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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Program Overview
Connect to Save is a program provided by many of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives that connects co-op members with special energy offers from their local co-op. The offers vary by co-op based on available services. Many co-ops are offering smart thermostat and smart water heater devices through Connect to Save, as these devices help support reliability through the energy transition.
If you are enrolled in Connect to Save with a smart thermostat – whether through our “New with Installation” or “Connect My Thermostat” offerings – Connect to Save will make small changes to device settings during an “event” when demand is high.
Learn more on our About page.
“New with Installation” Smart Thermostat Offering
It’s simple: Purchase a new smart thermostat(s) at a discount, select an installation date and have your new thermostat(s) installed by our professionals. You will then earn $50 per year per thermostat (up to two) for your successful participation in “events.” Events occur when demand for electricity is expected to peak, and we call on your thermostat to adjust by a few degrees. Prior to these “events,” your home may be preheated or precooled to ensure continued comfort through the duration of the event. You always retain control of your thermostat and can override temperature settings; however, you will only be eligible for your annual incentive if you opt out of five or fewer events.
In addition to the reduced price of the thermostat and free installation, you will receive $50 per thermostat (up to $100) per year for your successful participation in events.
Start by selecting a thermostat from our products page and adding to cart. You’ll then be prompted to create an account and begin your enrollment. You can also call 844-577- SAVE (7283) to make a purchase and schedule your free installation.
The Connect to Save “New with Installation” offering is available to members of the following cooperatives whose accounts are in good standing:
• Brunswick Electric
• Carteret-Craven EC
• Four County EMC
• Jones Onslow EMC
• Lumbee River EMC
• Pee Dee Electric
• Randolph EMC
• South River EMC
• Tri-County EMC
To be eligible, members must also live in a single and individually metered property, have heating and cooling, and have reliable Wi-Fi.
If you live on a rental property, your landlord’s permission must be obtained to participate in the program.
Members participating in a PV (photovoltaic or “solar”)/net metering or Time of Use (TOU) rate are not eligible.
Not sure if you’re eligible? Call us at (844) 577-7283 or contact us.
There are limits on how many discounted products each account can purchase online, but if you need more than the limit, we’re here to help! You can purchase as many smart thermostats as are required by your home’s heating and cooling system. If your home requires more than two thermostats, customer service can help you place that order. Please contact Connect to Save at 844-577- SAVE (7283) or through this form.
For our “New with Installation” offering, only thermostats purchased directly from the Connect to Save program are eligible. Start by choosing a thermostat from our product page or call 844-577- SAVE (7283) to purchase and schedule your free installation. If you have a smart thermostat already, please see our “Connect my Thermostat” offering FAQs below.
No, there is not an on-bill financing option. A credit card must be used at checkout to make a purchase.
We accept payment by MasterCard, VISA, or American Express. All transactions are in U.S. dollars.
The charge on your credit card will come from AM Conservation, the Connect to Save Marketplace vendor.
After your order is placed, you will receive an order confirmation email to the email you used while creating your account.
You will also receive a series of appointment reminders via email, text, and phone starting 14 days prior to your scheduled installation.
Click “Login” in the top right corner of the screen and log into your account.
If you placed an order through the Connect to Save Marketplace, please call 844-577-SAVE (7283) or email service@connecttosavenc.com. You may also send us a message on our Contact Us page.
Rewards are earned when:
- On the anniversary of your participation in the program ($50 per thermostat, not to exceed $100)
- Immediately after a smart water heater device is successfully purchased, enrolled, and installed ($50, one time reward)
All rewards for participating in Connect to Save are awarded with Prepaid MasterCards®. When you’ve earned a reward, you will receive an email notification with instructions on how to redeem. You may opt for a physical or digital Prepaid MasterCard®. If you do not make a selection, a physical gift card will be sent to the address we have on file.
If your old thermostat contains mercury, it is legally required that we take it for safe disposal and recycling. If it does not contain mercury, your old thermostat will be left with you to store or dispose of.
“Connect My Thermostat” Offering
The Connect My Thermostat offering allows you to enroll your existing smart thermostat into the Connect to Save program and earn a reward for using less electricity when demand is high. You’ll receive $50 upfront and $50 each year for your participation.
When demand for electricity is expected to peak, your thermostat setting will adjust by a few degrees. Prior to these “events,” your home may be preheated or precooled to ensure continued comfort through the duration of the event. You always maintain control of your thermostat and can override temperature settings during events when desired.
Adopted by thousands of electric cooperative members across the state, Connect to Save supports grid reliability, as well as sustainability, while also reducing wholesale power costs. Because cooperatives are not-for-profit utilities owned by the communities they serve, members benefit from these savings.
You will receive $50 when you successfully enroll your device(s) and an additional $50 per thermostat each year you participate, up to $100 per year.
Our original thermostat purchase and installation program has been popular among cooperative members statewide. We created the Connect my Thermostat offering to make sure co-op members who were early adopters of smart thermostats can be rewarded for their smart energy use.
If you are a member of Brunswick Electric, participation incentives can be found on the co-op’s website: ConnectToSaveNC.com/BEMC.
