ecobee Inc., the energy solutions company known for its easy-to-use Wi-Fi enabled Smart Thermostat products, announced today that it has formed a strategic partnership with Austin Energy to launch the Texas utility's 2013 Power Partner Thermostat Program Pilot.
The goal of the Power Partner Thermostat Program Pilot is to help reduce the impact of high electricity demand during the months of June through September by remotely managing customers' thermostats during peak usage periods. Participating customers will receive a rebate for $85 from Austin Energy within six weeks after enrolling in the program for every ecobee thermostat they have installed in their home.
"We're really excited about working with Austin Energy as a utility partner," says Stuart Lombard, President and CEO of ecobee. "We have extensive experience in supporting North American utilities with innovative, energy-saving strategies and products, and it's something that continues to be a major priority for our business."
ecobee has already proven to be a tremendous success in the Austin area, with a widespread customer base that continues to grow. For Austin Energy, this offers an excellent opportunity to introduce the Power Partner Thermostat Program Pilot to an audience that has already embraced ecobee products and the great user experience they offer.
"We feel that ecobee and its smart thermostat products are a good fit as they'll not only help us reduce the demands on our own system, but they'll also give our customers a chance to save energy and be rewarded for their efforts," says Scott Jarman, Interim Director Energy Efficiency Services of Austin Energy.
ecobee works with over 2,800 leading heating and cooling service company partners that sell and support ecobee's energy management solutions. These service company relationships were important to Austin Energy's goals of allowing customers to purchase their energy management solutions from a trusted partner.