Smart Water Heater Pilot Program

Having many heaters work smarter by heating water during times when energy usage is lower reduces the strain on our grid and helps us balance energy demand with supplies. Having your unit heat water during the day when sunshine is plentiful also allows customer to use the clean, solar energy that TEP generates. Shifting water heating energy usage to off-peak demand periods helps keep rates affordable for everyone.

This is a “smart” device that learns your household’s water heating behaviors and needs and reheats water to ensure you have warm water when you typically use it. It pre-warms water in anticipation of your needs, but avoids warming water during times when the demand for energy is high.

You shouldn’t, unless your normal warm water usage significantly increases. The smart device will learns to recognize your need for warm water and will heat it ahead of time so that it’s ready for you to use when you turn on the faucet or shower.

Installation of the device for customers who live in multifamily housing complexes will be completed by a TEP technician and will coordinated with the property manager. Customers will have 48 hours’ notice of when a technician will be at their residence to install the device on their water heater.

Customers with heat pump water heaters will be given the device to install themselves. The device is easy to install. Simply plug your water heater cord into the device and then plug the device into your electrical outlet.

Installation of the device by either our technician or the homeowner is quick and easy and takes 20 minutes or less.

Yes. To participate, customers must have an electric heat pump water heater or a standard electric water heater. Customers with natural gas water heaters are unable to participate in this pilot program.

Yes, participation is limited to 500 households that live in residential multifamily housing communities and 25 single-family household.

No, participation is free and there is no cost to homeowners.

In fact, TEP will apply a $10 quarterly credit to your bill to thank you for participating in this pilot program and for supporting renewable energy use.

Yes. The devices installed on multifamily residential standard electric water heaters can help detect a slow leak if your water heater is operating more than it should be.  This helps property managers know if there is a leak so they can make the necessary repairs.

The program duration is June 1, 2021 through next year (2022).

Yes. You can withdraw from the program by emailing MultiFamily@tep.com or by calling TEP Customer Care at 520-623-7711.