program that helps them manage energy demands while receiving cash for their involvement."
Xcel says on its website that "control events" – when Xcel makes adjustments to the thermostats of participating customers – can happen at anytime during the summer.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
I would suggest your set-up / set-back settings might not be aggressive enough, and/or your equipment is oversized.
When I go between houses, I find I need to reset the night before so that things are comfy the next day. At least in the middle of Summer.
I set up to 80F, run at 72-73.
“I would suggest your set-up / set-back settings might not be aggressive enough, and/or your equipment is oversized.”
I don’t see how this relates to my post. Did you post to the wrong person?
(it helps if you cite the post as I did to eliminate confusion)
“We wondered why at that time of the day.
Maybe it was a signal to the EV owners to start recharging their vehicles.”
You are probably correct, and we have seen a few of the EV’s on our road this morning.
This brings up another question re EV’s: How do their batteries hold up re ACing a car when it is over 100 degrees outside and hotter on our roads?
Thanks for your comments.
“remote controlled thermostats are mandated for new construction in California. (or parts of CA)”
Probably not yet, everything is regulated in new buildings and often retro works.
Give them and our Governor/tator time and opportunities like this current heat wave.
“This brings up another question re EV’s: How do their batteries hold up re ACing a car when it is over 100 degrees outside and hotter on our roads?”
I posted some data a few days ago. I will summarize based on memory, only.
Actual usage reports indicate 500-1500 watts steady state. More if car has to be cooled down.
Generally, less than 1000 watts for nominal 90 degrees. Tesla says their new design is better.
Using 0.25 kwhr per mile no A/C and driving 60 mph for one hour:
No A/C = 15 kwhrs
With A/C = 16 kwhrs
Assuming an 85kwhr battery range drops from 40 miles to 318 miles.
We have had smart PG&E meters for at least a decade.
So they drive by to get a useage reading.
What we can’t figure out: Is how do wired water meters work/send signals when they are 3-5’ below the ground surface.
“This brings up another question re EV’s: How do their batteries hold up re ACing a car when it is over 100 degrees outside and hotter on our roads?”
An interesting side. People are often leaving the A/C on with EV’s when they short-term park so they come back to a comfy car.
One hour = one kwhr = $0.125 charging at the house.
Thanks that isn’t too bad.
Of course how many businesses provide covered parking to reduce the heat gain in parked cars, during the day?
Just plug in a stand alone AC unit to augment. Will they control your wall outlets or feed currect? Will they start telling me when i can have sexy time with the wife too?
“What we can’t figure out: Is how do wired water meters work/send signals when they are 3-5’ below the ground surface.”
Do you mean wireless? Some are installed above ground. Some have a connected transmitter that is mounted to the cover plate at ground level.
It was in response to the replied-to post, which includes the text:
“While waiting for our bags to be unloaded I reset the thermostat back to the normal schedule.
When we got home a nice comfy 73.”
I am suggesting that if you can get the house comfortable in the time it takes you to get from the airport to home, you might not be aggressive enough of setting, and/or your equipment might be oversized.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4090380/posts
The below goes into a different aspect that is well within a rapid rollout capability by power companies.
In the early 1990s, I lived in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains. My home was one of two houses in town used for R&D purposes by the regional electric company. I don't know what kind of installed cost the power company incurred on my house but if I was using available industrial grade hardware of the day, I could have set it up for about $5000 installed max, probably less. Today, I could do the same thing for about $500 installed max, probably less.
Here's why I consider this a scam…. 22,000 customers @ $25/yr each ~~> $550,000/yr recurring cost
IMO, this is throw away $$$ to avoid building sufficient power generation to accommodate normal peak + emergency reserve loads. A much better system would be to expand to consumers, the same variable electric rate structure that large industrial and business customers use.
Best that I recall, my variable rates were something like low@$0.005/kWh through emergency@$0.12/kWh. Low, medium and high rates depended on the day of the week and time of day. Emergency rate could be triggered anytime, any day.
My Virginia home in the mountains was 2-story, about 3000ft2 and total electric. With a conventional single rate and single temperature setting and no hot water heater on/off control, the winter monthly cost for the home would have been about $300 and occasionally more. My home's winter electric cost was about $90max and normally less. IMO, consumers (and small/medium business) are scammed on our electric cost via denying us access to variable rates.
There are freestanding, programmable, non-smart thermostats readily available that enable simple settings for different days and times. These have a reasonably short payback time, are installable by a handy homeowner and are generally available at Home Depot and hardware type stores.
“I am suggesting that if you can get the house comfortable in the time it takes you to get from the airport to home, you might not be aggressive enough of setting,”
I have no idea what you are referring to? What is an “aggressive” setting.
And it is not just the time getting from the airport to home, it is waiting for baggage, shuttle to parking, retrieving car, loading car and THEN THE 45 MINUTE RIDE HOME.
That’s not that much time.
What’s your set up in Summer?
What’s your set back in Winter?
Sheesh, I’m not trying to be difficult, I’m trying to help. Never mind.
“That’s not that much time.”
Plenty of time.
“What’s your set up in Summer?
What’s your set back in Winter?
Sheesh, I’m not trying to be difficult, I’m trying to help. Never mind.”
What is a “set up”? What is a “set back”
What has a winter setting to do with spring time operation?
My settings are the same year-round.
“Sheesh, I’m not trying to be difficult, I’m trying to help. Never mind.”
I have no problem. Why do you think I need help?
Not a business. A regulated utility.PG&E was established on October 10, 1905 from the merger and consolidation of predecessor utility companies, and by 1984 was the United States' "largest electric utility business".
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company is an American investor-owned utility with publicly traded stock. The company is headquartered in the Pacific Gas & Electric Building, in San Francisco, California…
“BTW, name another business that asks you to not buy/use their product(s), then raises the price because their sales are down. I think that’s the new business model taught in the indoctrination centers.”
Stupid comment. Power outage decisions are made byban independent agency.
Stupid comment. Power outage decisions are made byban independent agency.No, pay attention. ADD? I never said anything about power outages.
This is a stupid comment:Not a business. A regulated utility.
The regulated utility is the electricity, gas, water, etc. that THE BUSINESS sells or provides.
Though the business can be regulated, it is not the utility.
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