Currently, members of Brunswick EMC, Lumbee River EMC and South River EMC are eligible to enroll their thermostat as long as they:
- Have an eligible smart thermostat
- Have reliable Wi-Fi and maintain the thermostat’s connection to it
- Have electric heating and air conditioning systems. Gas furnaces don’t qualify for this program
Rewards are earned when:
- An eligible thermostat is successfully enrolled ($50 per thermostat, not to exceed $100)
- On the anniversary of your participation in the program ($50 per thermostat, not to exceed $100)
All rewards for participating in Connect to Save are awarded with Prepaid MasterCards®. When you’ve earned a reward, you will receive an email notification with instructions on how to redeem. You may opt for a physical or digital Prepaid MasterCard®. If you do not make a selection, a physical gift card will be sent to the address we have on file.
Connect to Save, through the Connect My Thermostat program, will not impact the function of your thermostat. Any issues related to your thermostat should be resolved by contacting the device manufacturer or your preferred HVAC service provider.
No. Thermostats purchased through our “New with Installation” offering are not eligible to participate in the “Connect My Thermostat” offering.
Event Information
On certain days when demand on the grid is high, Connect to Save (in coordination with your electric cooperative) will make changes to the setpoint of your enrolled thermostats without any manual intervention by you. The target thermostat setpoint adjustment will be 3 degrees. To ensure your comfort, we may cool or heat your home in advance of an event when energy demand is lower.
For Google Nest thermostats, preconditioning begins one hour prior to the event. Honeywell Home and ecobee thermostats do not precondition.
Events can occur throughout the year. Typically, events in winter are called between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Events in the summer are usually called between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Up to 48 events can be called each year with a minimum of one event per month, and each event may last up to four hours. Events can be called up to three consecutive days.
You will be notified of an event through the thermostat manufacturer’s mobile app and on the thermostat itself.
Connect to Save will adjust the current set point of the thermostats by a targeted three degrees.
If you wish to opt out of an event, you may change the temperature on your thermostat at any time. However, in order to remain enrolled and eligible for the program’s monetary incentive, you may not opt out of more than five events in a calendar year.
Technical Questions
By participating in this program, you are not guaranteed to see a change in your average monthly electric bill, but you are guaranteed an annual incentive for your successful participation.
Connect to Save leverages smart thermostat technologies to reduce demand on the grid during peak times. This offsets the need for your electric cooperative to purchase as much wholesale electricity, which benefits the entire membership. Plus, you will receive a reward for participating!
- ecobee thermostats:
- To reset your ecobee password, go to ecobee.com, click on the “LOGIN” button at the top right-hand side of the page, click “FORGOT PASSWORD” and enter the email address you used to register your thermostat. A new temporary password will be sent to your inbox.
- Google thermostats:
- To reset your Google Nest password, start by opening the Google Nest app or by visiting home.nest.com and tapping “FORGOT PASSWORD.” Enter your email address to receive an email to reset your password. If your account has 2-step verification, you’ll need to verify your account to reset your password.
- Honeywell Home thermostats:
- To reset the password of your Honeywell Home account, select the “Forgot Password” link on the Log In screen of your Resideo app. An email will be sent to the email address you used when creating your account that will enable you to reset your password. Simply click the “Reset Password” button in the email and you will be asked to create a new password.
When energy demand is high, sometimes energy providers need to use less efficient power plants to meet the power needs. By participating in Connect to Save, you help reduce electric demand during peak times and prevent the use of older, less efficient power plants. Connect to Save is a simple, easy way each of us can come together to create a more reliable and sustainable energy future.
Connect to Save is powered by Google Nest’s Rush Hour Rewards, so if you own a Google Nest, you will see “energy rush hour” displayed on your device during an event. Rush Hour Rewards events adhere to the same rules as Connect to Save events (no more than 48 events; a minimum of one per month, no more than four hours).
Yes. Please make sure to avoid placing your sensors in drafty or unusually warm or cold locations, such as near a vent, fan, window or oven.
Questions about moving to/from a “Connect to Save home”
Yes! You should be receiving a message from us within 30 days of your move-in date. As a member, you can lower your energy cost and make your home more energy efficient, which benefits the entire cooperative membership. To enroll in the Connect to Save program, call us at 844-577-SAVE (7283) or send an email to service@connecttosavenc.com .
If you move into a new home within a participating cooperative territory, you will need to re-enroll in the program. You can purchase your smart thermostat and schedule your free installation by visiting ConnectToSaveNC.com or calling 844-577-SAVE (7283).
Please call 844-577-SAVE (7283) before replacing your Connect to Save thermostat. Removal of the thermostat may result in an early termination fee, per program Terms & Conditions.
Smart Water Heater Device Questions
Did you know that the electric water heater is the second largest consumer of energy in the average NC home? Typically, electric water heaters operate in the early morning and late afternoon/early evening—which coincides with peak energy demand times. The smart water heater device continuously monitors your tank temperatures. During an event when the water heater is adjusted, the smart water heater device will override the event and turn your water heater back on automatically if it senses you are running low on stored hot water.
The smart water heater device turns your electric hot water heater off at peak times, while still monitoring the temperature within the tank. If, while your water heater is turned off, the hot water stored in the tank drops to a certain temperature, the device will override the cooperative’s control period and turn your water heater back on.
Learn more about the Carina WISE Smart Water Heater Device.
No, not directly. It does however contribute to lowering the wholesale power cost paid by your electric cooperative, thus benefiting the entire membership.
No. It simply adjusts when your water heater operates as events are called during peak demand times.
The vast majority of members will not even notice the controller is working in the background. This device does not prevent you from running out of hot water. If, while your water heater is controlled during an event, the hot water stored in the tank drops to a certain temperature, the device will override the cooperative’s control period and automatically turn your water heater back on.
Simply call 844-577-SAVE (7283) 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email service@connecttosavenc.com . We’re here to help!