The city of Austin, Texas enacted a new regulation that requires smart thermostats in all new houses and apartments. A spokesperson for the local power company reportedly told KUT radio that there were no significant objections to the change. The utility offers an energy saving program called PowerSaver that is only available to customers who have smart thermostats. To encourage participation in the program, the energy company offers a $85 rebate for installation of smart meters. The program allows the utility to adjust homeowners’ by up to four degrees during peak demand. The utility says it opts for the option about 15 times a year, and customers typically don’t notice the change.
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