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These terms and conditions relate to Southern California Edison Company’s (SCE) Smart Energy Program.
Eligibility & Requirements
In order to qualify for the Smart Energy Program, you must have enabling technology authorized by SCE for direct participation in energy events. Presently, Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostats controlling a working central air conditioning system (central A/C) are the only enabling technology available for participation in the Smart Energy Program. You must enroll your qualifying new or existing smart thermostat in the program through a Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Provider (i.e., Energy Hub, Nest Labs or Whisker Labs). Please note that the Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Provider may refer to this program as the Smart Energy Program or use a different brand name (e.g., Rush Hour Rewards). You must also meet the following eligibility requirements.
Requirements to Register Your Qualifying Thermostat with an Authorized Smart Thermostat Service Provider:
- You must have a Qualified Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat connected to a working central A/C
- You must have an internet connection
Smart Energy Program Requirements:
- You must be a Residential “Bundled Service” customer with an eligible Edison SmartConnect® meter.
- You must receive service under rate schedule D, D-CARE, D-FERA, TOU-D or TOU-D-T
- You must not be enrolled in any of the following programs, rate schedules, rate options, or services:
- Demand Response programs or rates offered by Non-Utility Demand Response Service Providers
- All types of Medical Baseline Allocations
- Critical Peak Pricing (CPP)
- Domestic Multiple (DM)
- Domestic Multiple Service 1 (DMS-1)
- Domestic Multiple Service 2 (DMS-2)
- Domestic Multiple Service 3 (DMS-3)
- Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Service
- Direct Access (DA) Service
- Summer Discount Plan
Participation Period
Eligible customers may elect to opt-in or opt-out from the program at any time by contacting their Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Provider, and the change will be effective within three business days. Customers may also call SCE to opt-out from the program.
$75 Smart Energy Program Sign-Up Bonus
SCE offers a one-time sign-up bonus of $75 to customers who enroll in the Smart Energy Program through a Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Provider. The sign-up bonus is provided to customers, in the form of a bill credit, following successful enrollment.To qualify for the $75 sign-up bonus, the following conditions apply:
- The sign-up bonus is for new enrollments and available until funding is exhausted.
- Customers previously enrolled in the Smart Energy Program for the same service account will be ineligible for the sign-up bonus.
- If your service account closes or you disenroll from the Smart Energy Program before SCE can process any portion of the sign up bonus, your sign up bonus will be cancelled.
- Sign-up bonuses are limited to one per service account and will not exceed $75. Enrolling multiple smart thermostats for the same account will not increase your sign-up bonus amount.
- Customers who have more than one service account (e.g., a second home) and enroll in the program may be eligible for more than one sign-up bonus.
- SCE will not pay a sign-up bonus for a thermostat that SCE has already previously paid for. This includes payment to any previous owner of the thermostat. SCE will monitor this by the thermostat serial number.
- Customers who received their thermostat from an SCE program (e.g., the residential direct install program) are not eligible for the $75 sign-up bonus.
- Bill credits will be processed within one to two billing cycles
Smart Energy Program Events
Smart Energy Program events (“energy events”) may be called in response to emergencies, overworked electrical grids, high wholesale energy prices, or for testing purposes. Energy events can occur anytime throughout the year for a duration of up to four-hours per event. Multiple events may be called in the same calendar day; however, the total number of event hours will not exceed a maximum duration of four hours in a calendar day.The total number of hours that can be called in a calendar year is 180 hours. When an energy event is called, SCE will notify your Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Provider 20 minutes prior to the event start time.Your Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Provider will notify you of the event and may adjust the temperature setting to reduce A/C usage during the event. You always have the option to override by re-adjusting your temperature setting based on your comfort and choice during an energy event. However, customers who override all events dispatched in a calendar year may be removed from the program.
Smart Energy Program Bill Credits
Customers can earn up to $40 in bill credits annually for their enrollment on the Smart Energy Program.This bill credit will be provided to customers who maintain enrollment in the program from June 1 through September 30. Disbursement of credits will coincide with customer scheduled bill periods. Customers who enroll after June 1 or disenroll prior to September 30 will have their credits pro-rated to the summer season days with which they were actively enrolled in the program.Customers will earn $0.3275 per summer season day.
Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Providers
Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Providers authorized by SCE for this program are EnergyHub, Nest Labs, Simple, Venstar, Whisker Labs, and Zen Ecosystems. SCE does not endorse, qualify or guarantee, and is not responsible or liable for the products or services offered by the Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Providers. Customers who choose to participate in this program are not obligated to purchases any additional goods or services.
