Energy Choice
                            

Matters

Stream Begins Providing Free Smart Devices To Low-Income Texans Under TDU Reimbursement Programs, Provides Nearly 7,000 Devices In ~2 Months

September 29, 2016

Email This Story
Copyright 2010-16 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

Stream recently began participating in the Texas program that reimburses retail electric providers for providing, free of charge, a programmable communicating thermostat (PCT) and/or in-home-display (IHD) to eligible low-income customers

Under the program launched in January 2015, for providing an eligible low-income customer with an eligible programmable communicating thermostat (PCT) or in-home display (IHD) at no cost to the customer, a TDU reimburses the REP for the cost of a device up to a cap of $250, with an additional 25% for administrative costs, for a total reimbursement cap of $300 per device. For PCTs only, an additional $125 is reimbursed to cover the cost of installation.

Although the low-income smart device reimbursement program has been in place since January 2015, Stream only began participation in mid-July, focusing on the Oncor and CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric service areas.

Since its mid-July start, Stream has provided 3,255 PCTs and 3,500 IHDs to customers under the program. Stream is offering a Honeywell WiFi PCT under the program, as well as an IHD.

Asked about its recent decision to participate, a Stream media representative told EnergyChoiceMatters.com that, "Over the last few years, Stream has been focusing on internal operations. Within the past few months, Stream has shifted its focus to external growth strategies, and as a result is developing and implementing a number of strategic programs to improve the customer experience for existing customer segments. The AMS Low Income program is an example of this forward-looking, customer-focused strategy. With any program introduced at Stream (including the AMS Low Income program), Stream is careful to make sure that it has the support it needs to be successful before starting. As soon as Stream was ready, deployment began for this program."

"Stream wanted to ensure that everything was in place to support the program’s success, and this type of program also represents a revitalized, customer-focused external growth strategy. Stream had also attended a number of industry conferences and forums, where concern about low program participation had been voiced. As a result, Stream saw participating in this program as an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the marketplace and do its part to ensure its low income customer segment took full advantage of the allocated funds," Stream's representative said

Stream is working to provide the devices, subject to funding, to some 30,000 of its customers who qualify for the program. Under the program, REPs may only market the devices to their existing customers, not prospective customers.

Stream noted that since its participation began, its participation has helped the funds at CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric be fully allocated, with the funds now nearing exhaustion (see earlier story)

As such, Stream's focus will now solely be on the Oncor service area, where about $5 million in funds remained as of the end of July (the most recent public report)

By the time Stream began participation, funds at Texas-New Mexico Power had been exhausted and had been nearly exhausted at AEP Texas Central. While funding is still available at AEP Texas North, Stream said that it chose to strategically focus on offering the devices to its customers in its two largest markets (with the largest majority of eligible customers) in Dallas and Houston.

"We believe in empowering our customers to manage their energy budget effectively and efficiently, by putting data into their hands. Leveraging smart technologies to connect our customers to new energy management opportunities is a key part of our growth strategy at Stream," said Greg Martin, Stream’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Energy Services.

ADVERTISEMENT
NEW Jobs on RetailEnergyJobs.com:
• NEW! -- Vice President Sales & Marketing -- Retail Supplier -- Houston
• NEW! -- Executive Director -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Director of Billing Operations
• NEW! -- Director/Manager Channel Sales -- Retail Supplier -- Houston
• NEW! -- Analyst, Supply & Settlements -- Retail Supplier -- Houston
• NEW! -- Manager of Supply -- Retail Provider -- Dallas
• NEW! -- Pricing Analyst -- Retail Supplier
• NEW! -- Channel Partner Manager, Northeast -- Retail Provider