Maximizing Energy Savings This Summer

As Texas weather prepares to transition from spring to summer, and with the possibility of warmer, drier weather offering little reprieve on energy usage in between them, United’s Energy Solutions Team is gearing up for the summer heat.

Rising temperatures can take a toll on summer electric bills and on the Texas electric grid. However, United and its members can help to lessen the stress on the grid while also lowering energy costs for the upcoming year. 

Each year, a portion of United’s power costs are calculated based on the co-op’s overall energy demand during the ERCOT peaks in June, July, August and September. If United can predict and shed load during the peak ERCOT usage period for each summer month, then such energy usage management can lead to significant savings for the following year (12 months). 

“It is extremely challenging to correctly predict when the ERCOT peaks will occur during the four summer months,” said Blake Beavers, chief membership services officer. “We are trying to identify the highest 15-minute usage interval for the entire month before it transpires. When the heat sets in, and we have a long stretch of days exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a new peak could be set each day.” 

The graphic below shows the dates and times of the 2024 summer peaks along with the high temperatures of each day. 

United does welcome and solicit help from the membership to shed load during the ERCOT peaks, Beavers said. The more United members collectively participate in the programs, the more they ultimately assist in lowering the cooperative’s and members’ overall energy costs. Below are two ways members can help save energy and energy dollars.

Bring Your Own Thermostat Program
Bring Your Own Thermostat Program (BYOT) is a program developed for United’s residential members to reduce usage during peak periods. 

United residential members with a qualifying Nest or Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat can opt into United’s BYOT through United’s website. There is an enrollment link for each manufacturer. Members should note some models are not compatible or eligible for enrollment in the program. To see if your model is compatible, or for more information about enrollment, please click here. 

What to Expect During a Peak
During a projected peak usage event, a participating member’s thermostat will automatically tune temperatures to reduce energy usage and lower grid costs. 

Nest thermostats will pre-cool the home an hour ahead of time and then tweak the temperature up a few degrees from the normal set point when the event starts. This will reduce the runtime during the peak times. United typically uses participating Nest thermostats for approximately an hour and 45 minutes to two hours.

United schedules shorter events for Honeywell thermostats because they do not possess pre-cooling capabilities. Typically, United uses Honeywell thermostats for approximately an hour during peak times. Like Nest thermostats, Honeywell thermostats raise the temperature a few degrees from the set point when the event begins, minimizing energy use during the  scheduled event. If needed, members can override the scheduled event and adjust the temperature—they retain complete control of their thermostat.

Below are the program rules:

• There will be no more than 20, three-hour events each summer. 

• Events can occur anytime between 3-8 p.m. on week days or weekends.

• There will only be one event called per day, and there will never be more than four events per week. 

• The program period spans four months of summer from June 1 to Sept. 30.

Incentives
For decades, United has actively supported its members’ energy innovation efforts through various incentives. United’s BYOT program began in 2016 with just Nest.  Members who enrolled a Nest thermostat in 2016 and who have remained enrolled through today, have received nearly $600 in monetary incentives from United.

United reviews its energy innovation incentives annually and occasionally requests a more comprehensive analysis by an industry consulting firm. Recently, an independent, third-party entity provided United with a detailed cost-benefit analysis to confirm that all energy innovation programs remain cost-justified. The estimated energy savings of each offering is a crucial factor to consider. The evaluation included analyses from both the member’s perspective and that of the entire cooperative, ensuring a holistic review of each offering.

As in years past, United is offering a $50 rebate for new purchases of Nest and Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats. A rebate application must be filled out and sent to United, along with a proof of purchase. To qualify, the member must send in the rebate application within 60 days of purchasing the thermostat. 

After enrolling the thermostat in United’s BYOT, the member will receive a $10 bill credit for each of the four months they are enrolled (June, July, August and September). If the member has multiple thermostats enrolled, they will receive $10 for each thermostat enrolled per month. The bill credit will be applied the following month. For example, if they are enrolled for June, the member will receive the bill credit in July. 

Beat the Peak
While separate from United’s BYOT, Beat the Peak is a voluntary program that alerts United members by text or email to reduce load during possible peak-demand periods. Alerts also are announced on United’s Facebook page and X account (formerly Twitter). 

Members can sign up for this program through United’s website, and enrolled members receive alerts that give the expected peak time frame for that day. During peak periods, members are advised to turn off unnecessary lights and delay using major appliances until the alert time has passed. These appliances include clothes dryers, ovens, stove tops and dishwashers, pool pumps and electric car chargers. Members also are encouraged to raise the thermostat a few degrees—the optimum being 78 degrees during the summer. 

Members do not receive direct monetary compensation for participating in Beat the Peak. However, by performing these actions, the cooperative’s overall usage drops. As a nonprofit entity, United then passes energy savings on to its entire membership through reduced power costs.

United welcomes the opportunity to help members find ways to waste less energy. For additional information on United’s Bring Your Own Thermostat Program and Beat the Peak, or to learn about any of our other energy savings programs, please contact a United office today.