Computer_Nerd

Dominion has a $40/yr rebate offering for installing an outdoor switch that cycles an ac heat pump during summer and it's only offered in limited areas. If it's light is red in color that means that it is "cycling" during a power event. You can press the button to override 2x/yr and still get your rebate.

http://www.dom.com/dominion-virginia...ng-rewards.jsp

Posting up the info for those interested in Central where it is offered primarily in Richmond city and southside. Not offered in Henrico/West End.

IMSHAKN

I used to get a $4/month credit for having a similar device on my water heater. Shame they discontinued that program because it never affect me. I'll look into this, but I'm not too keen on it. I use a programmable thermostat and keep the house at 80 during the day. I have scheduled to start cooling at 4 so that the house is cool when I get home...not sure how this program would affect the recovery time.

Frost

It will drastically increase cool-down time and make the house warm on the weekends during the hottest part of the day when you are home.

Computer_Nerd

BGE in Maryland has $6.25 credit for 8 months per year for the hot water heater one, also getting that one installed at my house in Maryland, along with a Honeywell web-programmable thermostat that they will provide (with $200 credit first year, $100 for each o next 4 years).

Weekday afternoons in summer are the only affected times with 2 allowed overrides per year. Any more manual overrides and no credit issued at the end of September's bill. Seems like a decent program, or at least a start for one.

Niburu

Which will in all likelyhood will shorten the life of the unit, and since it's running longer may cost you more in power usage in the long run despite running in off-peak hours.

Frost

Nice to see the weekend is excluded.

This may well still cost all owners more than it saves. It's to help the power company during peak time though, not to help the power-customer's wallet. The power company suffers more line losses when load is high. Those losses are theirs.

Why not just use a scheduled stat?

Computer_Nerd

Not really. The cycling thing is max'd at 4hrs and uses far less energy since the whole purpose if to reduce consumption during those events. You are right that it would use more power after the event to "catch up" to cool the house to preset temp.

My neighbors in MD has had it for 4 years, they've never noticed any change at all, his wife works from home, too.

Figured I'd post it for those looking to reduce their bills.

Computer_Nerd

i use one of those already. the incentive in MD was far greater, plus i can check it online and reset or override as well as program the scheduled thermostat. great when i have to scoot at work and be gone for a week at a time and forget to dial it back.

Big Sexy

These things cause the windings in the condenser fan motor and compressor to burn up. Im not sure why yet b/c I'm not the best service tech but we see it a lot. Changing a compressor costs way more than the cunt hair of money you'll save installing one.

IMSHAKN

Since the program is just starting, how could you be seeing a lot of repairs due to this device? And if you're not sure why they are causing the failures, then how do you know that these devices are the cause? I would give your statement more credibility if you could connect the dots.