Just like roads at rush hour, the electric grid experiences moments of high traffic, or demand. Electricity is most expensive when demand for it is greatest. We are launching a new program called Connect to Save as a way to work together to lessen electric demand during high traffic times.
Connect to Save makes access to name-brand smart thermostats affordable. Market leading brands, including ecobee, Honeywell, and Google Nest, can be purchased for as little as $25. We will install the thermostat for free, and you will receive a $50 incentive for each year you participate in the program.
Upon enrollment, CCEC will minimally adjust your thermostat during high-traffic periods. This small action multiplied across hundreds, or even thousands of homes will create substantial savings on wholesale power costs. (Check out the FAQs). Because we are an at-cost electricity provider, savings on wholesale power flow directly to you and our entire cooperative membership.
This forward-thinking approach will allow our members to work together to reduce energy use and costs for our entire cooperative,” said Jake Joplin, CEO & General Manager of CCEC. “It’s another great example of the cooperative difference in action, and we look forward to helping our members make the most of its benefits.”
You can further help by including your electric water heater in Connect to Save.Taking this step will turn your water heater into a smart device, allowing you to monitor and manage its energy use. Your water heater is often the second largest household user of electricity, after heating and cooling. By adding your water heater to the program, you’ll get an additional $50 after successful installation.
By joining your friends and neighbors, we can collectively improve smart energy use, which helps to keep costs low and benefits everyone. Visit connecttosavenc.com to learn more about the program and enroll, or call 844-577.SAVE to talk to a Connect to Save team member.
Already a Connect to Save member?
Thank you for participating in Connect to Save. Since launching Connect to Save in 2020, the more than 2,000 participating members have save the entire cooperative membership more than $170,000 in power costs! Reducing peak demand is good for your wallet, good for the electric grid and good for the environment. Encourage your friends and neighbors to participate! The more members that participate, the more we all can save.
Device Disconnected?
A change in your home internet provider or router can interrupt service to your Connect to Save device. Reconnecting your device to wi-fi is easy - just click on the instructions below for your CTS device. If you need additional assistance, please contact Connect to Save at 844-577-SAVE.
Carina Water Heater Controller
Rebates
If your electric water heater has been around for more than a decade, it might be time for a replacement. To help you make that decision, consider that the cooperative is offering a $300 rebate this year for a qualified heat pump (hybrid) water heater purchased and installed in your home.
While these water heaters typically cost $2,000-plus, with the rebate you will not only save money toward your purchase, but you will save energy by replacing an older, energy-hogging water heater. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates an annual savings of about $300 a year for a family of four.
The chart uses $2,000 as the average heat-pump water heater cost and $1,300 as the average traditional water heater cost.
Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse.
While a refrigerator pulls heat from inside a box and dumps it into the surrounding room, a stand-alone air-source heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air and dumps it -- at a higher temperature -- into a tank to heat water. You can purchase a stand-alone heat pump water heating system as an integrated unit with a built-in water storage tank and back-up resistance heating elements.
