Nanny State Test: Company Locks Thermostats of 22K Customers, Cites 'Energy Emergency'

[TBoneTX 45,572]

Nanny State Test: Company Locks Thermostats of 22K Customers, Cites 'Energy Emergency'

 

[...] for some 22,000 Xcel Energy customers in Colorado who wanted to be a little more comfortable on Tuesday when the thermometer was pegged at 90+ degrees, a bizarre message flashed on their thermostats indicating they'd lost the ability to control the temperature in their own homes.  [...]

 

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/ryanledendecker/2022/09/01/nanny-state-test-company-locks-thermostats-of-22k-customers-cites-energy-emergency-n1625953

[Mike E 11,741]

FTA:

 

“Temperature locked temporarily during energy emergency. Due to a rare energy emergency that may affect the local energy grid, your temperature slider has been changed from 8:00 pm – 8:00 pm because you enrolled in a Community Energy Savings Program,” the full message read.”

So to save money they signed away control of their climate control system away to big brother. That’s on them. 
 

“Normally, when we see a message like that, we’re able to override it,” Talarico said, according to KMGH-TV. “In this case, we weren’t. So, our thermostat was locked in at 78 or 79.””

 

We live in Arizona. 78 is what we set the temperature to when we are sleeping. 82 when we wake.  90 for 4 hours 3pm-7pm when peak electricity rates kick in. 
 

A couple nights ago, 78 with the ceiling fan on low was so cold that my wife grabbed a blanket.  
 

Buy a ceiling fan.  

[TBoneTX 45,572]

Ceiling fans merely recirculate hot air.

 

I keep my A/C thermostat on 72, and lower it when I'm lawn-mowing and need to recover.

 

It's far more humid in most of Texas than in most of Arizona.

Edited September 2, 2022 by TBoneTX

[Mike E 11,741]

5 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Ceiling fans merely recirculate hot air.

   

 

From the wiki article on ceiling fans:

 

”Fans do not reduce air temperature or relative humidity, unlike air-conditioning equipment but create a cooling effect by helping to evaporate sweat and increase heat exchange via convection. ”

 

 

 

Quote

 

I keep my A/C thermostat on 72, and lower it when I'm lawn-mowing and need to recover.

 

It's far more humid in most of Texas than in most of Arizona.

July and August  are monsoon seasons in Arizona.  Most long term residents complain about the humidity but for whatever reason (probably the ceiling fans) it hasn’t bothered me.
 

 It’s a good thing air conditioners are also dehumidifiers. You can also get a dehumidifier to more efficiently remove humidity from the air than an A/C. 
 

Regardless the OP was about Colorado, which is also a summer monsoon state and can experience day time highs in the upper 90s to low 100s.  When I lived in Colorado I admittedly didn’t have or use a ceiling fan, and kept day time temperatures at 78 and night time at 73. Nothing what I know now from living in AZ, I would have yore’s both of those by 5 degrees.  I did however have a whole house fan as the air temperature drops significantly after sunset.  
 

But regardless I would not hand control over my AC and thermostat to the utility.  

[Dashinka 24,632]

Our electric company here has a similar program.  They push it hugely, I like my old manual thermostat.  The big question is when will the Democrats mandate this control?

Edited September 2, 2022 by Dashinka

[Mike E 11,741]

4 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Our electric company here has a similar program.  They push it hugely, I like my old manual thermostat.  The big question is when will the Democrats mandate this control?

Less than year I think.  
 

The 5th amendment says the government would have to provide just compensation if it seizes ownership (or let’s your utility seize) of your hvac.  How fast scotus would get the case and rule is anyone’s guess.  

Edited September 2, 2022 by Mike E

[Dashinka 24,632]

5 hours ago, Mike E said:

Less than year I think.  
 

The 5th amendment says the government would have to provide just compensation if it seizes ownership (or let’s your utility seize) of your hvac.  How fast scotus would get the case and rule is anyone’s guess.  

What is just compensation for comfort?

[TBoneTX 45,572]

17 hours ago, Mike E said:

Fans [...] create a cooling effect

In theory, but not inreality when they're merely blowing hot air around.

6 hours ago, Dashinka said:

What is just compensation for comfort?

You vill submit to Saving the Planet, comrade.

[Mike E 11,741]

3 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

In theory, but not inreality when they're merely blowing hot air around.

lol well fell free to remote the fans from your car radiator and electronics 

[TBoneTX 45,572]

If it saves the planet, will do so immediately!