MGE Connect FAQ

• MGE Connect is an optional program for residential electric customers who have eligible smart thermostats connected to their air conditioning.

• When summer temperatures climb, demand for electricity increases. MGE Connect is designed to help reduce high electricity—or peak—demand. Reducing peak demand can help control costs for all customers long-term.

• Participants agree to brief, limited adjustments of their thermostats during peak electric demand periods typically from June 1 through September 30. Enrolled customers can anticipate at least one adjustment and a maximum of 20 adjustments per summer. Peak demand periods for adjustments typically occur on especially hot or humid days. Adjustments will not occur on weekends or holidays.

• Participants will receive a one-time $50 gift card from MGE for your first year of enrollment in the MGE Connect program with a qualifying thermostat. After that, you will receive $25 for participating each season. Customers with multiple thermostats controlling a single air-conditioning unit are only eligible for one participation incentive.

The program:

• Supports a reduction in our collective energy use, which helps to lower emissions. MGE is working with customers to reduce carbon emissions, targeting net-zero carbon electricity by 2050.

• Helps MGE better understand how the use of new, smart technologies can be used to manage our community’s electric grid during periods of high electric use.

• Helps to reduce peak demand, which puts pressure on utilities to generate, transmit and distribute the maximum amount of electricity to serve everyone who needs it.

To be eligible to enroll, you must:

• Be an MGE residential electric customer.

• Use an eligible internet-connected thermostat for cooling.

• Allow MGE to make brief, small thermostat adjustments on days of high energy demand.

• Visit https://www.thermostatrewards.com/mge

• Confirm your eligibility for MGE Connect by answering these three questions:

  1. Are you an MGE residential electric customer?

  2. Do you use an eligible, internet-connected thermostat to control your central air conditioning?

  3. Will you allow MGE to make short, low-impact thermostat adjustments on high energy usage days?

If you answer yes to these three questions, please choose whether you have a thermostat to enroll in MGE Connect.

• If you have an existing thermostat, please select your thermostat among the eligible models.

• Click the “Enroll Now” button to go to your thermostat’s enrollment site, where you will follow a series of simple steps to enroll.

Once your eligibility is confirmed by MGE, you will be enrolled in the program. You will receive notification on your eligibility status in your account registered email.

If your application is received outside of the summer season, it will not be reviewed until the following spring, prior to the upcoming summer season.

Participants will receive a one-time $50 gift card after being accepted into the program (one gift card per customer for enrollment).

You will receive your $50 gift card within 60 days of being accepted into the MGE Connect® program.

You will receive a $25 gift card for each summer season (June through September) that you stay enrolled in the program. Customers with multiple thermostats controlling a single air-conditioning unit are only eligible for one participation incentive.

Below is the current list of qualifying thermostats.

You can find the program terms and conditions for all thermostat providers below:

Depending on your thermostat provider, notifications may appear on the thermostat or in your web or mobile application.

• At the start of an adjustment event, your thermostat will be automatically adjusted up to four degrees above the current temperature.

• The adjustment will typically last no more than four hours on non-holiday weekdays and will occur between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m.

• Once the temperature adjustment is over, your thermostat will return to its normal set point and/or schedule.

• In some cases, your thermostat may be adjusted down 3 degrees prior to an adjustment event to precool your home. This is done to help ensure comfort during the event.

• You can opt out of an event at any time from your mobile device, web browser or thermostat. When you opt out of the precool, you also are opting out of the temperature adjustment.

Adjustment events will only affect the temperature by a few degrees, with minimal impact on comfort. Precooling is done to help ensure comfort during the event period. You can easily opt out of an event at any time, for any reason. Your participation is voluntary and you will retain control of your thermostat.

Yes. At any time during an event, you can opt out from your thermostat, mobile device or web app.

Send an email to mge@energyhub.com, requesting to end your participation in MGE Connect. Cancelling your enrollment in the program will end your participation for all of your enrolled thermostats. Once you cancel your enrollment in the program, you will not receive the annual participation incentive and you may be required to wait up to 12 months to rejoin the program.

Please email MGE@energyhub.com.