Device gives TXU control as well
02:14 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News
esouder@dallasnews.com
TXU Energy, the retail arm of Energy Future Holdings, introduced a new thermostat that connects to the Internet, allowing electricity consumers to regulate their home temperatures remotely, and allowing TXU to turn air conditioners off during summer afternoons.
The company will give the new iThermostats to customers who sign up for TXU’s energy conservation program.
Customers get the convenience of being able to change their thermostats via the Internet and set the heat or air conditioning to turn on at certain times. TXU said in a press release the thermostat can help customers reduce their electricity usage, cutting their annual bill by as much as $150.
But TXU snags its own benefit by being able to regulate customers’ thermostats between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. May through September. That’s when demand for electricity rises and wholesale prices spike. By cutting customer demand during those hours, TXU could trim its own costs.
The press release states customers can override TXU’s air conditioning cycling via the Internet or by calling TXU.
TXU isn’t offering customers discounts for signing up for the program.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....16a21159.html
02:14 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News
esouder@dallasnews.com
TXU Energy, the retail arm of Energy Future Holdings, introduced a new thermostat that connects to the Internet, allowing electricity consumers to regulate their home temperatures remotely, and allowing TXU to turn air conditioners off during summer afternoons.
The company will give the new iThermostats to customers who sign up for TXU’s energy conservation program.
Customers get the convenience of being able to change their thermostats via the Internet and set the heat or air conditioning to turn on at certain times. TXU said in a press release the thermostat can help customers reduce their electricity usage, cutting their annual bill by as much as $150.
But TXU snags its own benefit by being able to regulate customers’ thermostats between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. May through September. That’s when demand for electricity rises and wholesale prices spike. By cutting customer demand during those hours, TXU could trim its own costs.
The press release states customers can override TXU’s air conditioning cycling via the Internet or by calling TXU.
TXU isn’t offering customers discounts for signing up for the program.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....16a21159.html
