This summer, you may be able to upgrade to a Wi-Fi thermostat and save energy to beat the heat with the newest addition to our PowerShift® program.

We have launched a new Wi-Fi thermostat option as part of PowerShift, a program that offers rebates for residential members of participating electric cooperatives served by Wabash Valley Power Alliance to shift their energy use to times when electricity is less expensive. The typical American family spends 20 percent of its budget on energy. As energy demand increases, such as peak times or during extreme weather conditions, costs for power plants to produce electricity can rise dramatically. PowerShift can help you shift your energy use to lower cost times, helping everyone save energy and keep costs low.

“PowerShift helps us to avoid the costs associated with building new power plants by minimizing the peak demand that is placed on the energy grid,” said Andrew Horstman, load response manager for Wabash Valley Power. “We are committed to doing what we can to ensure affordable rates, and PowerShift is a great resource to avoid unnecessary costs.”

Members of participating electric cooperatives who enroll in the new thermostat program will receive a $50 rebate, as well as an additional $25 annual payment for adding their Wi-Fi thermostat to the program. Members with eligible Wi-Fi thermostats already installed are already eligible for the PowerShift program and should have received a notification through their thermostat’s manufacturer’s notification platform. While most Wi-Fi thermostats will be eligible, there will be a few that are not; a complete list and details are available on our PowerShift page.

PowerShift is designed to minimize disruption and will pre-cool the home prior to any load shifting events. Events will only take place between noon and 9 p.m. EST during the week; never on weekends or holidays. The load shifting signals will not harm the thermostat or your air conditioner system and will not collect individual data.

“We offer several options so that residential members can participate in PowerShift in the way that they feel most comfortable,” Horstman said. “Our new Wi-Fi thermostat program is one more way, and the thermostat rebate is a great incentive for people who have been interested in upgrading to a Wi-Fi thermostat.”