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Nest Expands Energy Business to More Than 50 Energy Providers

More than 30 percent of homes in U.S. now have access to Nest thermostat rebates and rewards

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Nest Labs Inc. has announced continued growth in its energy business with the addition of more than 50 energy providers now offering Nest Learning Thermostat rebates and rewards for residential customers. Along with the energy efficiency (EE) savings and enhanced customer engagement offered by the Nest thermostat, many of these partners are also participating in Rush Hour Rewards (RHR), Nest’s demand response (DR) service.

According to the company, more than 30 percent of homes in the U.S. now have access to a Nest thermostat rebate or RHR program through their energy provider. Additionally, the number of customers enrolled in Nest’s RHR programs has more than doubled in the last year.

“A new study by Navigant Research predicts that integrated demand-side management spending will rise from just $40 million this year to $1.2 billion in 2025,” said Ben Bixby, director of energy and enterprise business, Nest Labs. “This research is consistent with the growing interest we’re seeing in our Rush Hour Rewards service. And more than ever, energy providers are finding value in programs that offer both EE and DR components — our new Kansas City Power and Light program is a great example of that.”

Partnering with Nest, Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) is implementing a residential demand-side management (DSM) program designed to replace and expand upon KCP&L’s existing programmable thermostat program. Through the program, customers can receive a free Nest thermostat with the option for free professional installation, or a $50 credit for self-installation, when they agree to participate in KCP&L’s RHR program. Customers will also receive a $25 annual participation incentive following their first year of participation.

According to Nest estimates, customers enrolled in Rush Hour Rewards reduced air conditioning usage during events on average by over 55 percent, with some programs averaging more than 70 percent. Nest enables its energy provider partners to manage their Rush Hour Rewards program through a stand-alone interface that includes event dispatch tools, performance reporting, and customer enrollment verification and grouping.

Nest has successfully launched RHR programs with a variety of energy partners in the U.S. and Canada, including investor-owned utilities like Southern California Edison and Commonwealth Edison, municipal utilities like Austin Energy and CPS Energy, and competitive energy retailers like NRG and Direct Energy.

For more information on the Nest Learning Thermostat, visit www.nest.com.

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