Utility companies are looking for ways to connect with their customers as well as better manage their customer’s energy consumption. During hours of high demand a utility’s electric grid can become impacted by too much energy use. This can cause blackouts, or require expensive power from peaker plants.
Consumers can use smart thermostats to reduce energy consumption and save 30 to 50 percent on their energy bills. Energy service providers like Reliant, which operates in a deregulated energy market in Texas, are also using these types of added services, like the Nest thermostat, to keep customers from signing up with competitors.
All of these smart thermostat services, from EcoFactor, EnergyHub, Nest and Opower/Honeywell, allow utility customers to manage a wireless, connected thermostat using a cell phone or website. EcoFactor and EnergyHub are focus on the software side of the thermostat, while Nest has created a thermostat that can learn from the user’s behavior.
Other service providers, like cable companies and telecoms, also offer these types of connected energy home tools. For example, Comcast is offering a connected thermostat service from EcoFactor.
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