When my EnergyWise thermostat went blank this summer, I called Pepco. They were very responsive and friendly: they offered to send someone in the afternoon of the day I called. I changed the appointment to the following day. The Pepco technician arrived on time. He was very courteous and efficient: he fixed the problem within 15 minutes, much to my relief in the midst of a heatwave. I nowhave only good things to say about the professionalism of Pepco employees, especially since this was not the case when I enrolled in the EnergyWise Program 3 years ago.

I'm glad I just found this post. I knew the benefit to this program must be PEPCO, just based on how aggressive they are in the sales pitch. I repeatedly say NO and they keep calling.

I ask the guy, you will control my AC? when you want them on they on when you want them off they off? I tell him get the hell out of my house thanks.

I agree with you 100%!! Comverge uses technicians that don't appear to be properly trained and by using this program, their cycling unit damaged my AC unit resulting in about $600 in repairs. Stay AWAY!!

Anonymous wrote:It's best to steer clear of these installs. They are using half trained outside contractors, and not listening to complaints that have been coming in about it. I have had issues as to where my thermostat does what it wants, and they in all their splendor did a heat shut off the coldest day in January. The pidley bill credit is so not worth it, nor is the aggravation. Comverge is the company who does the installs I hear and read on the truck. I warn others, no, no and he-- no, stay clear.

Stay FAR away from this program!! Although many will tell stories of how great the service is, if you are one of the exceptions, like me, who had problems, it will cost you a lot of money.

I had one of their cycling switches installed back in mid July of 2015 and during the 6 weeks that it was installed, it cycled off on only about 2 occasions. The second time that it happened, I could not get the unit to come back on so I called the PEPCO Energy Wise Rewards customer service and a technician (from Comverge; the installer) came out to look at it. He discovered that a transformer had burned out in the furnace that is connected to the compressor and it was his impression that the switch caused the problem.

To my surprise, after I made a claim to reimburse me for the almost $600 I had to pay to get it repaired, they denied my claim indicating that switch was NOT the problem!! I have had this AC system for over 10 years and have had NO problem with it until the PEPCO switch was installed. I also have had NO problems with it since I had Comverge remove the switch. Most likely the technician that installed it did so improperly which caused my problems but the crooks at Comverge/PEPCO will not admit to this. Of course, once you agree to install the switch (or their thermostat) and a problem occurs, their answer will be "sorry, but it is YOUR AC unit that is the problem, NOT our switch! Also, the terms/conditions of using their program indicates that if something goes wrong it is essentially YOUR problem and they bear no responsibility!

If I had known then what I know now, I would have NEVER signed up for this program. Now I am out about $600 because of this company's incompetence.

BEWARE!!!

Anonymous wrote:Recently signed up for this program. (I live in MD)
I was told we get two days out of the year to opt out. One very hot day, after my daughter came home from practice after running several miles in the heat, I called them to opt out for the day. They said the AC would turn back on in 20 mins. Lie. It did not turn on until 6pm which is the time it would have turned on anyway.
I called the very next day and removed myself from the program.
After reading this forum, I'm thinking to go outside and remove the thing that gives them control.

This just convinced me never to get this service. They keep calling me, are very aggressive, but don't answer all the questions. Very typical fast-talking telemarketing style. They have not been a good, reputable utility so this tells me to opt out of this.