Power Partner℠ Thermostats

Become a Power Partner

Power Partners help the community manage energy use on days when the need is highest. During these peak times, Austin Energy briefly adjusts enrolled smart thermostats to use less energy.

As a Power Partner, you can:

• Earn rewards for each smart thermostat you enroll
• Help lower the cost of electricity in our community
• Enhance power grid reliability during times of high community energy use
• Reduce your carbon footprint

Enjoy two ways to save with an eligible smart thermostat:

Thinking of Buying a Smart Thermostat?

Austin Energy customers qualify for a $30 rebate for each new eligible, smart thermostat installed at your home. Read the Incentive tab for details.

Already Have a Smart Thermostat?

Get a $50 bill credit for each eligible thermostat enrolled in Power Partner, plus $25 annually for each thermostat that remains enrolled.

Customers will receive their annual incentives near their enrollment anniversary date. For example, if you enrolled your thermostat in June 2024, you will receive your annual $25 incentive between June and July 2025.

Power Partner Events

Power Partner events occur on days of high community energy use or when there is an emergency. On these days, Austin Energy will initiate Power Partner events that briefly adjust your thermostat settings by up to 4 degrees. These remote adjustments help manage energy use throughout the community.

Most Power Partner events will:

• Occur for two hours between 3:00–6:00 p.m. during the summer (June 1–Sept. 30). Austin Energy may conduct events outside of these windows, such as during the winter and during extreme weather circumstances.
• Adjust your thermostat by up to 4 degrees, which may include pre-cooling or pre-heating prior to an event to help prolong your initial comfort level. Pre-cooling and pre-heating adjust your existing thermostat setting by 2 degrees, up to 30 minutes beforehand.
• Occur on non-holiday weekdays. During extreme weather circumstances, Austin Energy may conduct events on holidays and weekends.
• Occur no more than three times per week and no more than 25 times during the year. During extreme weather circumstances, Austin Energy may conduct events up to five times per week.

You can override Power Partner events at any time by simply adjusting the temperature on your thermostat or thermostat app. Customers who wish to permanently end their participation in Power Partner events may submit a Power Partner Opt Out request.

Austin Energy does not send Power Partner event notifications, which are set by the thermostat manufacturer. Manufacturers may or may not provide notifications prior to a Power Partner event. Notifications will usually appear in two ways: 1) on the smart thermostat screen or 2) within the manufacturer’s smart thermostat app on a mobile device, instead of as a text message or email.

Note: We do not recommend participating in this offering if someone in your facility is experiencing serious health problems.

Learn more about Power Partner Thermostats

Eligibility and Enrollment

To enroll as a Power Partner and qualify for the $50 bill credit, find your eligible thermostat manufacturer and model in the Eligibility tab and click the How to Enroll link. If you bought your thermostat within the last 90 days, you are also eligible for a separate $30 rebate. 

Austin Energy will provide:

• A $50 bill credit for each eligible thermostat you enroll in Power Partner (see Eligibility tab for more details). The credit will appear as an “Adjustment” line item within 1-2 billing cycles after approval.
• An additional $25 annual bill credit for each eligible thermostat that remains enrolled in Power Partner.
  • Customers will receive their annual incentives near their enrollment anniversary date. For example, if you enrolled your thermostat in June 2023, you will receive your annual $25 incentive between June and July 2024.
• A $30 rebate for Austin Energy customers who buy and install eligible thermostats. Thermostats are eligible for a rebate within 90 days of purchase. Apply online

Prerequisites

• You must have an eligible thermostat.
• You must be an Austin Energy customer with a unique account number. Co-op and master-metered accounts are not eligible at this time.
• Simply replacing an already enrolled smart thermostat with a new smart thermostat in the same household is not eligible for an additional incentive.

Requirements

• You must agree to a post-installation inspection by Austin Energy, if necessary.
• Existing equipment must be connected and operational.
• You must have a standard air conditioning system (split system, package unit, or heat pump).
• The heater component may be gas or electric.
• Your air conditioning equipment must be in good mechanical condition and controlled by an approved, communicating thermostat device.
• Homeowners and renters are eligible to receive the Power Partner participation bill credit. Homeowners and renters may also receive the purchase and installation rebate if they purchased and installed the thermostat.
• Landlords are only eligible for the purchase and installation rebate and are not eligible to receive the Power Partner bill credit.
• Applicants are limited to five (5) thermostats.
• You must use an eligible thermostat from the list below.

Eligible Thermostats

†Select thermostats must be installed by a third-party installer as part of an alarm system package.