Now they want to control your Temperature

Wanted: Residents to let utility control A/C
Thermostats to be remote-controlled


Metro area homeowners who use more electricity than the average customer and who have central air conditioning can expect an offer from Toledo Edison to regulate their thermostats.

The company will install a $250 thermostat for free and set programmable temperatures for the owner, with the condition that the utility can adjust the device remotely to raise indoor temperatures and save on air conditioning use.

The invitation is part of a wider program by Toledo Edison's parent FirstEnergy Corp. to control energy use. It will be offered to people who use an average of 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month and will enable the company to adjust the thermostat without warning for up to four hours and for up to four degrees.

The primary need is during hot summer months when businesses and homeowners have air conditioning cranked up, taxing the electric delivery system.


While critics argue the pro-gram has a "Big Brother" image, advocates say the program helps the environment and lowers utility bills.

"If it's for the greater good of saving energy I'm all for it," said Toledoan Brian Yourist. "Anything to lower my energy bill."

There is no cost to the customer. Toledo Edison will limit its own thermostat adjustments to 20 per year, the company said. It will allow the owner to change the thermostat at any time, even after a utility adjustment, and to make changes to it via the Internet.

It was unclear how many customers were being asked to participate.

FirstEnergy has had 2,500 customers join in Cleveland and Akron.

The Toledo program will begin in April as invitations have been sent out. Toledo Edison has 315,000 customers, who average 750 kilowatt-hours per month.

FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin said the goal is to have 10,000 participate statewide. The system can help control home temperatures from the workplace, vacation destination, or in cases of emergency, leading to energy conservation.

The same controls are available through a programmable thermostat bought in a store and installed by the homeowner, although that one wouldn't be connect to the utility's system.

The electric company has had to impose brownouts and blackouts in the past, particularly to businesses that enjoy a lower electricity rate for the right to have power cut off during peak summer months.

The program comes in the last year in which FirstEnergy is to have regulated electric rates.

It has a pending request to raise its basic electricity distribution rate and the governor, state legislature, and others are trying to determine whether costs to generate power should continue to have any regulation after this year.

Duke Energy, a utility company in southwest Ohio, provides a similar service, and that has reduced energy use.

Ten percent of its eligible customers participate, a spokesman said.

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel, a watchdog agency, backs the system.

"This is a good program for consumers to be able to take control of how much energy they're using," said spokesman Anthony Dill.

"We've made sure there are guidelines [to protect customers]."