SDG&E Commercial Thermostat Evaluation

San Diego Gas and Electric Company’s (SDG&E) commercial thermostat program provides commercial customers with programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs). On event days, customers are subject to two different air conditioning (AC) cycling strategies—50% cycling and a 4-degree temperature setback. Customers receive the PCTs for free, but do not currently receive an incentive payment, and are able to override the signal or opt out of DR events. Most of these customers will be defaulted onto Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) within a year. For now, the thermostats are activated on residential Peak Time Rebate (PTR) event days.