Reduce Your Use® and get rewarded

When electricity demand is high, our Reduce Your Use program will use your smart thermostat to help you conserve energy and potentially save money. It's free and easy to join!

 

Plus, you'll receive a $50 bill credit* just for signing up!

Get started
Reduce your Use logo in orange
Reduce your Use logo in orange
Reduce your Use logo in orange

Reduce your use when demand is high

When electricity demand is high, a Reduce Your Use event automatically adjusts your smart thermostat a few degrees to help you conserve without lifting a finger. Don't worry — you're always in control and can change the temperature at any time.

How does the Reduce Your Use program work?

Customers sign up to voluntarily conserve energy when electricity demand is high

Electricity demand increases due to weather or other events

A Reduce Your Use event is called and registered smart thermostats will automatically adjust

Reduced usage helps conserve energy during periods of high demand

man-working-on-laptop-smiling
man-working-on-laptop-smiling
man-working-on-laptop-smiling

It's free and easy to join, plus you get a $50 bill credit just for signing up!

  1. Sign up for the Reduce Your Use program with your participating smart thermostat below.
  2. After 2 billing cycles, you will receive your $50 bill credit.*
  3. When electricity demand is high, your smart thermostat will notify you of a Reduce Your Use event and automatically adjust to help you conserve.

Choose your smart thermostat

Nest thermostat on wall
Nest thermostat on wall
Nest thermostat on wall

Google Nest

Sign up to allow your Google Nest thermostat to automatically adjust during periods of high demand.


Honeywell thermostat on wall
Honeywell thermostat on wall
Honeywell thermostat on wall

Honeywell Home

Sign up to allow your Honeywell Home thermostat to automatically adjust during periods of high demand.


Emerson thermostat on wall
Emerson thermostat on wall

Emerson Sensi

Sign up to allow your Emerson Sensi thermostat to automatically adjust during periods of high demand.

Don't have a smart thermostat?

Frequently asked questions

Show all answers

The Reduce Your Use program is a free energy management tool that can help reduce electricity usage during periods of high electricity demand. Once you enroll and your smart thermostat is connected to the program, your thermostat will automatically adjust during a Reduce Your Use event to help lower your electricity usage.

Events can be called at any time during the year. They will last no longer than 4 hours and your thermostat will be adjusted by no more than 4 degrees. Rest assured—you’re always in control and can opt out of an event at any time by changing the temperature on your thermostat.

You must meet the following requirements to participate in Reduce Your Use:

  • You must be a Direct Energy electricity account holder at the time of any Demand Response Program event.
  • You must have an operable and eligible thermostat manufactured by Vivint, Google Nest, Sensi, Honeywell or another manufacturer authorized and approved by Direct Energy (an “Eligible Thermostat”) controlling an HVAC system at the account service address.
  • You must have an active electricity Smart Meter at the electricity account service address.
  • The Eligible Thermostat must be connected to an active Wi-Fi network at the electricity account service address.
  • The Eligible Thermostat must be installed and registered according to the manufacturer’s process.
  • You must complete Direct Energy’s online enrollment process for participation in the Demand Response Program, which can be accessed here.

You must agree to the Direct Energy Reduce Your Use Smart Thermostat Program Terms & Conditions.

A Reduce Your Use event is an instance where participating thermostats will be remotely adjusted by no more than 4 degrees to help reduce electricity usage and then return to their original settings after the event is over. Events can be called year-round and may last for up to 4 hours. Rest assured, you’re always in control and can opt out at any time by changing the temperature on your thermostat.

Reduce Your Use events can be called at any time of the year. There can also be more than one Reduce Your Use event per day. Events are more likely to happen during the summer and winter months, when electricity demand is typically higher.

If ERCOT calls an emergency event, Direct Energy may need to call a critical Reduce Your Use event, which may occur at any time of day.

Depending on your smart thermostat, notifications may appear on the smart thermostat display or in its mobile app when a Reduce Your Use Smart Thermostat program event is in progress.

You can override the modified temperatures at any point by changing the temperature directly on your smart thermostat or in its app.

No, your electricity plan will remain unchanged. Additionally, you can cancel your enrollment in the Reduce Your Use program at any time, and there is no early termination fee.

To learn your Reduce Your Use participation levels, contact Customer Support 24/7 at 1-888-305-3828.

A Reduce Your Use program year runs from November 1 to October 31. Your participation will be measured based on eligible event hours, rounded to the nearest minute. Provided you have participated in at least 50% of total demand response event hours and at least one Reduce Your Use event, you will receive a bill credit within 2 billing cycles of the program year-end date.

Reduce your use, save money and help conserve energy. Simply sign up with your thermostat to get started.

Terms & conditions

1Direct Energy electricity customers who enroll in Reduce Your Use with Smart Thermostats program will receive a one-time bill credit, which will be applied to the Direct Energy electricity account enrolled within 2 billing cycles. One-time incentive for new participants in the Reduce Your Use with Smart Thermostats program only. Incentive is not available to customers receiving smart thermostats pre-provisioned for the Reduce Your Use with Smart Thermostats program. Limit one Reduce Your Use incentive per customer. Bill credit incentives (if applicable) are not redeemable for cash. The Direct Energy electricity account must be active at the time of incentive award to receive incentive. Limited-time offer. Direct Energy reserves the right to discontinue or change this program without notice.

2To receive the bill credit, you must participate in at least 50% of total demand response event hours, and no less than one demand response event, in any Program Year (first Program Year will be measured from date of enrollment). Your participation will be measured based on your performance during eligible event hours, rounded to the nearest minute. Program Years run from November 1 to October 31. Bill credit will be applied to your Direct Energy account within 2 billing cycles of the Program Year. Bill credit will be applied to your Direct Energy account within 2 billing cycles of the Program Year end date. Direct Energy account must be active at the time of the bill credit award to receive the credit; credits are nontransferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Direct Energy may offer future bill credit promotions for participation in subsequent Program Years; offer terms are subject to change. 

3Monitoring and other features available through the Vivint app are complimentary if you maintain electricity service through Direct Energy. If you leave Direct Energy, a monthly subscription fee of $14.99 (or the then-applicable fee) from Vivint for the app and its features will automatically apply. You will be required to provide a payment method to Vivint at the time of installation to establish your account. You may cancel your subscription at any time by contacting Vivint directly. 
Vivint HomeEssentials includes a complimentary Vivint Smart Thermostat, Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro, professional installation and applicable services agreement, plus enrollment in the Direct Energy Reduce Your Use with Smart Thermostats program. New Vivint customers only. Terms, conditions and eligibility restrictions apply. Vivint HomeEssentials incentive is provided by Vivint LLC. Offer is valid for qualifying Direct Energy electricity customers.

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Texas customers: Call us at 1-855-461-1926
Northeast and Midwest customers: Contact us


Questions about your current service?
Texas customers: Call us at 1-888-305-3828
Northeast and Midwest customers: Contact us