Minimum Usage Eligibility Requirement
Customers participating in the Smart Energy Program must register the use of a minimum of 1.5 kWh, one hour before or after the energy event at least once in a calendar year to remain eligible to participate in the Smart Energy Program.
SCE will conduct an annual review of customer’s electric usage by no later than January 31 of each calendar year. At the annual review time, any customer who does not meet the minimum usage requirement may be removed from SEP and must wait 12 months before re-enrolling in SEP again.
Complete Tariff Information
This information is meant as an aid to understanding SCE’s Smart Energy Program. It does not replace the CPUC-approved tariffs. Any inconsistencies between this material and SCE’s tariffs are unintended, and the tariffs prevail. Please refer to Schedule SEP Smart Energy Program in SCE’s Tariff Books for a complete list of terms and conditions of service.
This program is funded by SCE utility ratepayers and administered by SCE under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The selection, purchase and ownership of any goods and services are the sole responsibility of the customer.
© 2019 Southern California Edison, Smart Connect, EnergyHub, Nest Labs, Venstar, Inc., Whisker Labs, and Zen Ecosystems are registered trademarks of their respective companies. All rights reserved.
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What is the purpose of the Smart Energy Program?
The Smart Energy Program is one of several Demand Response programs offered by SCE to help our customers lower their energy costs, while also contributing to the reliability of the grid.
Can I join the Smart Energy Program if I don’t have a central air conditioner?
No.Customers must have a qualifying smart thermostat setup to control a central A/C.
Can I cancel my enrollment at any time?
You can disenroll from the program at any time; however, please consider that this program does provide the option to override any event at any time. Overriding a few events during the year instead of disenrolling from the program is a win-win solution for all. You still can provide valuable energy reduction during periods where you may have greater flexibility with your A/C usage while continuing to earn bill credits on the program.
Can a customer enrolled in Summer Discount Plan (SDP) enroll in the Smart Energy Program?
Customers cannot dual participate in both programs because both programs control the same energy load and can be called at the same time. SCE cannot double pay customers for the same load reduction.
How do I enroll?
Once you install a qualifying smart thermostat, you may sign up for the Smart Energy Program through one of our Qualified Smart Thermostat Service Providers (i.e., EnergyHub, Nest Labs, and Whisker Labs).
What triggers an energy event?
We may call an energy event in response to emergencies, overworked electrical grids, high wholesale energy prices, or as part of testing.
Will I know how long an event is supposed to last?
Your smart thermostat service provider should provide you with details of the event duration. SCE also offers an SCE DR Alerts Mobile App that can notify you anytime a Smart Energy Program event is activated. You can download the SCE DR Alerts Mobile App at no charge from the App Store® and Google Play store™. You can download this app at any time and configure the app to receive notices of Smart Energy Program events.
Can you pre-cool my home?
SCE does not offer a pre-cooling feature as part of the program however, depending on when your smart thermostat service provider notifies you of energy events, you may choose to pre-cool on your own prior to a scheduled energy event. SCE also offers free courtesy alerts via the SCE DR Alerts Mobile App. Customers who are setup to receive courtesy notices via the app may receive notifications as early as three hours in advance.
Why do I get the daily bill credit rate of $0.3275 only from June 1 through September 30?
Energy events can occur at any time, year-round. We anticipate that most will occur during the summer, when A/C usage is highest. We apply the bill credits from June 1 through September 30 to help lower your bill during this time.
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Why does SCE need to have a minimum usage eligibility requirement?
Establishing a minimum usage eligibility requirement helps improve the effectiveness of the program by identifying and removing customers who are not able to demonstrate A/C usage reduction. The Smart Energy Program rewards customers who show A/C reduction when there is a need to conserve energy. These savings can be reallocated to other programs or services that may benefit SCE customers.
How did SCE determine the minimum usage eligibility requirement of 1.5 kWh?
SCE has evaluated hourly energy usage information for customers with air conditioning enrolled in a demand response program. SCE identified that customers with usage consistently below 1.5 kWh in the hour before or after events were dispatched, did not provide energy load reduction. Customers with usage of 1.5 kWh or greater do exhibit energy load reduction. SCE concluded that 1.5 kWh is an accurate threshold to determine A/C usage reduction.
