Consumers Energy offers up to 100,000 Google Nest thermostats to Michigan homeowners

In a collaborative effort to help Michigan residents save money through their energy use, Consumers Energy announced this week that it will dispatch up to 100,000 Google Nest thermostats to households throughout the state.

The announcement was part of a partnership with Google and Uplight, but also, part of Consumers’ larger Clean Energy Plan. The Nest thermostats will be rolled out to customers through July 31.

“We need Michigan to take action to protect the environment and help us avoid building three new power plants over the next generation,” Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy’s president and CEO, said. “By giving away 100,000 thermostats with Google and Uplight, we’re demonstrating that not only can we protect the environment, but we can also help reduce costs for the communities we serve at a time when they need it most.”

All residential customers stand to benefit from the arrangement, be they electric or natural gas customers. Beyond the physical thermostats, electric customers who receive them will also be enrolled in Consumers Energy’s Smart Thermostat Program, which shifts energy to off-peak hours on a few days each year. Even households ineligible for the Nests themselves could receive a free care package from Consumers, which will include four LED bulbs and three nightlights. Those customers will be enrolled in the Peak Time Rewards program, which grants payments for shifting energy use away from the late afternoon period of summer.

“As we work to protect and support all Michiganders during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a great tool to help families keep their utility bills down,” Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II said. “I commend Consumers Energy, Google, and Uplight for this innovative partnership, which helps people save money and is another step for our state toward a cleaner energy future.”

The thermostats represent a larger appeal from Consumers to its customers. Going forward, it is actively encouraging customers to shift energy use away from peak times in the summer, especially 2-7 p.m. on weekdays.