Is anyone signing up for the PEPCO Energy Wise Rewards program?

[Anonymous]

I got this in the mail a few weeks ago, and am debating about signing up.

Sounds like a good idea - the programmable thermostat, and the annual reward. Not really bugged by the fact that the AC will have to run a little higher.

Am I missing something? Anyone else planning to sign up for this?

[Anonymous]

I was going to post the same question---thanks for beating me to it! Part of me is interested; another part of me is skeptical. I am very leary of Pepco after the outragous (and downright suspicious) heat bills that we had last winter. I'm not sure that I want to give them this much control over our household. Am looking forward to hearing other's thoughts.

[Anonymous]

OP again - You know, I did a search on this site and saw that.... about the random Pepco charges. After reading those, I became a little leary also!

I don't even know where our meter is, but I might check it out this weekend.

[Anonymous]

We have the thermostat being installed tomorrow morning. High heat bills were not just limited to PEPCO last year. Heating costs were high across the board.

[Anonymous]

I had this with BGE for 10 years when I lived in Howard County. Never noticed a difference in anything except lower bills. However, that doesn't mean Pepco will be the same, but I like the concept.

[Anonymous]

The Pepco 2010 campaign for the Energy Wise Rewards program has started. Have any of you joined this or have anything to report, good or bad. I read this article from an HVAC specialist: http://www.cardinalairservices.com/Oct.-10,-2009-%28Pepco%27s-Engery-Wise%29.html -- they didn't seem to think it was a good idea because the length of the "downtime periods" of the AC compressor are not stated. My concern is more about their statement about not being responsible for any possibly resultant equipment failures/damage (including death). Duh. That seemed a little extreme ... anyway, does anybody think it's really worth $80 when you can control your own usage anyway?

[Anonymous]

Had it installed on Friday... I am very disappointed. I want to withdraw from the program immediately. Now Sunday, the temperature in my house was at 79 degrees, so I turned on my AC which I keep at a constant 73 degrees. My AC never kicked on, it appeared to automatically go into "recycling mode" (i.e. recycle the air already in the house). However, the air I had is my house was hot. I checked the device to see if the "light was on," that means we're in conservation mode and that's when AC will recycle COOL air throughout your home to maintain comfort. Well, the light was NOT on, and by the way it's May and the program is not to start until June. However, as the day went on, and more people came over my house, the temperature rose to a uncomfortable 84 degrees. That was over 8 hours ago, and now I'm at 83 degrees... the fan has been running constantly, compressor has not yet turned on. I'm highly disppointed. I wish I did more research before opting to be apart of this program. Like the previous entry, you can regulate you own thermostat. I like control, and right now I'm not in control. I can't stand it!

[Anonymous]

What bothers me about the program is that they say they will shut down your compressor during periods of high energey demand.

So if there's a big heat wave, and everyone has their A/C on all over town -- what happens now is PEPCO gets on TV and says "Hey everyone reduce A/C use, or we are going to have a brownout!" They also talk to large industrial users I think and try to get them to reduce A/C use. Maybe they close schools, some businesses, things like that? In some places they have rolling brownouts, I think, but I've never seen that happen here.

And some people comply but others don't. But you the individual get to decide whether to turn off your A/C or lower it.

If you sign up for the program though, andthere's a heat wave -- they just cut you off -- and you have no cotroll over how long, right? ANd they don't have to do all those other things, because you and a bunch of other people signed up to be the ones to lose power during a heat wave? So no brownouts, no appeals to people to reduce energy usage, etc.

It doesn't sound like something I want to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had it installed on Friday... I am very disappointed. I want to withdraw from the program immediately. Now Sunday, the temperature in my house was at 79 degrees, so I turned on my AC which I keep at a constant 73 degrees. My AC never kicked on, it appeared to automatically go into "recycling mode" (i.e. recycle the air already in the house). However, the air I had is my house was hot. I checked the device to see if the "light was on," that means we're in conservation mode and that's when AC will recycle COOL air throughout your home to maintain comfort. Well, the light was NOT on, and by the way it's May and the program is not to start until June. However, as the day went on, and more people came over my house, the temperature rose to a uncomfortable 84 degrees. That was over 8 hours ago, and now I'm at 83 degrees... the fan has been running constantly, compressor has not yet turned on. I'm highly disppointed. I wish I did more research before opting to be apart of this program. Like the previous entry, you can regulate you own thermostat. I like control, and right now I'm not in control. I can't stand it!

Are you sure your AC isn't broken? We had issues last year with our AC, so it's possible that it is unrelated to the PEPCO program.

(not trying to defend PEPCO, just trying to help)

We haven't signed up for this yet, so I'm interested to see what others say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What bothers me about the program is that they say they will shut down your compressor during periods of high energey demand.

So if there's a big heat wave, and everyone has their A/C on all over town -- what happens now is PEPCO gets on TV and says "Hey everyone reduce A/C use, or we are going to have a brownout!" They also talk to large industrial users I think and try to get them to reduce A/C use. Maybe they close schools, some businesses, things like that? In some places they have rolling brownouts, I think, but I've never seen that happen here.

And some people comply but others don't. But you the individual get to decide whether to turn off your A/C or lower it.

If you sign up for the program though, andthere's a heat wave -- they just cut you off -- and you have no cotroll over how long, right? ANd they don't have to do all those other things, because you and a bunch of other people signed up to be the ones to lose power during a heat wave? So no brownouts, no appeals to people to reduce energy usage, etc.

It doesn't sound like something I want to do.

No, this is not how it works. PEPCO automatically adjusts your thermostat by a certain number of degrees (decided by you when you sign up) during periods of high energy use from April to October. But you always can override PEPCO's adjustment by manually adjusting your thermostat yourself.

[Anonymous]

I thought seriously about doing it, but my husband was leery of the big brother aspect, so we didn't. We already have a programmable thermostat and set it pretty high during the day anyway, so we know that we are pretty much doing our part for the environment.

[Anonymous]

2:39 - I agree with the PP, sounds like your AC is broken/needs coolant. I'd call your HVAC guy to check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got this in the mail a few weeks ago, and am debating about signing up.

Sounds like a good idea - the programmable thermostat, and the annual reward. Not really bugged by the fact that the AC will have to run a little higher.

Am I missing something? Anyone else planning to sign up for this?

Checking it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
No, this is not how it works. PEPCO automatically adjusts your thermostat by a certain number of degrees (decided by you when you sign up) during periods of high energy use from April to October. But you always can override PEPCO's adjustment by manually adjusting your thermostat yourself.

Are you sure you can override it by just adjusting your thermostat? The way I read the materials, you can call them if you want to override it -- but they only will do it twice.

Am I permitted to "opt out" of a conservation period?
All customers are permitted two (2) opt outs during the cooling season. Participants who wish to override will need to call our Energy Wise Rewards Service Center at 1-866-353-5798.

https://energywiserewards.pepco.com/faq/#q13

[Anonymous]

wow, i hope this does not become mandatory. Why on earth would you allow pepco to deciede how hot or cold your house can be. trust me when I tell you this in NOT in your benefit and may be an attempt and complying with new legislation.

This is the same as "adjustable arms" for home loans. Why, when you are gauranteed a record low interest rate would you ever agree to adjustable anything.

What happens when you want to switch to another provider? Sell your house? Think people.