Alternative electricity supply Direct Energy will offer the Nest Learning Thermostat to its Connecticut business and residential customers, through a marketing agreement revealed Thursday.
The Nest thermostat automatically adjusts temperature settings based on customers’ energy use patterns, all designed to reduce energy consumption. Nest, which is headquartered in California, was launched by former Apple employees in 2011 and purchased by Google for $3.2 billion in February.
Direct Energy plans on developing a contract plan with all its customers in New England, the Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Canada similar to the five-year dual fuel plan offered in Alberta where customers can receive a Nest as part of the deal. The deal will be available for both business and residential customers.
Direct Energy also plans on offering customers incentives for using the Nest thermostat to reduce their energy consumption during times of high demand. The company has not decided yet which markets will be part of this incentive package.
