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The Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program

Open to select Fort Collins Utilities customers who meet eligibility requirements.

The Smart Water Heater Program is part of Peak Partners – a group of programs designed to help customers manage their energy usage and promote a healthy environment.

When you enroll in the Smart Water Heater Program, you’ll be joining customers throughout the Fort Collins Utilities service area who are doing their part to help conserve energy during the most critical times.

You’ll also receive the following financial savings:

  • A free top-of-the-line* smart water heater with installation – valued at $1,300
  • Free haul away of existing water heater
  • Free repairs!
  • Up to $75 per year in average energy savings**

*Manufactured and distributed by A.O. Smith
**Actual savings may vary

How the Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program Works

1. Call to be considered

After we evaluate your eligibility by phone, we will schedule an appointment with you to inspect the space in your home needed to install the smart water heater. Your existing water heater must be electric and have 240V wiring. Homes with natural gas water heaters do not qualify for this program.

2. Installation

Once we have determined that your home can accommodate the smart water heater and you enroll in the program, we’ll schedule a time and date for the free installation of your new free smart water heater. Hauling away and recycling of your existing electric water heater is complementary.

3. Signal sent

Every day, we’ll send a cellular signal that remotely activates the two-way communication device connected to your smart water heater, temporarily turning off your water heater for a short period of time. A steady blue light on the Peak Partners water heater indicates the device is connected and operational.

A steady blue light on the Peak Partners water heater indicates the device is connected and operational.

4. Maintain your routine

Water heaters are large enough (40 to 60 gallons) that you can be confident there’s plenty of hot water in reserve for typical household use. The device will detect if you are about to run out of hot water and automatically turn on to avoid a “cold shower” or cold water in your laundry, dishwasher, etc.

5. Balance the demand for electricity

During the time program participants’ water heaters are off, the community’s demand for electricity is reduced. As a result, less electricity needs to be generated, which keeps energy costs lower and reduces carbon emissions and other pollutants.

6. Your water heater switches back on

When regional demand for electricity passes its peak and reduces to an acceptable level, a signal is sent to your water heater to automatically return to normal operation. It will “favor” turning on when there is plenty of solar or wind energy available, reducing the appliance’s carbon footprint.

7. You save by shifting electricity use to off-peak hours

By heating your water during less expensive off-peak hours, you save money while maintaining a reliable reservoir for your daily use.

8. No hot water? Free troubleshooting and repairs!

Participation in the smart water heater program includes free troubleshooting and repairs! Call 855-350-1464 if at any time you you experience a problem with your water heater.

The Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program Offers You a Choice of Savings Options

Depending on the Energy Savings option you choose, you can expect different savings:

  • Basic Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 1 hour every day. You can expect savings of about $25/year, depending on hot water usage.*
  • Default Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 2.5 hours every day. You can expect savings of about $55/year, depending on usage.* Water heater tanks are large (40-60 gallons), so you should have plenty of hot water during the 2 hours that energy is being shifted from on-peak to off-peak costs.
  • Aggressive Energy Savings: This choice delays energy consumption of your water heater by 4 hours (or 5 hours in the summer) every day. You can expect savings of about $75/year, depending on usage.*

In all of the above options, the smart water heater will detect if you are on the verge of running out of hot water and it will automatically turn on to avoid a “cold shower”.

Unless you decide otherwise, we’ll start you with Aggressive Energy Savings to maximize your financial savings. You can change your savings selection at any time.

*Actual savings may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Collins Utilities is offering a new Smart Water Heater Program through our existing Peak Partners Program, which helps keep the cost of electricity low by reducing peak demand on the electric grid. This new ‘smart’ water heater technology will favor renewable solar or wind energy to heat up the water, reducing our community environmental impact as well. Peak Partners is a flexible, cost-effective, residential energy management solution that combines peak electricity reduction, energy efficiency and grid flexibility through the increased use of renewable energy.

City of Fort Collins’ Our Climate Future (OCF) is a plan to address climate, energy and waste goals while simultaneously improving equity and resilience. This program directly supports the OCF goals of

  • Reducing 2030 greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 2005 levels
  • Providing 100% renewable electricity by 2030

Residential customers agree to have the smart water heaters installed in their homes and equipped with two-way communication devices. These switches are remotely activated to temporarily “turn off” the water heaters for short periods of time (known as a “conservation event”) when the city’s electric grid approaches peak capacity. They also tell the water heaters to “turn on” when there is plenty of “green (renewable) energy” available on the grid.

Participation is currently restricted to a limited number of customers. Customers invited to participate must agree to the following:

  • Provide access to your home, first to inspect the water heater location to confirm eligibility, second to install the unit

Those customers deemed eligible to participate will receive a Grid Capable A.O. Smith 40 or 50 gallon water heater. Larger hybrid heat pump models may be provided in select situations. Specific model and size will vary by installation. In all instances, the capacity of your replacement water heater will be equivalent to your existing water heater.

Let’s begin by saying that if you are on the verge of running out of hot water, the water heater will automatically turn on so you will never be out of hot water. Depending on the savings selection you choose, your water heater will be turned off from one to five hours. Unless you indicate a preference, we’ll start you with the Aggressive Energy Savings option, which discontinues water heating for up to five hours. The water heaters are large enough (40 to 60 gallons) that there should be plenty of hot water for typical household use.

There are no costs to participate in the Peak Partners water heater program.

Yes, free repairs will be provided within the 6-year warranty period of the water heater, covering standard equipment failure. Any other non-mechanical issues resulting from misuse, damage, vandalism, or repairs or modifications completed by an unlicensed individual are not covered. Should the smart water heater not operate properly, please call 855-350-1464 and one of our technicians will examine the water heater, diagnose the problem, and repair it free of charge.

In the event you have no hot water, a technician will respond in person to your home or place of business within 24 hours, regardless of holidays or weekends. Any other non-mechanical concerns will receive a response in person at your home or place of business within 48 hours, regardless of holidays or weekends.

A steady blue light on the Peak Partners water heater indicates the device is connected and operational. (See graphic above.) If it is not lit, please call 855-350-1464 for technical assistance.

Because of reduced usage during more expensive (peak) hours, you should see cost savings. There are three savings options available to you. All Smart Water Heater customers will begin with Aggressive Energy Savings, unless you request one of the alternative options.

  • Basic Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 1 hour every day. You can expect savings of about $25/year, depending on hot water usage.
  • Default Energy Savings: This choice will delay energy consumption of your water heater by 2.5 hours every day. You can expect savings of about $55/year, depending on usage. Water heater tanks are large (40-60 gallons), so you should have plenty of hot water during the 2 hours that energy is being shifted from on-peak to off-peak costs.
  • Aggressive Energy Savings: This choice delays energy consumption of your water heater by 4 hours (or 5 hours in the summer) every day. You can expect savings of about $75/year, depending on usage. Water heater tanks are large enough that you should have no problems “coasting” for four to five hours. If, however, you were about to run out of hot water, the water heater will automatically turn on. You would then forfeit that day’s savings but would still have plenty of hot water for your typical needs.

Fort Collins Utilities strives to reduce our peak electricity use and carbon footprint through energy-saving technology and engagement with our customers. The Peak Partners Smart Water Heater Program helps reduce peak energy use of water heaters. A single participant’s contribution may seem small but, when program participants join together, the system impacts can be significant and very beneficial.

The smart water heater can build up a reservoir of hot water for later use. By heating water when there is plenty of solar or wind energy on the grid, fewer emissions are pumped into the atmosphere. By joining the program, your water heater can be a tool to reduce your—and your community’s—environmental impact.