Smart Cooling Rewards-Demand Control "Smart" Switch Programs

We have had a few customers ask us about the Dominion Program, “Smart Cooling Rewards” and the effect it would have on their comfort, system and wallet.

Dominion Virginia Power will install an A/C Cycling or "smart" switch on your outdoor air-conditioning unit or heat pump system. During periods of high demand, Dominion Power will cycle your air conditioner or heat pump compressor on and off for short periods. The fan will stay on circulating already cooled air.  Virginia Dominion Power expresses that this will occur during the summer season between June and September. Typically cycling will occur for about four hours per event, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and will not occur on weekends or holidays.

Dominion Virginia Power will provide the equipment and the installation is free and since the work is performed on your outdoor unit, you don't even need to be home during installation.  Qualifying homeowners will receive $40 following each summer season they participate.  (Click here for more information on the Dominion Virginia Power Program.

The following is our opinion (All Seasons Heating and Cooling Service Company):

The program is good as far as saving a little money on your electric bill, but your comfort will most likely be compromised. When "peak time" (periods of high demand) is in effect, your equipment will not function during those periods. We usually get a few service calls each cooling season because they do not have AC due to a program similar such as Demand Control. Some devices isolate one "leg"of your 230 VAC circuit so the compressor and water heater cannot operate during this "peak" period and this program from Dominion Virginia Power disrupts the "Y" compressor low voltage circuit to stop the compressor from operating.

If the outdoor temperature is 85 degrees or higher and your AC system is off for a period of 4 hours; the heat and humidity level in your house may rise to unacceptable levels during that time. When the power is restored and the AC system is allowed to operate again, it will have to run awhile (possibly hours) to overcome that heat and humidity load.

It depends on your schedule and your families' schedule if this may become an issue. If no one is home during these hours and for a while afterwards, it may not present a problem. If someone is usually home during this time; it most likely will present some comfort issues.

The indoor unit is not affected by their program. You should have your indoor fan set to auto in the humid months. If you set it to run continuously, there will be humidity issues. The AC's job is to cool your home and to remove humidity. When the indoor fan is set to run and the outdoor unit turns off; it just blows the moisture right off the indoor coil back into the air stream it just removed the moisture from, increasing the humidity again.

We do not believe it will harm your equipment as long as there are no power surges during the power restore period. A surge protection device can be installed if needed for added protection. Your equipment has factory installed time delay devices to protect the compressors from short cycling.

Another idea instead of the program from Dominion Virginia Power is installing and using programmable thermostats.  You can easily program your own schedules and temperatures to save money without having "Big Brother" do it for you at possibly the expense of your comfort.

The savings from using a programmable thermostat may well exceed the $40.00 incentive that Dominion Virginia Power is offering to send you at the end of each summer that you use their "smart" switch and you will not have to sacrifice your comfort.