New Bill Will Allow Electric Companies To Control Thermostats

Talk about an invasion of privacy.

A new bill introduced in Ohio will allow utility companies to control the thermostats of their customers.

Surprisingly, the bill was introduced by a Republican.

The new House Bill 427 would allow electric companies to have access to customers’ thermostats during peak energy usage times.

Ohio News reported more on the bill that has many residents concerned:

Proposed legislation would allow utility companies to temporarily limit the amount of customers’ energy usage during peak demand times.

Rep. Roy Klopfenstein, R-Haviland, introduced House Bill 427 late last month. The measure, which has not yet been assigned to a committee, creates a “voluntary demand response program.”

Under the program, customers could opt to allow utilities to “temporarily adjust energy usage” during periods of high demand. Actions could include “raising thermostat settings or cycling water heaters.”

As proposed, customers could override any changes, and utilities could compensate customers either annually or per event. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio would review the programs to ensure they are cost-effective for customers.

“This legislation is a crucial step in our state’s comprehensive plan to ensure all Ohioans have access to reliable, affordable, and readily available energy,” Klopfenstein said in a release.

“Demand response programs have proven to be a vital tool for our large commercial users, and it’s important that similar programs are made available to residential and small commercial users,” Klopfenstein added. “These programs will ease the strain on our energy grid and save money for all Ohioans.”

The legislation is touted as a way to modernize Ohio’s energy regulations and improve the electric grid’s reliability while also helping homeowners and small businesses save money.

Ohio is pushing a new bill that would give utility companies the ability to control and adjust customer thermostats during periods of “high demand.”

The legislation aims to reduce strain on the state’s power grid during peak usage, including summer heat waves and winter freezes.… pic.twitter.com/z9XmSLqSR8

— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) September 7, 2025

Did you know this is already happening in Texas and Colorado?

I lived in North Texas & I had heard of this program. You voluntarily give the electric company control over your home’s thermostat during peak periods. I have a smart thermostat, but only I control it. Besides, my rural electric service now isn’t that fancy-schmancy. pic.twitter.com/IfZBlEyi7O

— Maurice Peterson (@OregonPioneer) July 14, 2022

Smart thermostats can be adjusted remotely. 22k homes in CO had theirs turned up on a hot day and locked by the power company a few years ago. That’s when I decided that no smart devices would ever be in my home. pic.twitter.com/1SCumplE6L

— Truckin Texan (@punmasterflash) September 6, 2025

Fox Business reported more on thermostats being controlled in Colorado:

Thousands of utility company customers in Colorado were locked out of changing their thermostats due to an “energy emergency,” sparking outrage that spilled onto social media.

Xcel Energy, a utility company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, confirmed that 22,000 customers in the Denver, Colorado area who were signed up for the Colorado AC Rewards program were locked out of their thermostats for several hours on Tuesday, KMGH-TV reported.

Tony Talarico, an Xcel Energy customer in Arvada, Colorado, told KMGH-TV that he attempted to turn up the air conditioning as temperatures creeped into the 90s on Tuesday but was greeted with a message from this thermostat declaring an “energy emergency” and prevented from turning the dial.

“Normally, when we see a message like that, we’re able to override it,” Talarico said. “In this case, we weren’t. So, our thermostat was locked in at 78 or 79.”