Smart Grid

Share
August 16, 2013

Ecobee Joins Network of Southern California Edison Smart Thermostat Providers

Toronto-based Ecobee has joined a network of vendors approved by Southern California Edison (News - Alert) (SCE) to provide smart thermostats to its ratepayers. Rather than just picking one or two thermostat manufacturers, SCE has teamed up with a range of vendors and service providers for its residential demand-response pilot program.

SCE utility customers–more than 4 million of whom already have smart meters in their homes— will be able to use their Ecobee Smart Si thermostats with ZigBee Smart Energy Profile (SEP)’s to monitor home energy usage, preprogram their systems to hold a comfortable temperature level, and participate in “Save Power Days” with the utility. With the thermostat’s intuitive user interface, it’s simple for customers to set their own personalized schedules and connect with their thermostats via a Wi-Fi connection at any time using a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.

Ecobee claims that  homeowners have saved an average of 21 percent on cooling annually when compared to leaving their thermostat on hold at 72°F.“Our Smart Si thermostat will offer improved energy saving opportunities for SCE customers,” said Ecobee President and CEO Stuart Lombard. “With thermostat and utility companies now working together to advance the smart grid, SCE is one utility provider paving the way.” 


Photo courtesy of Ecobee

Southern California Edison is the latest utility to leverage the smart thermostats that are already spread throughout its territory for residential demand response. In addition to Ecobee, the utility has approved thermostats from Alarm.com, Radio Thermostat Company of America, Vivint, Ingersoll Rand: Nexia Home Intelligence, Trane (News - Alert), American Standard and Nest.

Customers can s can sign up to receive email, voice or text alerts about upcoming “Save Power Day” events. Reducing energy use during these times will give customers the opportunity to earn up to $100 in bill credits per year by receiving a $1.25 bill credit for every kilowatt-hour (kWh)saved during peak days—$0.50 more than customers without a two-way thermostat can earn.

The first smart meter in the SCE program was installed in September 2009. Installations will continue through 2012 to a total of nearly 5 million SCE residential and small-business customers in the utility’s 50,000-square-mile service territory. Customers who do not want the next-generation meters are given an opportunity to opt out of the program.




Edited by Ryan Sartor
Share


Featured Videos