This is very exciting news as it's the first real break customers will get in their electric bill if one of the new options works for their schedule. NO OBLIGATION. You can switch back to the standard plan with TEN DAYS NOTICE by phone or email.
THIS PROGRAM ENDS MARCH 15TH. After March 15th, not only will there be no $75 credit on your electric bill, but no ability to join the new Advantage plans so act now!!
They are offering two options regarding a thermostat to run the new program. The first one is a $75 credit on your bill ($50 in March (after February 28th, the credit will be on your April bill) and another $25 in the fall) to keep the one you have, including the older and newer Powerstream Honeywall PeakSaver installed Honeywell one. Two other brands are accepted, Nest and Ecobee. Here's their guidelines:
"Customers with a Nest, ecobee, Energate Foundation, Honeywell UtilityPRO or ExpressStat model are eligible for this offer. The first $50 incentive will be provided after enrollment, with another $25 to come in the Fall of 2018. These incentives will be provided as bill credits."
The second one is to get a free smart thermostat to the first 100 people to jump into this plan but I confirmed, it's actually FIVE HUNDRED that they got, as the demand was strong for them, so there's still time to get an Energate one with 2 free wifi plugs, to control devices in your home and turn them off and on using wifi devices such as your smartphone, so that there's no phantom current (when it's off, it isn't REALLY off).
If you choose to keep your current Powerstream PeakSaver Honeywell brand one, you can take the $75 and use it to subsidize a brand such as Nest or Ecobee. Those ones go for well over $200.
For those that care, the Energate brand that they will install for free (instead of using your current one and getting the $75 credit on your bill) is NOT Alexa compatible.
The standard plan is what everyone who hasn't switched yet is on:
6.5 cents per kilowatt hour off peak (weekends, holiday weekdays, and regular weekdays from 7pm-7am.
9.5 cents per kilowatt hour for mid peak rates (11am-5pm) non-holiday weekdays
13.2 cents per kilowatt hour for on peak (7am-11am, 5-7pm) non-holiday weekdays
One of two new options are targeting different crowds.
NEW OPTIONS
Dynamic Rate Plan is targeting those who are at home during the day. 18 HOURS OF THE DAY you're on "off peak"--and "off peak" is 4.9 cents instead of 6.5 cents per kilowatt hour. That means that for most of the day you are saving over the old program, including mornings and afternoons until 3pm, as well as holidays and weekends!!
The fallout is that 20% of the time, during peak summer hours, you could see your rates jump as high as 39.8 cents per kilowatt hour, but ONLY 20% of the time. For those who wait to run the washing machine, stove and vacuum cleaner (or any electric sucking machine) until after 7pm, and can now do so during the day, along with most of the cooking, this plan is a great option.
The Overnight Plan is good for those who stay up late at night and don't have neighbours that they'll keep up with all the electric sucking machines. At only 2 cents per kilowatt hour, it sounds good but look at the hours and prices in the pic above to see if it would work for you.
Switching is easily. Go through THIS LINK to sign up at Alectra Utilities (formerly Powerstream). If you do, PLEASE CHOOSE THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS FROM A FRIEND, and put my name, STEVEN KASTNER on the blank. Do the same for friends and each friend you sign up will earn you a $25 credit on your electric bill until February 28th, 2018!
Starting March 1, you'll see the new prices on your bill under your new plan, and immediately get the savings (or increases if you made a bad choice).
You can get out of the plan by emailing or calling Alectra to go back to the standard rates at any time.
They are offering two options regarding a thermostat. The first one is a $75 credit on your bill to keep the one you have if it meets with their guidelines:
"Customers with a Nest, ecobee, Energate Foundation, Honeywell UtilityPRO or ExpressStat model are eligible for this offer. The first $50 incentive will be provided after enrollment, with another $25 to come in the Fall of 2018. These incentives will be provided as bill credits."
The second one is to get a free smart thermostat to the first 100 people to jump into this plan but I suspect those are long gone--I missed them too. I'll change my post if I find out otherwise later today.
After you register, you're offered yet another option: they are also offering customers a $50 rebate on their electric bill if they jump back into the plan whereby Alectra can control your thermostat for up to 4 hours during peak electric use times. You can also opt out of this with 10 business days notice by calling them, though I am not sure if they will take back the $50 credit if you do so. How much they control it I am not sure about. I'll be in touch with them and update the post accordingly.
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