Smart home company Ecobee launched a new feature for its thermostats today that will automatically adjust temperatures to save energy when there’s a risk of a power outage. And unlike some utilities’ energy saving programs, customers will always be able to opt out with Ecobee. Sudden spikes in electricity demand, often triggered by people cranking up their air conditioning during a heatwave, can lead to power outages.
The thermostat will adjust a small amount, between one and four degrees, for no more than four hours. The feature is designed for customers who haven’t enrolled in a similar program with their utility. The idea is that many homes taking a small action adds up to a big impact on the grid, smoothing out demand peaks and preempting a power outage. It’s a tactic called demand response that’s supposed to help power grids get more resilient to increasingly extreme weather.