Comment on Google pulls the plug on first and second gen Nest Thermostats
comador@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Jokes on them, I block my Nest from talking to the Internet so my electrical company cannot control the damned thing. They had control even after I opted out and Google insisted they unenrolled me in the energy savings plan. Don’t enroll in these plans [insert it’s a trap gif].
spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
That “Smart Energy” discount has shown up in mailings for the last few years and I’ve considered signing up despite my general dislike of allowing any company any more control of my life than they already have.
Why do you say they’re a trap? Did they change your thermostat settings far more than they claim or pull other BS you didn’t expect?
comador@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Smart Energy Discount issues from the personal view of a consumer.
These plans work by sending you notifications that they will be reducing your thermostat for you when there is an energy crunch.
Sounds good so far, here’s the issues I had:
Let’s say you are a good consumer and let them change your thermostat to 85’F when it’s 100’F every single time… You saved… $5!!! and got to sweat profusely in your own home in the process.
Let’s say you were working in the yard and come in sweaty amd needing to cool off. If you change that thermostat while they are in control of it, you lose your whole $5 for not just that day, but the entire billing cycle.
Let’s say you want to exit the plan. Now you’re on the hook to wait on hold with your energy company for hours waiting for the one department and probably one person who can unenroll you. Chances are likely even then that they can screw it up and like in my case, both Google and my southern California electrical company claim ignorance anything was done wrong yet keep me enrolled.
In short and in summary: It’s a trap because the savings is far, far too small for the sacrifice.
spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
Thanks for that write-up. I’ll continue to ignore the electric company’s marketing errors and remain blissfully disconnected.