Google announced the end of support for early Nest Thermostats in a support document earlier this year that largely flew under the radar. As of October 25, first and second generation units released in 2011 and 2012, respectively, will be unpaired and removed from the Google Nest or Google Home app.
Users will no longer be able to control their thermostats remotely via their smartphone, receive notifications, or change settings from a mobile device. End-of-support also disables third-party assistants and other cloud-based features including multi-device Eco mode and Nest Protect connectivity.
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 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?
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 and needing to cool off or you have a hot flash for some reason. 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.
Thanks for that write-up. I’ll continue to ignore the electric company’s marketing efforts and remain blissfully disconnected.