Does SCE only evaluate the energy usage from my A/C?
Air Conditioners are not individually metered. Therefore, SCE must rely on whole house usage data to evaluate performance towards the minimum usage eligibility requirement. SCE considers this fact to have no negative impact on customers with regard to evaluating performance towards the minimum usage eligibility requirement.
My neighbor has a larger A/C unit than I do, why do we have the same minimum usage eligibility requirement?
SCE did not deem it necessary to establish different minimum usage eligibility requirements per customer. The 1.5 kWh minimum usage eligibility requirement is an accurate metric for A/C usage reduction determination and is conservatively set by only requiring customers to meet the threshold once per calendar year in the hour before or after, during energy events. If customers do run the A/C in the hour before or hour after an event, meeting the 1.5 kWh usage threshold should not be an issue.
Do customers participating in the Net Energy Metering (NEM) program have a different minimum usage eligibility requirement?
The analysis which established the minimum usage eligibility requirement of 1.5 kWh did not reveal a concern with NEM customers. SCE anticipates the NEM customers with A/C usage reduction will meet the minimum usage eligibility requirement in the late evening, once the sun sets and much of the usage demand is transferred back to SCE’s electric power grid.
What happens if I do not meet the minimum usage eligibility requirement?
Customers who do not meet the minimum usage eligibility requirement at least once in a calendar year, in the hour before or hour after energy events, will be removed from the program and must wait one year to re-enroll into SEP again.
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How will I know I was approved for the sign-up bonus?
SCE will send an email to all customers who successfully enroll in the Smart Energy Program indicating whether or not they qualify for the $75 sign-up bonus.
How will the $75 sign-up bonus reflect on the bill?
The sign up bonus will be displayed as a miscellaneous adjustment within the “Your Account Summary” section of the bill.
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SCE residential customers who purchase and install a Qualified Smart Thermostat may be eligible for a one-time Energy Efficiency (EE) rebate of $50.
SCE EE Smart Thermostat Rebate Terms and Conditions:
- All Smart Thermostats must be:
- Purchased New;
- Installed in a fully constructed dwelling in SCE’s service area;
- Installed in a single family home, apartment or condominium with an active SCE service account at the time of installation (“Installation Address”); and
- Designed to reduce energy consumption at the Installation Address.
- Smart Thermostats must meet the requirements specified below in order to be eligible for an EE Rebate:
- Must be purchased and installed between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
- Must be in full compliance with ENERGYSTAR program requirements and product specification for Connected Thermostats products Version 1 or later.
- Must control heating, or ventilation, or air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment to regulate the temperature of the room or space in which it is installed.
- Must have the ability to make automated adjustments to the set point of the HVAC system based on occupancy data, weather data, or HVAC performance data (or some of this data) or combination of these parameters to optimize heating and cooling around occupancy and/or HVAC equipment operation.
- Must have the ability to communicate with sources external to the HVAC system.
- May rely on a home area network (e.g. Wi-Fi) and an internet connection that is independent of the Smart Thermostat.
- Must remain in operation for a minimum of 9.1 years.
- The following conditions do not qualify for a rebate from Southern California Edison for Smart Thermostats:
- Mechanical, Non-Programmable, Manual and Digital Thermostats.
- Customers who already received any portion of an energy efficiency rebate for their smart thermostat by either SCE or SoCalGas.
- Rebates not paid/passed through to the customer by the installer, contractor, retailer, distributor or other party offering the SCE Point of Sale Instant Rebates.
- Rebates incorrectly applied to the customer or invoice by the installer, contractor, retailer, distributor or other party offering the SCE Point of Sale Instant Rebates.
- There is a limit of Limit one EE Smart Thermostat rebate per household.
- The product(s) is or will be installed and fully functional. All uses herein of the words “install”, “installation”, or similar phrases shall mean complete installation such that the subject products are fully functional.
- A complete application and all other required documentation including legible Proof(s) of Purchase, must be submitted through Marketplace or by email to SCE no later than January 31, 2020
- HEER is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and is effective until funding is expended or the program is discontinued by the California Public Utilities Commission. The program is funded by California utility customers and is administered by Southern California Edison under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
- Under California law, models of certain types of appliances must be certified by the California Energy Commission before being sold or offered for sale in California. Before purchasing an appliance, search for your desired model in the Energy Commission’s database. View the database
- Some products in the Energy Commission’s database are not eligible for SCE rebates because they do not meet our high energy-efficiency requirements.
