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I have ecobee thermostats that I’m generally happy with - HomeKit integration, seemingly comprehensive privacy controls, overall well designed and functional -

I have ecobee thermostats that I’m generally happy with - HomeKit integration, seemingly comprehensive privacy controls, overall well designed and functional - but they have all kinds of dark patterns designed to force you into these programs. And you really have to go in to a bunch of different settings to excise the utility’s ability to take over your thermostat if you’ve happened to opt in. I think demand reduction is generally a great idea, but considering what that two degree increase is saving your utility, there really ought to be a 50/50 split of savings than kicking back a pittance of $25 a year.

mhb 3y ago
It would be interesting (better?) if it was a market in which homes with these thermostats could set prices at which they are willing to reduce energy use.
- nocoiner 3y ago
  100% agree. Actually, 99% agree. In Texas, up until one of our recent power debacles, there was a retail energy provider whose schtick was passing through spot rates to retail customers. Normally this was a small fraction (30%) of typical retail pricing. Until the grid went under stress, spot prices skyrocketed, and retail customers who opted into that limited-upside potentially-unlimited-downside plan were paying something like 10,000% of typical pricing. To quote a former Texas governor who forgot which cabinet agencies he wanted to eliminate, “Oops.” I’m not sure how something like that could happen with what you suggest, but I’m a little wary of unanticipated consequences so as to degrade my degree of confidence slightly given recent events.