Can electric companies control our thermostats??

Question

I haven't gotten my letter yet, but some people in my area has. Our electric company is going to raise our rates, then by summer, they want to find a way to control everyones thermostats. How could that possibly happen? Has anyone ever heard of this? WOW!! Next, they'll want to shut off our T.V.'s after their "allowed" time. What do you all think of this? I, personally think that their flippin nuts!!

Answer 1

I don't know where you live, but, in the same vain, I have no sympathy for residents of California. They love to be controlled by the government. They are voting away their freedoms. It was one thing to be a state with a high ratio of freaks, as long as everyone was free to live their lives in peace. Now the freaks have made the laws to force their ideas on everyone. They are doing it to themselves.

Answer 2

Yes, it is coming, but on a voluntary basis (at least now).  The advantage to the consumer will be cost savings since Electricity producers (in California at least) are asking for large rate increases.  I believe in Europe there are laws against using your heaters and air conditioners at certain times of the year.  If you wanted cheap electricity, we should ge using coal to generate it, but that is not allowed in California.  You have a choice of cheap fuel or global warming - take your pick.

Answer 3

It's conspiracy man! "Body snatchers" I tell ya!LOL.

No, but seriously, wish I had an actual answer for ya.  Actaully I'll try..... MONEY! as much as they can get. That's what's it about! more money like always. Nothing else. . . . ..

Answer 4

I've never heard of residential appliance control as a mandated program.  I have heard of this being done before as part of a "voluntary" program.

It's important to realize that the very peak electricity (which typically happens on the hottest day of the summer) is the most expensive to produce.   An electric company might use 50% of their power plants all the time - since that is a usual electric load.    On the hottest day, though, they need to use ALL their power plants.  And they (in effect) have one or two plants that just sit around doing nothing (because they aren't needed) except for a few very very hot days of the summer.  

One thing that electric companies have done in the past is charge a huge amount for that most-expensive energy (which makes sense) but then offer people a discount if the electric company is allowed to control their a/c during those few hours.

Usually, the terms of this agreement mean that the electric company is limited to a certain number of hours per year that they can cycle your a/c, and is limited to a certain number of minutes per hour that they can turn your a/c off.  

This has been done for years and years for things like electric water heaters and swimming pool pumps.    The equipment is controlled remotely.  And you always have the choice not to use their equipment - and not get the discount on your electric rates.

They will never control televisions because most people use televisions during the evening hours, not during the hottest and peak hours of the day.    

I hope that you asked this question because you really wanted to know about this.  And not just so that people would say "Yeah!  That mean electric company!  What are they thinking?"   If I'm wrong, then please change my answer to:



Yeah!  That mean electic company!  What are they thinking?

Answer 5

Yes I agree with you, after all, we are suppsoe to be in a free country.

Answer 6

you and you alone control your own thermostat and know one else can