22,000 Colorado Residents Prevented from Turning Up Air Conditioning during ‘Energy Emergency’

J

Jeni

Senior Member
https://news.yahoo.com/22-000-colorado-residents-prevented-182144252.html

Caroline Downey
Thu, September 1, 2022 at 11:21 AM
Xcel Energy, an electric provider based in Colorado, prevented 22,000 people from using their thermostats on Tuesday due to an “energy emergency.”
Tuesday was a particularly hot day in the state, with temperatures reaching the nineties.
Colorado resident Tony Talarico told the Denver Channel that he was met with an “energy emergency” alert when he tried to cool down his partner’s house. “I mean, it was 90 out, and it was right during the peak period,” Talarico said. “It was hot.”
“Normally, when we see a message like that, we’re able to override it,” he continued. “In this case, we weren’t. So, our thermostat was locked in at 78 or 79.” Other Xcel users reported on social media that they also were unable to turn up the air conditioning.

The affected Xcel customers had signed up for program with the company that entitled them to $100 enrollment credit and $25 annually in exchange for forfeiting some control over their thermostats.
“It’s a voluntary program. Let’s remember that this is something that customers choose to be a part of based on the incentives,” Emmett Romine, vice president of customer solutions and innovation at Xcel, told the Channel.

Does not seem worth the credits to give access to LOCK you out of using your own SMART thermostat
 

It’s interesting that they have the technology to do this,

It sounds like a first world problem to me.

I don’t consider 79 degrees to be suffering on a 90 degree summer day.

It won’t be long before the power company becomes my parents and begins to control how long I stare into the refrigerator with the door open, turn off the shower, shut off the lights, etc…
 
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Jeni said:
https://news.yahoo.com/22-000-colorado-residents-prevented-182144252.html

Caroline Downey
Thu, September 1, 2022 at 11:21 AM
Xcel Energy, an electric provider based in Colorado, prevented 22,000 people from using their thermostats on Tuesday due to an “energy emergency.”
Tuesday was a particularly hot day in the state, with temperatures reaching the nineties.
Colorado resident Tony Talarico told the Denver Channel that he was met with an “energy emergency” alert when he tried to cool down his partner’s house. “I mean, it was 90 out, and it was right during the peak period,” Talarico said. “It was hot.”
“Normally, when we see a message like that, we’re able to override it,” he continued. “In this case, we weren’t. So, our thermostat was locked in at 78 or 79.” Other Xcel users reported on social media that they also were unable to turn up the air conditioning.

The affected Xcel customers had signed up for program with the company that entitled them to $100 enrollment credit and $25 annually in exchange for forfeiting some control over their thermostats.
“It’s a voluntary program. Let’s remember that this is something that customers choose to be a part of based on the incentives,” Emmett Romine, vice president of customer solutions and innovation at Xcel, told the Channel.

Does not seem worth the credits to give access to LOCK you out of using your own SMART thermostat
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It's never wise to surrender your rights no matter what these greedy corporations try to entice you with.
 
chic said:
It's never wise to surrender your rights no matter what these greedy corporations try to entice you with.
Click to expand...
The first version of this story I read did not mention these folks signed up for a program promising credit etc.....
Just like IMO ... many programs that simply offer small rewards for either your data or perhaps in this case control......
my concern would be if utility can adjust / lock your smart devices so can hackers etc.....

I guess this should just be a reminder to read the fine print and do not buy "it will NEVER happen"
 
Jeni said:
Colorado resident Tony Talarico told the Denver Channel that he was met with an “energy emergency” alert when he tried to cool down his partner’s house. “I mean, it was 90 out, and it was right during the peak period,” Talarico said. “It was hot.”
“Normally, when we see a message like that, we’re able to override it,” he continued. “In this case, we weren’t. So, our thermostat was locked in at 78 or 79.” Other Xcel users reported on social media that they also were unable to turn up the air conditioning.
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Oh wahhh... talk about whiners.

Guess Tony Talarico should consider the alternative. A thermostat locked at 78 or 79 is far better than a power blackout.
 
Jeni said:
Does not seem worth the credits to give access to LOCK you out of using your own SMART thermostat
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Well, it depends on the emergency, if it avoided completely losing power then it was a good thing to have a temporary lock-out. Just probably the people who were locked out of their thermostat wouldn't know if they would be in the group of people who otherwise would have totally lost electricity.

