Coloradans Unable to Set Their Own Thermostats

By Ophelia Garrett

In Brief: 

Last week, thousands of Colorado residents were in for an unpleasant surprise when they attempted to adjust their home thermostats. Xcel, the thermostat company had commandeered their controls and owners were unable to adjust their own air below 78 degrees.

The Background: 

Smart thermostat company Xcel offers an energy saving program to its customers. They incentivize with a $100 credit for enrolling in the program and $25 annually. While voluntary, customers also agree to give up some control to save energy and money and make the system more reliable. This allows Xcel to “ease the strain on the electrical grid” during the “hottest summer days,” reports Daily Wire.

Last week, 22,000 Coloradoans were displeased to find they were no longer in control of their own thermostats. Xcel had decided to lighten the load on the power grid and set thermostats to go no lower than 78. Residents reported temperatures soaring to the high 80’s indoors. 

Notable Quotes: 

“Right now it's a voluntary program, but just wait until it's a government-declared ‘climate emergency’ so the government has to gain access to your thermostat. It always starts as voluntary. It's a private company. But we've never seen the government even hesitate to abuse technology from a private company for its own ends.” –Not The Bee