Honeywell announced that UtilityPRO® has become the fastest-selling thermostat for utility-sponsored demand response programs. Since the technology was introduced in 2008, Honeywell has shipped more than 350,000 of the touchscreen programmable thermostats, which give utilities control over peak consumption while helping homeowners cut energy costs.
Thirty-three utilities in the United States and Canada have already selected the thermostat for their demand response efforts. By 2011, Honeywell expects UtilityPRO will give these utilities combined control of more than 500 megawatts of peak energy use — equivalent to the generation capacity of approximately 10 gas-fired peaking plants.
UtilityPRO allows utilities to cycle air conditioners on and off for brief intervals when energy use and prices spike, usually on the hottest days of the year. In return for participating in these programs, customers usually receive a free, professionally installed UtilityPRO.
For more information, read the press release.
