The newest retail electricity provider in Texas, OhmConnect Energy (OCE), has entered the market with what it said is a unique business proposition: pay Texans to save energy.
OCE said it delivers fixed-rate electricity across Texas and also encourages customers to reduce their energy use during peak energy times when stress on the electric grid is highest.
In return for energy-saving efforts, OCE gives customers reward points that can be turned into cash, converted into credits on their electricity bills, entered into prize drawings, or used to buy smart devices that further reduce their energy use. This scheme is intended to save customers money while relieving pressure on the Texas grid.
When customers participate in OCE’s events, which are typically one hour long, they can reduce their annual energy bill by up to 15%, said the company. The program has no caps and customers are encouraged to participate as much as they can in order to lower their electric bill and earn rewards.
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The “flexible demand” program is modeled after parent company OhmConnect’s business in California, where its nearly 200,000 customers helped stabilize the grid by removing almost 1GWh of energy usage between August 13-20, 2020. Together those customers received $1 million for their energy-saving efforts, the company said.
Texas residents who are within the competitive regions of ERCOT are eligible to receive service from OCE and participate in the company’s demand response programs. OCE can sync with the customer’s smart devices (including smart thermostat and smart plug) to reduce energy use at peak times. Customers also may opt-out of any event without penalty.
