Thousands of Colorado residents found themselves locked out of their smart thermostats during last week's sweltering temperatures due to energy.
See also: UN: Confirmed the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic
About 22,000 Xcel customers lost control of their smart thermostats for hours on Aug. 30. That led to a backlash on social media as some people said temperatures inside their homes reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius). Outdoor temperatures climbed to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) that day in parts of Colorado as much of the western U.S. experienced a heatwave.
All of the affected customers were enrolled in an energy-called AC Rewards, which is designed to reduce strain on the electric grid during heat waves. Xcel can adjust these customers’ smart thermostats when demand increases so much that there may not be enough supply to meet it. The company is offering a one-time $100 credit on their bills upon enrollment and $25 annually thereafter for participating.
When the utility adjusts a customer's thermostat, the customer usually has the option to opt out. However, "in rare cases, system emergencies may cause a control event that cannot be overridden," the company says on its website.
See also: Metal bracket reduces Core i9-12900K temperature by 10 degrees
Last week marked the first time Xcel has banned customers from bypassing its adjustments in the six years since the program began, according to Denver7. High temperatures, rising power demand for air conditioners and an unexpected outage contributed to last week's energy emergency, said Xcel Vice President Emmett Romine.
Extreme heat is straining power grids across much of the Western U.S. during a prolonged heat wave that began last week and is expected to continue into this week. California has urged residents to conserve energy in the coming days to avoid power outages.
Americans are experiencing more power outages than ever before, in part due to more extreme weather events. 2020 was a record year for power outages in the U.S. The summer heat in Texas last year prompted a similar response from residents, when utilities set customers’ smart thermostats to higher temperatures to curb power demand.
See also: iPhone: High temperatures can cause permanent damage
Such programs are part of a strategy called demand response that is supposed to help power grids become more resilient to extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and severe as global temperatures rise.
However, this strategy carries risks if smart thermostats keep homes at dangerously high temperatures. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures – especially at night when people are sleeping – can lead to heat-related illnesses and even death
