Gotta love the Infowars clickbait/more ad revenue headline! The customers with the “siezed” thermostats signed up to get “seized”...because they wanted the $125.00 and the additional $25. per month. (Or they are just “Greenies” or something). Self-inflicted:
https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/residential/heating-cooling/ac-rewards
Your figures are too high.
From the website your linked:
“As an added bonus, you’ll receive a onetime $100 enrollment bill credit for joining the AC Rewards program and earn $25 every year you participate in the program.”
Not $25.00/month!
Just $2.17/month.