Degrees of Difference Rewards | Reliant Energy

Reliant wants to reward you for saving energy! When electricity demand is high, the Degrees of Difference program will use your thermostat to help you conserve energy and potentially save you money. Joining either program below is free and easy!

Join the Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program

Get a  $25 bill credit 1 just for joining the Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program.2

How it works:

When electricity demand is high, your smart thermostat will notify you of a conservation event and automatically adjust to help you conserve without lifting a finger. Rest assured, you're always in control and can change the temperature at any time. 

Join the Degrees of Difference with manual thermostats program

Join the manual thermostats program3 and receive bill credits of $0.60 per kWh for using less electricity than normal during specified reduction periods.4

How it works:

We'll notify you when peak energy usage days are expected and ask you to reduce your usage. Make small changes like adjusting your thermostat and holding off high-usage appliances to conserve energy.

• What is the Reliant Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program?

  During periods of high electricity demand, a participating smart thermostat will automatically tweak temperatures no more than 4 degrees to balance energy savings and comfort.  Degrees of Difference events can last up to 4 hours, but you can change the temperature on your thermostat at any time.

• How does the Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program work?

  When electricity demand is anticipated to be high, your smart thermostat automatically adjusts a few degrees to decrease your AC runtime and conserve energy. This is known as a Degrees of Difference event. This small change is good for you, your wallet, and the local community. 

  To participate, you must connect your eligible smart thermostat to Wi-Fi and sign up for the Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program using the links above. Once you do, your smart thermostat and its app will let you know when a Degrees of Difference event starts. 

  During a Degrees of Difference event, your thermostat will automatically adjust temperatures to save electricity while keeping you comfortable. But you can choose to change the temperature and opt out of that particular event at any time.

• What is required to participate in the Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program?

  An eligible smart thermostat from Google Nest, Honeywell Home, or Emerson Sensi is required to participate in the Reliant Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program along with Wi-Fi and an active account with your smart thermostat’s app. 

  If you have more than one eligible thermostat, you can enroll each one to participate in Degrees of Difference events. 

  Eligible smart thermostats include: 

  Google Nest 

  • Nest Learning Thermostat (all generations) 
  • Nest Thermostat 
  • Nest Thermostat E 

  Honeywell 

  • VisionPRO 8000 with RedLINK Gateway 
  • VisionPRO 8000 Smart 
  • 9000 Smart 
  • Prestige IAQ 
  • Wi-Fi FocusPRO 6000 
  • Wi-Fi 7-Day Programmable 
  • Wi-Fi 7-Day Programmable Touchscreen 
  • Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat 
  • Wi-Fi 9000 

  You must set up your thermostat using the free Honeywell Total Connect Comfort app in order to register your device in the Degrees of Difference program. 

  Emerson 

  • Sensi Smart Thermostat 
  • Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat

• What should I expect when a Degrees of Difference event occurs?

  Depending on your thermostat, notifications may appear on your thermostat and in its mobile app when a Degrees of Difference event is in progress. During the event, your smart thermostat will adjust your target temperature by no more than 4 degrees. You can override these automatic adjustments at any time if you choose. Your thermostat will return to its regular schedule after the Degrees of Difference event has ended.

• Does Reliant sell smart thermostats?

• How long does a Degrees of Difference event last?

  A Degrees of Difference event can last up to 4 hours.

• How do I know that a Degrees of Difference event is taking place?

  Depending on your thermostat, notifications may appear on the thermostat or in its mobile app when a Degrees of Difference event is in progress. 

  Google Nest: A gold gear icon will appear on the display of your Google Nest thermostat and your Nest app to let you know that an energy event is now taking place. 

  Honeywell: You will receive an Energy Savings Event notification in the Total Connect Comfort app to let you know that an energy event is taking place.

  Emerson Sensi: On the Sensi thermostat, if you're currently in an event, you'll see "Active Savings Event" on the thermostat display, along with the time that event will end. The same information is available in the Sensi app.

• How do I opt out of a Degrees of Difference event?

  You can override the modified temperatures at any point by changing the temperature directly on your smart thermostat or in its app. Your thermostat will keep the temperatures you set and then return to your regular schedule.

• Do Degrees of Difference events happen all year long?

  They will only occur between May and October, when periods of high electricity demand are more likely. You can always opt out of the event by changing the temperature on your thermostat.

• Will participation in the Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program affect my enrollment in my current Reliant plan?

  Your participation in the Degrees of Difference with smart thermostats program does not affect your current Reliant electricity plan.

• What is Reliant Degrees of Difference with manual thermostats program?

  The Reliant Degrees of Difference with manual thermostats program allows customers to earn Degrees of Difference bill credits by using less electricity during requested periods of high demand on the electric grid.

• How does the Degrees of Difference program work?

  Reliant will use email to communicate essential program information to you. The Degrees of Difference program will alert you to upcoming periods of high electricity demand so you can reduce your usage. During these high-demand hours, simply adjust your thermostat and hold off on high-usage activities like running the dishwasher, washer, dryer or pool pump, and you can earn Degrees of Difference bill credits.

• Will enrollment in the Degrees of Difference with manual thermostats program affect my enrollment in my current Reliant plan?

  Your participation doesn’t affect your current Reliant electricity plan.

• How do you determine my usage reduction?

  We review your usage during the requested reduction hours and compare it to previous weekdays to establish your typical usage. Reliant will determine your usage reduction by comparing actual kWh usage during the hours of the requested reduction to your typical usage for that time of day. This typical usage is the average usage at that time over the prior five weekdays. If this method shows a reduction of 1 kWh or more, you will receive a Degrees of Difference bill credit of $0.60 per kWh for using less electricity than normal during high demand hours.

• Why can't Reliant send the event notification earlier than one day in advance?

  We send a request for usage reduction when we anticipate that demand for electricity will be high compared to the amount of available generation. The situations that cause Reliant to request customers to reduce usage are typically unexpected (for example, a significant change in the weather forecast or an unplanned outage of generation), so we usually have only one day of advance notice. This means we can't send an event notice two or three days before an event, because we cannot tell that far in advance that a usage reduction will be needed.

• When will I receive the bill credit?

  The bill credit will appear on your Reliant account within two billing cycles.

• What is required to participate in the Degrees of Difference with manual thermostats program?

  No special thermostat or equipment is required other than a smart meter.

• How will I know if I’ll receive a bill credit for reducing my usage?

  A few days after the requested reduction period, you’ll receive an email summarizing the usage reduction amount and any bill credit that you earned.

• What are some ways I can reduce my electricity usage during a Degrees of Difference event?

  Here are a few ways to reduce your usage: 

  • In the hour prior to the requested reduction period, you can precool (in summer) or preheat (in winter if you have electric heat) your home by adjusting the thermostat temperature to maintain comfort. 
  • During the requested reduction period, adjust your thermostat setting by four degrees. 
  • If you have a swimming pool, turn off the pool pump during the reduction period. 
  • Postpone using your washer or dryer until after the reduction period. 
  • During a reduction period, use a microwave oven — which is a lower-electricity usage appliance — instead of a stovetop or conventional electric oven.