City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., has launched CU Peak Rewards, a new voluntary program designed to reduce electric usage during peak times, such as periods of extreme weather.
The program aims to delay the need to generate additional electricity to meet high demands -- helping keep service reliable and affordable for our community.
“CU Peak Rewards is a simple way for customers to get rewarded for saving energy. When demand is expected to peak, typically during extreme heat or cold, City Utilities will notify participating customers of a Peak Rewards event,” it said.
During this time, City Utilities will make minor adjustments to enrolled smart thermostats for a short period of time, no more than 3 degrees and for up to 4 hours, to help reduce overall electric usage across the system.
In return, customers will receive a $50 incentive for enrolling their eligible smart thermostat in the program and an additional $25 annually for continued participation.
“Peak times—like hot summer afternoons or freezing winter mornings—put a lot of pressure on our system,” said Marsha McClanahan, Director-Energy Services. “By working together, we can reduce that strain, prolonging the need for more electric generation resources to meet high demands, and help our community conserve energy when it matters most.”
Participation in this program is completely voluntary, and participants may opt out of an event at any time by adjusting their smart thermostats to their desired temperature. City Utilities will never adjust thermostat settings on non-event days and participants will also be notified of upcoming events, it said.
While supplies last, customers can receive a free smart thermostat for enrolling in the program.
