Enabling Load Shift and Customer Comfort Through Smart Thermostats

Time of use (TOU) rates are important tools for utilities as they encourage customers to shift load away from peak hours and reduce the need for increased capacity. But for a customer just beginning to think about their energy usage, new rates can be perplexing. Alabama Power Company (APC) wanted to make it easy for customers to get the most out of their TOU rate while also maximizing comfort.

APC launched the Smart Advantage Program in 2021 to do just this. Customers can use their technology enabled smart thermostats to align their energy use with their rate plan through a Time-of-Use optimization program and most importantly, keep home temperatures within their preferred ranges. In the summer of 2021, customers achieved between 9% to 14% peak load shift on average compared to 1-2% of average TOU load shift.

Watch the webinar to learn how your utility can respond better to changing demands on load and increase flexibility as we transition to a net zero grid, all while making it easy for customers to save money.