Below are questions to some commonly asked questions about Cool Keeper. If you still have questions, please call 1-800-357-9214.

What is the Cool Keeper program?
Who is eligible to participate?
What is the purpose of the program?
How does it work?
You've mentioned receiving a unit switch. Exactly what equipment will be installed?
Why should I sign up?
How will I be affected by this program/device? Will I experience any discomfort during the switch activation?
How long will it take to have the switch installed? Will I need to be at home during the installation?
Will program participation reduce my electric bill?
How often will the switch be activated? Can it be activated at anytime?
How will I know when the switch is activated? Can I shut it off?
Will the equipment damage my A/C compressor?
How long do I have to participate in this program? Can I cancel my participation?
Can I participate if I live in an apartment or rental property?
Is there anything that I should do if I need to service or maintain my air conditioner?
What should I do if I have to replace my air conditioner?
What happens if I move and sell my home?
What if I have more than one central air conditioning unit?
Are condominiums and townhouses eligible?
How do I sign up?
Will my personal information be sold or used for either direct mail or telemarketing purposes?

What is the Cool Keeper program?
Cool Keeper is a voluntary program for residential and small commercial customers residing along Utah's  Wasatch Front . The program is designed to aid in the Wasatch Front’s increasing demand for electricity by reducing the electricity used by central air conditioning (A/C) during the summer cooling season. As part of the program, Utah Power will install and operate a switch on participating customers’ A/C systems. This switch will allow the company to partially control the customers A/C compressor by stopping the cycle of the A/C for a few minutes each half hour during summer (June, July and August) peak hours (2 to 8 p.m.) on weekdays. This results in the A/C compressor running less than it would normally run and staggering the start-up times of the various units on individual electrical circuits. By cycling the air conditioner in this way, the load on the Utah Power electrical distribution system can be reduced and balanced during times of high use. This reduction and coordination of load improves system efficiencies and helps Utah Power better manage costs and keep rates down. Customers who participate from June through August will receive an annual thank you credit on their fall bills for participating.

Who is eligible to participate?
Utah residential and small commercial customers on Utah Power rate schedules 1, 2, 3, 23 or 25 who reside in the  signal control area along the Wasatch Front and who have operable central electric A/C systems or central heat pump systems are eligible to participate. Customers who have two or more units on a single property must have all units participate in the program.

What is the purpose of the program?
Cool Keeper is one way for Utah Power to meet the electric needs of its customers in a growing-area with high peak central A/C usage. Utah Power is making substantial investments in its electrical system and is offering customers a chance to be a part of the solution. In the short-term, this program is meant to better balance the demand for electricity on the power system, and in the long-term the program is meant to conserve resources and control costs. By decreasing the load on the power system, Utah Power will not have to seek out new expensive peak generating capacity. Working together, Utah Power and our customers can keep the power flowing and stretch valuable energy resources for the benefit of all Utah Power customers. As a thank you, Utah Power will also  credit   participating customers’ electricity bills.

How does it work?
It’s really pretty simple. A switch is installed on the air conditioner. This switch is much like a second ‘smart’ thermostat that is remotely programmable, has a memory, and has the ability to over-ride the existing thermostat’s control of the A/C's compressor. The switch monitors the A/C's normal operation. The air conditioner naturally cycles on and off as it’s needed to maintain a set temperature in the home or business. When Utah Power sends a control message to this switch, the switch reduces the A/C's normal cycle time. This means that the A/C will still operate during these high usage periods, but just about half as much.

For example, if an A/C normally cycles 15 minutes in the “on” part of the cycle, the switch will allow it to operate for a defined period less than the 15 minutes. This ‘abbreviated cycling’ takes place only during peak hours (2 to 8 p.m.) on selected weekdays during the summer months. There may likely be a slight temperature increase during the period the air conditioner is being cycled, typically only from one to three degrees.The air conditioner will compensate for this after the dispatch period has concluded. Since the running of the air conditioner is being shifted to later in the day, it reduces electrical demand during the hours of peak requirement.

This technology has successfully been applied in many other states.

You’ve mentioned a receiving switch. Exactly what equipment will be installed?
The switch is a light gray, weatherized plastic box measuring roughly 7" x 10" x 3.5". The switch is affixed to either the exterior of the house or directly to the outside of the air conditioning unit. Caution is taken to ensure neither the house nor the air conditioner is damaged during installation or removal. A certified field technician will install, test and verify that the switch is operating safely with the air conditioner’s compressor. It is not necessary to enter the house to install the equipment and therefore it is not necessary that the customer be home to have the unit installed. Customers who are not present when the installation takes place, will be notified that the device was installed. Customers can also call 1-800-357-9214 with questions.

Some, randomly selected, customers may have an additional device (a special meter) affixed to their air conditioner. These devises are used for measurement purposes and are very sensitive. Only skilled technicians should handle or manipulate the devices. The switches and meters are sealed for safety and to assure accurate measurement. Customers should not attempt to modify the configuration of the switch and or meter. Customers can call 1-800-357-9214 with questions.

Why should I sign up?
By participating in the program, customers will be helping to make most efficient use of energy resources wile also promoting stable electricity prices. Participating single-family residential and small commercial customers will also receive a thank-you credit for taking part in the program. This credit is $20 for customers with a central air conditioning less than or equal to 65,000 Btu/hr. (5.4 tons or less). Units greater than 65,000 Btu/hr. but less than 90,000 Btu/hr. (5.5 to 7.5 tons) will receive a $40 participation credit. To receive the full credit, customers must particiapte from June through August each year. Customers who enroll between June 1 and August 31 will receive a prorated credit based on the percentage of time enrolled during the three months.

