Smart Thermostat FAQ

• The Smart Thermostat Program is a voluntary program that rewards eligible customers for participating in Energy Savings Events when demand is highest.

• The hottest summer days create heavy demand on the energy grid, and getting energy to everyone who needs it can become more challenging. To prevent this, on select days in the summer, we'll schedule an Energy Savings Event.

• Enrolling means you agree to let the program sync to your smart thermostat to make slight, automatic adjustments of 2-3 degrees from your preferred settings during an Energy Savings Event. Your participation will earn you a $25 virtual prepaid Mastercard® at the end of each summer you participate.

• We'll schedule no more than seven (7) Energy Savings Events each summer (from June 1 - August 31) and they'll never occur on weekends or holidays. Adjustments during an Energy Savings Event typically last 4 hours and occur between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

• If you already have an eligible smart thermostat, you will receive a one-time $50 Prepaid Mastercard after successfully enrolling in the program (one Prepaid Mastercard per household).

• If you need a smart thermostat, you will receive the $50 incentive as an instant rebate toward the purchase of your thermostat when you shop our Online Store.

• Once you enroll, you will be eligible for the $25 Prepaid Mastercard annual incentive after each summer you participate in the program.

To be eligible to enroll, you must:

• Be a Consumers Energy residential electric customer and the electric service is in your name.

• Have an eligible Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat in your home.

• Allow the program to make brief, small thermostat adjustments on days of high energy demand

• Not be currently participating in a disqualifying Consumers Energy rate or program

• If you already have an eligible smart thermostat, you will receive a one-time $50 Prepaid Mastercard after successfully enrolling in the program (one Prepaid Mastercard per household).

• If you need a smart thermostat, you will receive the $50 incentive as an instant rebate toward the purchase of your thermostat when you shop our Online Store.

• Once you enroll, you will be eligible for the $25 Prepaid Mastercard annual incentive after each summer you participate in the program.

You will receive your $50 Prepaid Mastercard within 4-6 weeks of being accepted into the program. The $50 Prepaid Mastercard will be sent to the email address used to register your smart thermostat.

You will receive one $25 Prepaid Mastercard per household after participation each summer. The $25 Prepaid Mastercard will be sent to the email address used to register your smart thermostat.

• If you have an existing thermostat, please select your thermostat among the eligible models. Then, click the Enroll Now button to go to your thermostat’s enrollment site, where you will follow a series of simple steps to enroll. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will be enrolled in the program.

• If you don’t have an existing eligible thermostat, check out the Consumers Energy Store for discounts on thermostats. You can purchase a pre-enrolled eligible thermostat on the marketplace. Once your thermostat is delivered, installed and hooked up to your in-home Wi-Fi, your enrollment in the program will be complete.

You will receive notification on your enrollment status via email using the email address provided in your account registration.

• On select hot summer days, Consumers Energy may call an Energy Savings Event. Events will occur on weekdays, typically between 10 am and 8 pm. and will last no longer than four hours. There will be a maximum of seven events in the summer. Events will not be scheduled during holidays or weekends.

• The Smart Thermostat Program will cool your home in the hours leading up to the event when the demand for energy is lower. This allows you to stay comfortable through the Energy Savings Event while minimizing the need to run your air conditioner.

• During the event, your air conditioner will run a little less than usual, but since we got your home to a comfortable temperature in advance, you shouldn’t notice much change. If the temperature drifts more than 2-3 degrees from your original setting, your air conditioner will turn on to get you back to a comfortable temperature.

Depending on your thermostat provider, notifications will also appear on the thermostat or in your web/mobile application. We may also email you using the email address on your account registration.

During an event, your thermostat will be adjusted by 2-3 degrees or less. Your participation is voluntary, and you will retain control of your thermostat. You can adjust your thermostat at any time to opt out.

Yes. During an event, you can opt out from your thermostat, mobile device or web app by simply adjusting your thermostat temperature back to your preferred settings.

Send an email to consumersenergy@energyhub.com requesting to end your participation in the program. Once you have been taken off the program, your thermostat(s) will no longer be enrolled and you will not receive the annual participation incentive.

Please email consumersenergy@energyhub.com.