- The HEER Program may be modified or terminated without prior notice.
- In the event that rebate terms change, the order/purchase date will be used to determine product eligibility and the application received date (or the date the completed online application was received) will be used to determine rebate amount, if any.
- Products cannot be installed at a P.O. Box address.
- If requested, additional supporting documentation or missing documentation must be received within 30 days of receiving notice from SCE.
- All rebates will be paid via a Bill Credit to the SCE Service Account where the product was installed.
- If a bill credit is approved, it will be applied only if the Service Account remains active for the Installation Address at the time the bill credit is issued.
- If a bill credit is approved and the Service Account does not remains active, a check will be mailed to the Account Holder of the Service Account address on this application.
- Bill credits are generally applied four to six weeks after SCE determines that an application is complete, and all requirements have been met, provided that there are sufficient rebate funds remaining.
- SCE reserves the right to select any Application for inspection/verification. If an Application is selected for inspection/verification, additional time may be required before a rebate bill credit is applied to the Service Account.
- If an inspection is requested:
- Customer agrees to allow (or, if Customer is not a current occupant at the Installation Address, Customer will arrange for the current occupant to allow) SCE and/or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) representative(s) reasonable access to the Installation Address to verify installation of the qualifying product purchased, either before or after payment of a rebate.
- A rebate will not be paid if the occupant at the Installation Address refuses to participate in any required inspection/verification.
- If Customer (and/or the occupant of the Installation Address) refuses to participate in or fail any required inspection/verification after receiving a rebate, Customer may be required to repay to SCE the amount of any rebate received (or if a bill credit was issued, the credit may be reversed).
- The inspection/verification of installation must be scheduled within 30 days of customer contact by SCE. Customer understands that SCE may contact the qualifying product vendor and/or installer to verify purchase and/or installation and may provide my name and/or address to complete this inspection/verification.
- SCE reserves the right to reject any incomplete Applications.
- Customer represents that they have installed a qualifying product(s) and understand the energy-efficiency level of the qualifying product(s) determines the rebate amount.
- The rebate amount may not exceed the purchase price.
- Customer understands and agrees that Customer may not receive a rebate for the same product from more than one California investor- owned utility or third-party energy efficiency program offering rebates, financing, or other incentives funded with CPUC Public Goods Charge funds.
- The selection of qualifying product(s), selection of manufacturer,dealer, supplier and/or installer, and purchase, installation and ownership/ maintenance of the qualifying product(s) referenced in this Application are Customer’s sole responsibility, and the manufacturer, dealer, supplier or installer of these products is not an agent or representative of SCE.
- SCE makes no representations regarding manufacturers, dealers, contractors, installers, materials or workmanship.
- SCE makes no warranty whether express or implied, including without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for any particular purpose, use, or application of the products.
- SCE has no liability whatsoever concerning any of the following:
- The quality, safety and/or installation of the products, including their fitness for any purpose.
- The estimated energy savings of the products.
- The workmanship of any third parties.
- The installation or use of the products including, but not limited to, effects on indoor pollutants, or
- Any other matter with respect to the 2019 HEER Program.
SCE customers must apply for the SCE Energy Efficiency Smart Thermostat Rebate through the SCE Marketplace by visiting: Marketplace.sce.com
The energy efficiency rebate is administered by SCE under the auspices of the CPUC.The selection, purchase and ownership of any goods and services are the sole responsibility of the customer.
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Why does the Energy Efficiency Smart Thermostat Rebate require a copy of the purchase receipt?
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires the California Investor Owned Utilities to collect the proof of purchase receipt on the smart thermostat as part of the incentive rebate process.
Why don’t all thermostats eligible for the Smart Energy Program qualify of for the Energy Efficiency Smart Thermostat Rebate?
The Smart Energy Program requires that eligible thermostats be Wi-Fi enabled to accommodate Demand Response energy events. The Energy Efficiency rebate requires that aside from Wi-Fi capability, products should also include other capabilities such as occupancy sensing, schedule learning, humidity control and other smart, technical features. Unfortunately not all Wi-Fi enabled Smart Thermostats offer these technical capabilities.
How long will SCE offer the Energy Efficiency Smart Thermostat Rebate?
The rebate will end on December 31st, 2019 or earlier if funds have been exhausted, or if the CPUC requires us to stop offering the rebate.
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