Olivia Cavallaro Science 09.05.2022 22:Sep PM EDT

22,000 Customers were Locked Out of Their Smart Thermostats in Colorado

Citizens of Colorado were forced to deal with the sweltering heat without being able to adjust their thermostats.

Some 22,000 smart thermostats powered by Xcel Energy were "locked" on Tuesday, August 30, when the utility company announced that there was an "energy emergency." Xcel Energy customers were prevented from adjusting their smart thermostats for cooler temperatures on a day when the heat reached almost 90 degrees.

"Temperature locked temporarily during energy emergency," a message on the Xcel Energy smart thermostats read, as per BGR. The alert added that there was a "rare energy emergency" that could affect the Colorado energy grid, so those enrolled in a Community Energy Savings program were unable to adjust their smart thermostats.

Colorado Smart Thermostat Company Controls Temperatures Amid Sweltering Heat

So how exactly did thousands of customers with Xcel smart thermostats get "locked" out of the system? Xcel Energy offered a program called AC Rewards that provided incentives to customers in exchange for partial control of their smart thermostats. These include a $100 incentive the moment they sign up and a $25 credit annually.

Xcel vice president of customer solutions and innovation Emmett Romine explained that it was a "voluntary program" that was "something that customers choose to be a part of based on the incentives."

But this sudden takeover of control of Xcel smart thermostats during a crucial time has got customers wondering whether the company has the right to control the energy. Many customers have taken to social media to voice out their frustrations over the "locked" smart thermostats.

States Across America Scramble to Conserve Energy Amidst Heat Wave

Last week was the first time Xcel had taken control of the 22,000 smart thermostats across Colorado amid the "energy emergency," which Romine attributed to "high temperatures, soaring power demand for air conditioners, and an unexpected outage," The Verge reported.

But Colorado isn't the only state being forced to conserve energy amidst the heat wave. The Sacramento Bee reported that following the Labor Day weekend, state workers in California would notice that their offices will be warmer than usual. This is because thermostats in California state buildings will now be set at 78 degrees beginning 4 p.m. on Tuesday and 80 degrees at 5 p.m.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's spokeswoman Erin Mellon explained that the directive is aimed at state offices in the Sacramento area, which is home to about 100,000 state workers. The Independent System Operator or ISO has also issued a Flex Alert, urging citizens of California to set their thermostats to 78 degrees and postpone using major appliances to conserve energy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that heat waves such as the one occurring in the US, Europe, China, and other regions could cause severe dehydration and contribute to the risk of developing blood clots. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are also conditions to watch out for during times of elevated temperatures.