How will I be affected by this program/device? Will I experience any discomfort during the switch activation?
Since the compressor is operating for less time during the activated period, the inside temperature typically does not rise more than about 1 to 3 degrees. This slight rise in temperature generally does not create additional discomfort. The actual amount of temperature rise depends on a number of factors including building insulation, window treatments, number of occupants, behavior patterns of residents the efficiency of the air conditioning equipment.

How long will it take to have the switch installed? Will I need to be at home during the installation?
It should take roughly 20 to 35 minutes to install the switch. It is not necessary that customers be at home for installation if the air conditioner is located in an accessible place i.e. an unfenced yard or behind an unlocked gate. Specific appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-800-357-9214, for those who wish to be home during installation.

Will program participation reduce my electric bill?
It is unlikely that there will be any monetary savings with this program even though energy reductions occur during the cycling period. Experience has shown that cycling air conditioners simply shifts energy usage from on-peak or high use periods to off-peak or lower use periods. Consequently, participating customers would likely experience only small, if any, net savings.

How often will the switch be activated? Can it be activated at anytime?
The switches will be activated only on selected weekdays between the hours of 2 and 8 p.m. during the summer months (June 1 through August 31). The switches will not be activated on weekends or holidays. The switches can be operated for up to 4 hours at a time, and will not be operated the switches for more than 100 total hours during the summer. Generally, switches will be operated on weekdays when the outside temperature exceeds 97°F.

The actual cycling of the air conditioner is done based on the air conditioner's run time. For example, if an air conditioner typically runs 20 minutes each half-hour, Utah Power would operate the switch on the air conditioner compressor at 50 percent. As a result, the air conditioner would run for 10 minutes in the half-hour period.

How will I know when the switch is activated? Can I shut it off?
The switch has light on the front. A red light indicates that the switch has been activated. The switch can not be shut off manually. Customers may call us ahead of time at 1-800-357-9214 and choose to be excluded from switch activation. However, after two exclusions in one year, customers will be removed from the program.

Is there anything that I need to do with my thermostat as a result of this program or switch?
No. The operation of the thermostat should not be impacted by the installation of the switch nor should activation of the switch have any impact on the internal controls or settings of the thermostat. During the summer season, the Department of Energy recommends that customers set their thermostats to 78°F.

Will the equipment damage my A/C compressor?
No, the equipment will not damage the A/C or heat pump compressor.

How long do I have to participate in this program? Can I cancel my participation?
Participation is voluntary. Customers can cancel their participation at any time by calling 1-800-357-9214. However, customers may only elect to participate and then exit the program one time per year.

The program is designed to be in place for 10 years. Once the switch is installed, participation will automatically continue each year unless the customer elects to be dropped from the program. Changes in the program design may occur at any time during the course of the program. Utah Power will notify participants in writing of any changes to the program.

Can I participate if I live in an apartment or rental property?
All Utah Power Customers who reside along the  Wasatch Front signal area and who receive service on rate schedules 1, 2, 3, 23 or 25 with operable, electric central air conditioning or heat pump systems for summer space conditioning are eligible to participate. For customers who do not own the air conditioning units (apartment or whole-house lessees), it will be essential to first receive permission from the landlord prior to signing up for this program. Have the landlord call us at 1-800-357-9214 for information and sign up.

Is there anything that I should do if I need to service or maintain my air conditioner?
There is nothing special that needs to be done from an air conditioner maintenance perspective. However, it would be wise to inform any service or maintenance personnel that you are on the program and to make sure they do not inadvertently disconnect or damage the switch. If there are questions, please have the service or maintenance personnel call us at 1-800-357-9214.

What should I do if I have to replace my air conditioner?
Make sure the HVAC technician knows about the switch and that you are a Cool Keeper participant. Ask the HVAC technician to contact us at 1-800-357-9214 for information on to how best to complete the repair and ensure the air conditioner can continue to receive signals.

What happens if I move and sell my home?
Notify the person purchasing the house about the switch and the program. If the new owner has questions, they can contact us at 1-800-357-9214. The new owner would need to sign up if they elect to continue participation. A change in customer records at a participating location automatically removes that location from the program.

What if I have more than one central air conditioning unit?
Customers with more than one unit will receive switches on all units. Credits  are paid on a per unit basis. For example, a customer with two units would receive double the credit he/she would normally have received with one unit.

Are condominiums and townhouses eligible?
Yes, customers living in condominiums and townhouses are eligible to participate in the Cool Keeper program as long they have electric central air conditioning and/or central heat pump systems.

How do I sign up?
Enroll online now or call 1-800-357-9214.Participating customers are not required to enter into a formal contract. Customers can cancel their participation in the program at anytime, however the bill credit  will not be applied. All customer information will remain confidential to Utah Power.

Will my personal information be sold or used for either direct mail or telemarketing purposes?
No. As always, your personal information will be kept completely confidential. As part of this program, Utah Power will also conduct research to assess what, if anything needs to be done to enhance customer satisfaction and overall program effectiveness. Some customers may be asked to complete a survey or to briefly share their thoughts in a phone interview.