Colorado Energy Company Shuts Down Access to Home Thermostats During 90 Degree Heat Wave in Denver, Locks Thermostats of 22K Customers

For some 22,000 Xcel Energy customers in Colorado who wanted a little civilization during a 90+ heat wave, the green monsters seized control of the  temperature in their homes.

According to KMGH-TV, “Energy Emergency” was part of the message that flashed on thermostats as temperatures skyrocketed and Xcel customers desperately tried to crank the A/C.

“Temperature locked temporarily during energy emergency. Due to a rare energy emergency that may affect the local energy grid, your temperature slider has been changed from 8:00 pm – 8:00 pm because you enrolled in a Community Energy Savings Program,” the full message read.

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Colorado Utility Locks 22,000 Customer Thermostats Amid Heatwave

By: The Epoch Times, September 2, 2022:

Record-breaking heat is hitting Western states, and customers looking for a reprieve on Aug. 30 turned to their air conditioners for help.

But more than 22,000 Xcel Energy customers in Colorado were greeted with the message “energy emergency” on their smart thermostats, preventing them from reducing the temperature below 78 degrees.

With tempers and temperatures flaring, Xcel’s customers took to Twitter to vent their frustration, prompting Xcel to remind customers that they agreed to such lockouts in exchange for cash.

AC Goes Bust

Xcel Energy, a major U.S. electric and natural gas company, provides energy to customers throughout Colorado and the United States. If customers want and they have a qualifying smart thermostat, they can enroll in Xcel’s AC Rewards Program.

It’s that reward program that locked customers out of their thermostats.

Specifically, the reward program allows Xcel customers to receive a one-time $100 bill credit upon enrollment and earn $25 every year they participate in the program.

In exchange, Xcel has the right to adjust customers’ thermostats on “the hottest days of summer” to reduce the load on the grid. Additionally, these are known as “Control Events” and allow Xcel to adjust the temperature on the thermostat by a “few degrees,” an Xcel customer service agent told The Epoch Times.

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