Let SoCalGas Control Your Smart Thermostat, Get $50 Rebate

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Southern California Gas Co. announced a rebate program Tuesday designed to conserve natural gas by allowing the company to remotely control participating customers' thermostats when demand is spiking.

The SoCalGas Advisory Thermostat Program offers up to $50 in rebates to customers who agree to allow the company to make "minor" adjustments to the participants' "smart thermostats" on days when SoCalGas issues conservation advisories that call for people to reduce their usage.

Enrollees will receive $25 for signing up before March 15 and will receive another $25 if they remain enrolled through the completion of the program on March 31.

Participating customers will be notified via email, over the internet and through a mobile app before any of the thermostat adjustments are made, according to SoCalGas.

While other similar programs are in place to reduce electricity demand during summer months, this is the first program offered by a natural gas company for gas heating, according to the utility. All owners of ecobee- registered smart thermostats within SoCalGas' service territory who are not serviced by Southern California Edison are eligible for the rebate.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of ecobee.