Your residential customers should know about Peak Rewards
Rewards of $50 for each smart device type in the home that's enrolled
The next time you or your company is working on a residential renovation or other residential project, consider letting the homeowner know about BC Hydro's Peak Rewards program.
Designed to reduce pressure on the electrical grid during peak usage periods, Peak Rewards offers customers $50 for each select smart home device enrolled.
Customers who own an eligible smart thermostat, a load controller, or an electric vehicle (EV) charger can take part in Peak Rewards events where we remotely adjust devices to reduce electrical use. Participating could be an almost effortless way to save energy and money.
"We're hoping that building trades and other Alliance members who interact with homeowners can let them know about this rewards program," says Kari Montrichard, manager of the capacity products team.
There's a limit of one device per category, so a home with an EV charger, load controller, and a smart thermostat could get up to $150 for enrolling their devices.
Peak Rewards events take place throughout the year, and last up to four hours. Here, participants have one or more of their enrolled smart home devices remotely adjusted. This could include delaying the start of charging an EV or lowering the temperature on a smart thermostat by a degree or two.
Keep in mind that customers maintain full override control of their enrolled devices and can opt out of an event at any time. Once an event ends, devices return to their normal operation.
A few key points about the Peak Rewards program
Peak time events can happen any time of the day, but usually take place between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., or 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Most devices allow you to use their app to opt out, even part-way through an event. To do this with a thermostat, you can simply adjust the temperature up or down manually. For opting out with an EV charger, simply restart charging by unplugging your car and plugging it in again.
The Peak Rewards program is a convenient way for homeowners to save money on their energy bills while also helping reduce peak loads on the grid. So, if you’re working on a residential project, don't forget to mention this program to the homeowner.
Get specifics on the program, including eligibility of devices.
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