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Smart Water Heater Program
The Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program
Peak Partners helps
Open to select Fort Collins Utilities customers who meet eligibility requirements.
The Smart Water Heater Program is part of Peak Partners – a group of programs designed to help customers manage their energy usage and maintain a healthy environment.
When you enroll in the Smart Water Heater Program, you'll be joining customers throughout the Fort Collins Utilities service area doing their part to help conserve energy during the most critical times.
You'll also receive the following financial savings:
- A free top-of-the-line* smart water heater with installation – valued at $1,300
- Up to $75 per year in average energy savings**
*Manufactured and distributed by A.O. Smith
**Actual savings may vary
How the Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program Works
1. Call to be considered
After we evaluate your eligibility by phone, we will schedule an appointment with you to inspect the space in your home needed to install the smart water heater.
2. Installation
Once we have determined your home can accommodate the smart water heater, we'll then schedule a time and date for installation.
3. Wireless signal sent
Every day, we'll send a wireless signal that remotely activates the two-way communication device connected to your smart water heater, temporarily turning off your water heater for a short period of time. A steady red light on the Peak Partners water heater device will remain illuminated during this conservation period, alerting you to your water heater's operational status.
A steady red light on the Peak Partners water heater device will remain illuminated during conservation periods, alerting you to your water heater's operational status.
4. Maintain your routine
The average heating delay is two-and-a-half hours. It's short enough – and water heaters are large enough (40 to 60 gallons) – that you can be confident there's plenty of hot water in reserve for typical household use. The device will detect if you are about to run out of hot water and automatically turn on to avoid a "cold shower."
5. Balance the demand for electricity
During the time program participants' water heaters are off, the demand for electricity is reduced. As a result, less electricity needs to be generated, which keeps energy costs lower and reduces carbon emissions and other pollutants.
6. Your water heater switches back on
When regional demand for electricity passes its peak and reduces to an acceptable level, a signal is sent to your water heater to automatically return to normal operation. It will "favor" turning on when there is plenty of solar or wind energy, reducing the appliance's carbon footprint.
7. You save by shifting electricity use to off-peak hours
By heating your water during less expensive hours, you save money while maintaining a reliable reservoir for your daily use.
The Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program Offers You Choice
Depending on the Energy Savings option you choose, you can expect different savings:
- Basic Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 1 hour every day. You can expect savings of about $22/year, depending on hot water usage.*
- Default Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 2.5 hours every day. You can expect savings of about $52/year, depending on usage.* Water heater tanks are large (40-60 gallons), so you should have plenty of hot water during the 2 hours that energy is being shifted from on-peak to off-peak costs.
- Aggressive Energy Savings: This choice delays energy consumption of your water heater by 4 hours (or 5 hours in the summer) every day. You can expect savings of about $70/year, depending on usage.*
Unless you decide otherwise, we'll start you with Aggressive Energy Savings to maximize your financial savings. You can change your savings selection at any time.
*Actual savings may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program?
Fort Collins Utilities is offering the new Smart Water Heater Program through Peak Partners, which helps keep the cost of electricity low by reducing peak demand on the electric grid. This new technology will favor solar or wind energy to heat up the water, reducing our community environmental impact as well. Peak Partners is a flexible, cost-effective, residential energy management solution that combines peak electricity reduction, energy efficiency and grid flexibility.
How does the program work?
Residential customers agree to have the smart water heaters installed in their homes and equipped with two-way devices. These switches are remotely activated to temporarily "turn off" the water heaters for short periods of time (known as a "conservation event") when the city's electric grid approaches peak capacity. They also tell the water heaters to "turn on" when there is plenty of "green energy" on the grid.
Who is eligible to participate?
Participation is restricted to a limited number of customers at this time. Customers invited to participate must agree to the following:
- Provide access to your home, first to inspect the location to confirm eligibility, second to install the unit (our staff will follow all Covid-19 safety guidelines)
- Allow connection to your Wi-Fi
- Be willing to respond to our surveys to evaluate the program performance
What model water heater will I receive?
Those customers deemed eligible to participate who currently have:
- • Electric resistant heat will receive an A. O. Smith brand water heater, either model # EGT-40 (40-gallon capacity) or model # EGT-50 (50-gallon capacity), tall models only
- Hybrid electric heat pump will receive an A. O. Smith brand water heater, either model # FPTU-50 (50-gallon capacity) or model # FPTU-66 (66-gallon capacity) or model # FPTU-80 (80-gallon capacity)
The capacity of your replacement water heater will be equivalent to your existing water heater.
How long will my water heater be turned off?
Depending on the savings selection you choose, your water heater will be turned off from one to five hours. Unless you indicate a preference, we'll start you with the Aggressive Energy Savings option, which discontinues your heating for up to five hours. The water heaters are large enough (40 to 60 gallons) that there should be plenty of hot water for typical household use. Should you be on the verge of running out of hot water, the water heater will automatically turn on. You would, however, forfeit the savings for that day, but still have plenty of hot water for your needs.
Does it cost anything to participate?
There are no costs to participate in the Peak Partners water heater program.
Will it affect my electricity costs?
Because of reduced usage during more expensive (peak) hours, you should see savings. There are three savings options available to you. All Smart Water Heater customers will begin with Aggressive Energy Savings, unless you request one of the alternative choices.
- Basic Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 1 hour every day. You can expect savings of about $22/year, depending on hot water usage.
- Default Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 2.5 hours every day. You can expect savings of about $52/year, depending on usage. Water heater tanks are large (40-60 gallons), so you should have plenty of hot water during the 2 hours that energy is being shifted from on-peak to off-peak costs.
- Aggressive Energy Savings: This choice delays energy consumption of your water heater by 4 hours (or 5 hours in the summer) every day. You can expect savings of about $70/year, depending on usage. Water heater tanks are large enough that you should have no problems "coasting" for four to five hours. If, however, you were about to run out of hot water, the water heater will automatically turn on. You would then forfeit that day's savings, but would still have plenty of hot water for your typical needs.
How does Peak Partners benefit my community?
Fort Collins Utilities strives to reduce our peak electricity and carbon footprint through energy-saving technology and engagement with our customers. The Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program helps reduce peak energy use of water heaters. A single participant's contribution may seem small but, when program participants join together, the system impacts can be significant and very beneficial.
How does Peak Partners help the environment?
The smart water heater can build up a reservoir of hot water for later use. By heating water when there is plenty of solar or wind energy on the grid, fewer emissions are pumped into the atmosphere. By joining the program, your water heater can be a tool to reduce your—and your community's—environmental impact.