In Nebraska I signed up my heat pump/air conditioner for their remote control option to get the credit (I think there was a tiny credit). I feel like this is also being socially responsible.
There was one incident when a power station in Omaha had an explosion and went offline and the other power station had to compensate. It was a good thing that the power company had an easy way to limit the load by temporarily (15 minute intervals) stop some customers' airconditioners.
 
Aunt Bea said:
It’s interesting that they have the technology to do this,

It sounds like a first world problem to me.

I don’t consider 79 degrees to be suffering on a 90 degree summer day.

It won’t be long before the power company becomes my parents and begins to control how long I stare into the refrigerator with the door open, turn off the shower, shut off the lights, etc…
Click to expand...
Aunt Bea - - -Do you often find yourself staring into your refrigerator or is that only limited to hot days? Have you spoken to your doctor about this behavior? :ROFLMAO:
 
Aunt Bea said:
It’s interesting that they have the technology to do this,

It sounds like a first world problem to me.

I don’t consider 79 degrees to be suffering on a 90 degree summer day.

It won’t be long before the power company becomes my parents and begins to control how long I stare into the refrigerator with the door open, turn off the shower, shut off the lights, etc…
Click to expand...
When my parents were becoming elderly they bought one AC for one window. I recall one would sometimes say to the other "It's 106 degrees... think we should turn on the AC?" "Nah, it's not that hot!" :ROFLMAO:
 
I keep my AC at 83. I hope I don't experience an outage because of how low some people want to crank down their AC. And of coarse never mind stores, malls etc. My apartment is upstairs, it would get very hot fast.
 
Although they did sign up for the discount program I wonder how much notice they had The fine print might allow the power company to do it but they still should inform the customers in advance with a call or something. I've had the local power company knock on the door to say they'd be working on the line and we lose power. I've also had recorded calls and I'm sure they could've gotten.a text or email but it should be in advance. Or make a public service announcement saying conservation measures in effect.

Also this smart technology might not be so efficient. Some say so many people using the same on and off times creates extra demand at the same turn on times. The initial surge of electricity when the power the comes is the largest(also creates the most wear on a circuit, appliance, bulb etc) so power saved might not be that much. Some also think alot of on/off creates temperature differences that must be made up. If a person keeps their home at 70 all the power used to lower back down to 70 might offset periods of low or no use.

And don't think will stop if one doesn't have a high tech thermostat the tech has been there to put devices on AC power sources since they require a dedicated circuit in most communities. I know people with old school thermostats who had similar plans for years. AC frequently cut off mid to late day.
 
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WhatInThe said:
And don't think will stop if one doesn't have a high tech thermostat the tech has been there to put devices on AC power sources since they require a dedicated circuit in most communities. I know people with old school thermostats who had similar plans for years. AC frequently cut off mid to late day.
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My power company has no more access to whether my AC is being used than my water company has access to which of my faucets is running. Sure, either can learn that I'm using X amount of their utilities, but only "smart homes" can report that information because their thermostats, lamps and other devices are wifi connected.
I neither want nor have a smart home.

Like most knives, technology cuts both ways. Phone apps to turn on lights and AC before they people arrive home can likewise tattle - and possibly be controlled - by people or companies who've tapped into that home's system. Usually with that owner's permission, I' might add.

All of this said, the most deeply concerning aspect of the OP's story is its lack of concern for others and the casting of the power company as a villain.

When power companies alert customers to an emergency situation, advising all to turn their AC to 78 maximum and reduce other power use so there can enough power for all, why are so many people resentful, blithely inconsiderate to others, and intent on greedily hogging power?

This article's focus could have been on brownouts and blackouts being averted, partly due to the power company's prior agreement to exchange discounts and free wifi thermostats for reasonable control of those thermostats during emergencies, and partly thanks to non-enrolled customers' willingness to reduce their needs without being forced to do so.
 
SeniorBen said:
How is 90 degrees in Colorado "particularly hot?" It goes up to 90 degrees every summer. Actually, it reaches 100 degrees every summer.
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This is what I was wonder when it comes to the customers and power company. Why the emergency needed this year? And never experienced a hot day?
 

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