KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Kansas City metro residents crank up the heat to combat frigid temperatures, Evergy is offering a helping hand to customers throughout the state – if those customers agree to help Evergy in the summer.
In partnership with Ecobee, Evergy is offering a free Ecobee3 thermostat to Missouri customers.
The device can be ordered on the Evergy website and is delivered by mail to customers' homes.
Kevin Brannan, manager of products and services at Evergy, said the programmable thermostat will allow the heater to perform more efficiently and therefore save customers an estimated 23% on their electric bill.
"Rather than you ramping it up or ramping it down or having it carry all day long, it slowly and gradually optimizes the temperature so it's not shifting up and shifting down or staying on for longer periods of time," Brannan said.
In return for the thermostat, customers will allow Evergy the option to remotely access their thermostat during peak-demand periods during the summer. Evergy will adjust the thermostat so the air conditioner is using less energy during peak demand, allowing the utility company to avoid purchasing power from outside source which will save money for Evergy and its customers.
Customers also will receive a $25 credit each year on their Evergy bill or cash payment.
In exchange for the free device, Evergy will be able to remotely decrease temperatures slightly this summer to avoid having to buy additional energy when demand is high.
Customers can install the thermostats themselves or pay a $50 fee for an Evergy service representative to install it. They can also hire their own service tech to install the device.
More information about the Ecobee3 thermostat can be found on YouTube.
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