Kyri Baker, an associate professor of engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, said Xcel Energy prevented her from lowering her thermostat [1, 2].
The dispute highlights growing tensions over demand-response programs, where utilities remotely manage home appliances to prevent grid failure during peak energy usage.
Baker is enrolled in a program that allows Xcel Energy to adjust customers' thermostats remotely to reduce electricity demand [1, 2]. During a recent stretch of extreme heat in Boulder, Colorado, Baker attempted to manually lower the temperature in her home but found she was unable to do so [1, 2].
According to Baker, the utility overreached by blocking her ability to override the system during a period of high temperature [1, 2]. The demand-response program is designed to stabilize the electrical grid by lowering total consumption when demand spikes—often during heat waves when air conditioning use is highest [1, 2].
Baker, who teaches engineering, said she is concerned over the level of control the utility maintains over residential environments [1, 2]. The incident raises questions about the balance between grid reliability, and the autonomy of homeowners who opt into these incentive programs [1, 2].
Xcel Energy has not provided a specific response to the claim that manual overrides were disabled for Baker during the heat event [1, 2].
“Xcel Energy's demand-response program is intended to reduce electricity usage during peak demand periods.”
This situation reflects a broader conflict in energy management as utilities implement 'smart grid' technologies to combat climate-driven demand spikes. While demand-response programs are essential for preventing blackouts, the inability of a user to override these settings during extreme weather suggests a potential gap in the safety or transparency of the service agreements between providers and consumers.
