Flex Smart is a voluntary program that uses smart technology to smooth out the demand for energy when it’s at its highest, helping us meet our region’s growing energy needs.

Enrollment is available to both residential and business customers who have an AMI meter, whose heating or cooling is provided by PSE electricity, and who have qualifying Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostats. Customers who heat with PSE natural gas and do not cool with PSE electricity do not qualify.

Customers who enrolled in a TOU rate plan featuring Peak Time Rebates (Sch. 317 or Sch. 324) are not eligible to simultaneously participate in PSE’s other demand response programs (Flex Rewards/Flex Smart/Flex EV) and will be opted out accordingly. However, customers who are currently enrolled in a standalone TOU rate plan (Sch. 307 or Sch. 327) are eligible to simultaneously enroll in both Flex Rewards/Flex Smart/Flex EV and TOU.

Residential customers who do not have a qualifying thermostat can purchase one at the PSE Marketplace and receive a $75 rebate instantly at checkout or check out Flex Rewards!

Your rewards depend on the type of thermostat(s) you enroll and how long you stay enrolled.

Smart thermostat participants get $50 per device for enrolling, plus $20 per device for each season (winter and summer) you stay enrolled.

Line-voltage connected thermostat participants get $20 per device for enrolling, plus $10 per device for each season (winter) you stay enrolled.

No, if you are signed up for Flex Rewards, you cannot also enroll your thermostat. However, you can enroll other qualified smart devices such as EV chargers.

Participants who enroll are automatically entered to win one of two $250 gift cards. Giveaways will be drawn each month during the summer season (May 1 through September) and winter season (November through March).

Flex Smart is administered on behalf of PSE by AutoGrid, overseeing program implementation, payment processing, and customer support. Enrolled customers can manage their accounts through the FlexSaver portal provided by AutoGrid. For the fastest assistance, you can contact AutoGrid's customer support directly at flex@big5vn.com or by calling 1-888-292-0502.

Enrolling your thermostat requires that your home or business be equipped with AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), the current standard for metering technology that facilitates two-way communication between meters and PSE. As part of PSE’s Meter Upgrade Project, nearly 2 million meters in our service area were upgraded to AMI between 2018 and 2023. For more information, please visit the Meter Upgrade Project.

To maintain your comfort during a Flex event, your thermostat may pre-heat (temperature setting is increased) or pre-cool (temperature setting is decreased) prior to a Flex event. Although this process may seem unusual, it shifts energy use before demand is high this way you are comfortable when your thermostat is adjusted during a Flex event.

Our experts can predict periods with heightened demand for electricity based on a range of different criteria, which we call “Flex events.” For example, a Flex event might occur on a day with weather hotter or colder than normal, when we tend to use more energy to heat and cool our homes and businesses.

With collective action from the community, we can prevent spikes in energy usage that strain the grid and ensure there is enough energy to go around.

Once you’ve enrolled your thermostat, we’ll adjust its temperature set point by a few degrees for a few hours during the Flex event. We may also adjust your temperature set point ahead of an event. Data shows that most customers do not experience a change in comfort during Flex events and you’ll be helping to create a more energy-efficient and resilient electrical system in your community.

Yes, you can always opt out before or during a Flex event by manually adjusting your thermostat. You are always in control of the comfort of your home, and PSE will never lock thermostats.

Flex events will only occur during the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., typically lasting between 2-4 hours each, and will never take place on holidays (see list below). Winter events can occur from Nov. 1 to March 31 and summer events can occur from May 1 to Sept. 30.

Holidays:

• New Years
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas

No, reducing energy usage during Flex events is 100% voluntary for customers. There is no requirement to participate.

Your smart thermostat will automatically adjust by a few degrees for a maximum of 4 hours, depending on the model of thermostat. Once the event is over, your thermostat will default to its regular settings. Some thermostats come with the option for you to choose the exact temperature adjustments in the app. Depending on your preference settings and the information provided during enrollment, you may also get an email from us notifying you of an upcoming Flex event.

No, PSE will not disconnect customers' power in response to increased demand. However, it is possible that a power outage might coincide with a Flex event due to circumstances such as inclement weather. For customers in the Flex Smart program, PSE is only authorized to auto-adjust their smart thermostat or other smart device during Flex events, but participation is always voluntary.

If you have a qualifying thermostat, you may enroll it as long as your thermostat account is associated with the thermostat(s) in your home. If not, you may qualify for our Flex Rewards program, which does not require a smart device to join.

To learn more about our commercial Flex programs, please reach out to flex@big5vn.com.

It depends. Some smart thermostats purchased from the PSE Marketplace, such as Google Nest, Ecboee and Sensi are now pre-enrolled for your convenience, but Mysa and Sinope devices require manual enrollment after purchase. When you buy a Mysa or Sinope device, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to enroll.

If inaccurate customer or account information is provided during the sign-up process, it can result in a failed enrollment. If this happens, you may be notified by your manufacturer of what went wrong. If you need additional assistance signing up, you can always call our toll-free help line 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1-888-292-0502 or email flex@big5vn.com.

You will receive your enrollment reward in the form of an e-gift card fulfilled by Tango within 4-6 weeks. For smart thermostats, you will receive an additional reward for each season (winter and summer) that you remain enrolled within 2 weeks of the season’s end. For line-voltage connected thermostats, you will receive an additional reward for each winter you stay enrolled. Winter season goes from Nov. 1 to March 31 and summer season goes from May 1 to Sept. 30.

Yes, as long as your new residence or business meets the program qualifications. To ensure you remain enrolled at your new address, please contact us at 1-888-292-0502.

Absolutely! You can sign up as a new participant using the thermostat left behind. Follow the links for "Compatible Thermostats" on this page or call us at 1-888-292-0502, and we will assist you with your program enrollment.

Yes! You can get assistance installing a smart thermostat through PSE’s contractor network, Recommended Energy Professionals. Get a referral today.

Your smart thermostat uses Wi-Fi to communicate with PSE, similar to the way it communicates with your phone when you alter the temperature remotely.

Yes. PSE takes its responsibility to maintain the confidentiality and security of customer information seriously. When signing up for PSE Flex through your smart thermostat’s manufacturer website, you are only providing basic information that allows Puget Sound Energy to connect your device information to your account information. This data is securely transmitted through encrypted connections to PSE. Learn more about PSE’s privacy policy.