- Get a HUGE discount on an ecobee smart thermostat
- Save on your heating and cooling costs.
- Help your co-op hold down power rates.
- *Receive full reimbursement of your purchase after 36 months.
Install an ecobee smart thermostat. Then, enjoy the convenience and control of adjusting your home’s temperature from anywhere, anytime.
Ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat
Your participation also helps lower your electric bill. The thermostat automatically adjusts when you’re not home and for a few degrees during peak periods. That helps hold down power costs for all our members.
It’s easy to get started.
1. Call or email us with any questions.
2. Complete our Smart Thermostat Online Ordering form, or
3. Complete and sign this participation agreement (direct pdf download).
4. Come by our Cowpens headquarters to purchase the thermostat of your choice.
(*) If a participant overrides 40-percent or fewer of the load control events during a 36-month period of connection, the member will be credited a full reimbursement of their original smart thermostat purchase on their ensuing bill.
Smart Thermostat Program FAQs
What is the Smart Thermostat program?
Broad River Electric’s smart thermostat program gives members the opportunity to purchase an ecobee smart thermostat at a discounted rate. By participating in the program, members will agree to allow the cooperative to control the thermostat during peak periods.
What is required to participate?
- You must be a member of Broad River Electric;
- You must sign the participation agreement;
- You must have an internet-connected, Wi-Fi enabled home.
What is a smart thermostat?
A smart thermostat is a programmable thermostat that connects to your home’s Wi-Fi and gives you the ability to adjust your thermostat setting to fit your schedule and save energy.
What types of thermostats?
Broad River Electric members can purchase the ecobee 4 smart thermostats. Both have a digital, touchscreen displays and both can be controlled and scheduled using a computer or device (phone or tablet).
How much are they?
The ecobee 4 can be purchased for $85, a savings of over $150 as compared to retail.
How does a smart thermostat help reduce my energy use?
The ability to schedule your thermostat settings or to adjust them remotely can help avoid heating and cooling your home at unnecessary levels when no one is there. Based on a 2013 analysis, ecobee customers saved up to 23-percent on their heating and cooling costs.
How will the cooperative control my thermostat?
About 5-6 times per month, the thermostat will be adjusted remotely based on system-wide peak periods.
The events will be 4 hours total, which includes a one-hour pre-cool/pre-heat period and three hours of peak-saving adjustment. The control will follow this pattern:
Pre-cooling/pre-heating +/- 2 degrees
First hour +/- 2 degrees
Second hour +/- 3 degrees
Third hour +/- 4 degrees
SUMMER EXAMPLE
If you normally have your thermostat set to 75, a typical control event beginning at 3 p.m. would look like this:
3:00-4:00 p.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 73
4:00-5:00 p.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 77
5:00-6:00 p.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 78
6:00-7:00 p.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 79
After 7 p.m. – Thermostat returns to 75, control relinquished
WINTER EXAMPLE
If you normally have your thermostat set to 67, a typical control event beginning at 6 a.m. would look like this:
6:00-7:00 a.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 69
7:00-8:00 a.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 65
8:00-9:00 a.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 64
9:00-10:00 a.m. – Thermostat adjusted to 63
After 10 a.m. – Thermostat returns to 67, control relinquished
What if I don’t want the cooperative to control my thermostat?
You’ll be notified of control during peak times on the device’s display with an option to override. You can override control up to 40-percent of the time. If you were to exceed 40-percent, the cooperative would have the option to retain $50 as a charge on your bill.
(*) You would also not be eligible to receive a full reimbursement of your purchase after 36-months of connection.
Why does Broad River Electric want to control my thermostat?
When the cooperative purchases power, energy at those peak hours is more expensive. The more we can cut down on how much energy is used during those periods, the lower our power bill will be. We will use that savings to hold down costs for our members.