The NextZero Connected Homes Program:

Connected Homes
Connected Homes is a program offered to customers of South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD) that leverages the technology of smart appliances and devices into cost savings for the light department and its customers. The program allows SHELD to better manage its electric load, reduce costs, and keep rates low.

A “Peak Event” is a time when demand on the electric grid is at its highest. Prices of wholesale electricity (the price your light department pays for electricity) soar during peak hours. The more your light department spends on power, the higher its rates will have to be. And, in order to supply the large peak electric demand during a Peak, older, dirtier, power generating plants are used. Reducing the Peak means these plants won’t need to be used as much.

When a peak usage hour is predicted, Connected Homes calls a “Peak Event.” To reduce Peak Electric Use, Connected Homes makes short, limited adjustments to your enrolled smart devices. Each device’s participation helps to reduce electric use, saves money for the light departments, and reduces the use of old generating plants.

Enrollment Details
By enrolling a smart device in the Connected Homes Program, customers agree to allow Connected Homes to make limited adjustments to their devices during times of peak electric demand, such as temporarily turning up the thermostat temperature setting during summer peak hours.

      1. When a peak is called, customers will receive a text and email alerting them to any device adjustments, in as much advance as possible to the peak event.
      2. Customers will have the option to occasionally opt out of a peak event adjustment through a link provided in the peak alert text and email. Alternatively, customers may simply adjust the device’s settings back to the preferred state to opt out.
      3. Connected Homes may call up to 170 hours of peak events per year. This is approximately five to six peak events/adjustments per month, though the actual number of peak events may vary and will in many months be three to four times.
      4. Customers will be given bill credits for their participation in Connected Homes. Bill credits will be issued once per quarter.
      5. Customers may enroll multiple devices in the NextZero Connected Homes Program and will receive incentives for each device. The exception is that either an EV charger or an EV itself can be enrolled, but not both.
      6. Every device that doesn’t participate in an event reduces the benefits your light department and you see from the program. Please think twice before opting out of an event.

Eligible Devices

Click here to apply online