When you enroll in the A/C Cool Credit Program, a device will be installed near your A/C. The device has the ability to override the thermostat’s control of the A/C’s compressor. Your A/C cycles on and off as needed to maintain a set temperature in your home as determined by the setting on your thermostat. When we send a signal to this device, the A/C may cycle off for longer periods of time than normally cycled by the thermostat. This means the A/C will still operate during these cycling periods, but not as often. This intermittent cycling is well within the standards developed by the industry, so it is safe for your A/C and helps ensure your home stays comfortable. In addition, the system fan will continue to operate regardless of whether the compressor is on or off during a cycling event.
On extremely hot days, whether or not there is a cycling event, you may see an increase in the temperature of your home. Your comfort is extremely important to the success of this program. Previous studies found the in-home temperature increase was less than two degrees.
The device is a light gray, weatherized plastic box measuring roughly 7 inches by 4 inches by 3.5 inches. It’s affixed to either the exterior of your house or directly outside your A/C unit. Caution is taken to ensure neither the house nor the A/C is damaged during installation or removal. A certified field technician will install, test and verify the device is operating safely with the A/C’s compressor.
It isn’t necessary to enter the house to install the device; so you don’t have to be home to have the unit installed. For that reason, we want to ensure you don’t have any locked gates, pets or vegetation that might make it difficult for contractors and employees to monitor equipment. Customers who are not present when the installation takes place will be notified the device was installed. If you have more than one A/C, a device will be installed for each unit. An amber light on the device indicates whether the unit’s compressor is currently off due to cycling.
Probably not. The program is designed to shift demand to non-peak hours to better use capacity, much like encouraging workers to commute at off-peak times to lessen the total number of vehicles using highways at the same time. It is not designed to reduce overall use.
To opt out of the program on a particular day, notify us at 1-866-865-2665 before 4 p.m., a day in advance. You may exercise this option two times per season.