Smart Savers Rewards FAQ

• United Illuminating (UI’s) voluntary demand response program is designed to reward you for reducing your electricity use during periods of high demand for electricity, while helping the environment and reliability of the electricity grid.

• Participants agree to brief, limited events which adjust their thermostats during peak electric demand periods from June 1 through September 30 on non-holiday weekdays. You can anticipate at least one event, and a maximum of up to 15 adjustments per summer. Peak demand periods typically occur on hot, humid days.

• UI electricity customers who have installed a qualifying connected thermostat controlling their central air conditioning system are eligible.

• Participants will receive a $35 virtual prepaid Mastercard® per device after being accepted into the program and a $25 Prepaid Mastercard per device at the end of the summer season for participating.

The program:

• Supports Connecticut’s energy initiatives.

• Protects our environment by lowering emissions.

• Helps reduce the cost of peak energy in our region.

To be eligible to enroll, you must meet the following qualifications:

• You are a UI electric customer, but not enrolled in the UI Smart AC Program.

• You use your thermostat to control your working central air conditioning.

• You have an installed, eligible internet-connected thermostat.

Participants will receive an $35 Prepaid Mastercard per device after being accepted into the program within four to six weeks.

• You will receive a $25 Prepaid Mastercard per device at the end of the summer season for participating. This will be emailed to you within four to six weeks after the season has concluded.

• To qualify for the $25 participation incentive you must enroll prior to September 1st of this year.

Below is the current list of qualifying thermostats.

You can find the program terms and conditions for all thermostat providers below:

• Confirm your eligibility for the Smart Savers Rewards program with these three questions:

  1. Are you an United Illuminating customer?

  2. Do you use your thermostat to control your central air conditioning?

  3. Will you allow United Illuminating to make short, low impact thermostat adjustments on high energy usage days?

• If you confirm these three questions, please choose whether you have an internet-connected thermostat to enroll in Smart Savers Rewards or if you would like to purchase an existing thermostat.

• If you have an existing thermostat, please select your thermostat among the eligible models. If you don’t have an existing eligible thermostat, please choose a model, purchase and install it. Once you have installed and activated, come back to enroll your new thermostat in Smart Savers Rewards.

• Click the Enroll Now button to go to your thermostat’s enrollment site, where you’ll follow a series of simple steps to enroll.

• Once your eligibility is confirmed by United Illuminating, you will be enrolled in the program. You will receive notification on your eligibility status in your email.

Depending on your thermostat provider, notifications may appear on the thermostat or in your web or mobile application.

• At the start of an event, your thermostat will be automatically adjusted up to 4 degrees above the current temperature.

• The adjustment will typically last no more than 4 hours, and will occur between 2 and 7 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays.

• Once the adjustment event is over, your thermostat will return to its normal set point and/or schedule.

• In some cases, your thermostat might be adjusted down 2 degrees prior to an adjustment event to pre-cool your home or business.

• You can opt out of an event at any time from your mobile device, web browser, or thermostat. For the majority of devices, when you opt out of the pre-cool, you are also opting out of the temperature adjustment. If you own an ecobee device, you must also opt out of the temperature adjustment.

Adjustments events will only affect the temperature by a few degrees, with minimal impact on comfort. And you can easily opt out of an event at any time, for any reason. Your participation is voluntary.

Yes. At any time during an event, you can opt out from your thermostat, mobile device, or web app.

For the majority of devices, when you opt out of the pre-cool, you are also opting out of the temperature adjustment. If you own an ecobee device, you must also opt out of the temperature adjustment.

Send an email to ui@energyhub.com requesting to end your participation in the Smart Savers Rewards program. Unenrolling from the program will end your participation for all your enrolled thermostats.

You can reach out to ui@energyhub.com.