When those free “Nest” thermostats become a “not good idea” because free is never “free”.
https://dailycaller.com/2022/09/01/energy-company-locks-home-thermostats-heat-wave/
This isn’t covid related, but in light of the energy issues that we have seen over the last year, this bears mention. Remember when over the last few years your local electric company offered you a free Nest thermostat? And offered you a discount on your bill for being “green”? Well, my best piece of advice is to rip that thermostat out, and opt for something you can control. KCPL offered free nest thermostats to their customers and gave them a discount for adjusting their temps during the day when they were at work, and then adjusting them back to intended temperatures when people are home. I have had a nest thermostat, but NOT through my electric company.
The most recent incident occurred in August 2022 in Denver, Colorado. They experienced a heat wave, and the energy grid was “taxed”. What was the response of the electric company? They took control of the thermostats that they had given to people for free, locked them, and removed the ability for the consumer to regulate their home temperature. They cooked inside their houses as the electric company raised the indoor temperature to 85 degrees, and that went on until the heat wave ended. Needless to say, the customers who had this free thermostat decided it was not such a great idea if the electric company can hold you hostage to the temperature THEY believe you should keep your home at, not the temperature you prefer it to be at.
What many do not realize (or maybe they do), is that Nest thermostats, or ANY thermostat that can be set up via an app requires wifi to the thermostat. Which means, anyone could technically hack your thermostat and control the temperature on it. If your electric company gave you a free Nest thermostat, THEY OWN IT. They can do with it whatever they choose to do with it!!!
The best advice out there to prevent your energy needs being hijacked by your electric company is to remove the energy company thermostat PRONTO. Buy a thermostat of your choosing, but try to eliminate the need for wifi on it. Make it adjustable the old fashioned way: walk over to it and adjust the temperature as needed.
What happened in Denver is not the last time this will happen. We will start to see more and more cases of this. If you want control of your home and your energy needs, ditch the one from the electric company and go buy your own. There are numerous options at reasonably cheap prices out there. Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Menards all carry them.
This is happening in Europe with frightening regularity. I can't find the latest article I read about it, but this is happening in Spain and it's expected to continue into winter, so you won't be able to heat your home.
Ominous stuff. Makes one question whether it really is 'smart' to put all that IoT tech into houses - including electronic locks. Who needs Skynet if the government can't just lock you in for your 14 day 'home isolation' or 'monthly climate-saving weekend at home'.
Something I recall from earlier in the year, possibly COP26 or a different cult meeting, was the intent TPTB have for heating. Noting that many more die from cold than heat, globally.
They wanted to replace gas fed heaters with electric 'heat pumps' in domestic settings. As part of the SDG's or other inverted policy to 'save the planet'. I believe they are going after woodfired options also. Anything that doesn't have a leash.
Now, given the self-inflicted and increasing fragility of the electrical grids, that policy would raise serious questions. The grid we could once depend on is no more, in many places. The assumption that a thirsty electric heater will be able - or allowed - to run is not going to hold up for long. And even if people want to use them, extreme prices will force people to switch them off.
I acknowledge the same is happening with gas in the UK and likely many other places. Small businesses are facing a 10x increase for cooking, etc. An increase that retail just cannot swallow.
Bottom line, they seem intent on forcing the vulnerability you've raised, on everyone. That is ominous.