ecobee Launches Pilot Program with California Utility to Help Prevent Power Emergenciesecobee

Innovative pilot aimed at conserving energy and helping prevent power outages 

TORONTO – Sep. 9, 2022 – ecobee, a subsidiary of Generac Power Systems (NYSE: GNRC), today announced the launch of a pilot program with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) designed to help prevent power outages caused by extreme weather, sustained high heat, and natural disasters. In the event of an emergency, eligible ecobee customers in SDG&E’s service territory will receive a notification when slight, temporary temperature adjustments are needed on their ecobee smart thermostats to reduce demand and help avoid an outage. Customers can help their community by remaining opted into the program or they can skip the event if they’re unable to take part.

“At ecobee, we remain committed to offering innovative smart home solutions that address real problems customers are facing, such as the rise of power outages due to the prevalence of extreme weather brought on by climate change,” said Kari Binley, Senior Manager, Energy Partnerships at ecobee. “We’re excited to launch this new and innovative solution with SDG&E, which will allow more ecobee Smart Owners in California to help their communities and automatically conserve energy without sacrificing their comfort, all while helping to create a more resilient power grid.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States recorded 22 weather and climate disasters in 2020, a nearly 40 percent increase from the year before. As extreme weather becomes more frequent and severe due to climate change, electricity experts and California officials have warned that states may not have enough power to continue to reliably meet demand.

The power grid is a challenging balancing act – extreme weather, persistent heat waves and natural disasters cause increases in demand and stress on the power grid, resulting in energy shortages. Through participating in this pilot program during periods of extreme vulnerability for the electrical grid, ecobee and SDG&E customers can save energy and help prevent potential power outages in their communities.

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