"Colorado utility company locks 22,000 thermostats in 90 degree weather due to 'energy emergency'"
"Xcel Energy, a utility company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, confirmed that 22,000 customers in the Denver, Colorado area who were signed up for the Colorado AC Rewards program were locked out of their thermostats for several hours on Tuesday, KMGH-TV reported.
Tony Talarico, an Xcel Energy customer in Arvada, Colorado, told KMGH-TV that he attempted to turn up the air conditioning as temperatures creeped into the 90s on Tuesday but was greeted with a message from this thermostat declaring an "energy emergency" and prevented from turning the dial.
"Normally, when we see a message like that, we're able to override it," Talarico said. "In this case, we weren't. So, our thermostat was locked in at 78 or 79.""
So, was the temp too high or too low? not the question. MY issue is the power company has the ability to eavesdrop into houses and adjust the smart appliances in a private home. I had enough issues with whatshername. But for an external company chooses how I run my home is too much 1984 for me.
