Software company OhmConnect, which uses smart thermostats and demand response to save on residential energy use, said it wants to end California’s public service power shutoffs by putting 1 million free smart thermostats in homes.
In what it is calling its EndCABlackouts program, OhmConnect will pair its product giveaway with a marketing campaign featuring billboards, commercials and celebrity endorsements intended to explain how this approach can save money and end blackouts in California.
OhmConnect said its networked energy devices saved 1 GWh of electricity in August 2020 during the height of the heat waves, which is the equivalent of taking 600,000 average homes off the grid.
With 1 million smart thermostats connected, OhmConnect said in a release, residents will be able to save four times more energy to help prevent blackouts during what experts say will be the hottest summer on record.
California households using Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric can join OhmConnect and participate in EndCABlackouts to receive either a free smart thermostat or two free smart plugs and $25. A smart thermostat or other device is not required to participate.
OhmConnect recently announced a partnership with tech giant Google to incentivize energy efficiency with Google Nest smart thermostats.
OhmConnect is a free service provided to residential customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric. OhmConnect pays customers to conserve power during times of peak demand; sells the collective energy savings back to the grid; and then passes their earnings onto their users in the form of cash and prizes.
