Carrier Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, is providing internet-accessible thermostats to a pilot program for Connecticut Light and Power Company customers this summer. The program ? which begins later this month among 50 selected households in CL&P's Farmington Valley and Stamford service areas and runs through October 1 ? will allow CL&P customers to help reduce power demands during peak emergencies, while also helping them lower their monthly electric bills.

"Carrier thermostats were selected for this cutting-edge program because they have a proven track record for helping homeowners reduce energy costs through easy-to-use programming," said Jon W. Ayers, president, Carrier Corporation.

"Connecticut Light & Power's program also represents an important step in connecting homeowners with their homes through the Internet, while serving as a critical link for energy management between energy suppliers and their customers. By reducing demand during peak hours, utilities can realize substantial savings and homeowners can enjoy lower electricity bills. Reduced power consumption leads to a more reliable power supply and mitigates the need for increased production capacity, which reduces investment, preserves natural resources and lowers harmful air emissions."

Carrier and Silicon Energy, the leader in e-business energy enterprise solutions, have teamed up this summer to offer utilities the ComfortChoice program. The ComfortChoice program is an Internet-based, residential demand-side management solution that enables utilities to recognize peak demand savings without compromising homeowners' comfort and control. The program helps utilities reduce demand, save energy and the environment, and enhance customer value.

CL&P's test includes the installation of a new, high technology Carrier Energy Management Interface (EMi) an Internet-communicating 7-day programmable thermostat, in homes with central air conditioners or heat pumps. Using Web-based software developed by Silicon Energy, CL&P will communicate with the thermostats remotely over the Internet to increase the current temperature setting during peak demand periods.

The air conditioner may still run during this period, but it should operate less frequently because of the higher indoor temperature setting. The homeowner will have the ability to override the temperature setting via the Internet or thermostat if the home becomes too warm.

Using a Web browser interface, the CL&P operator accesses Silicon Energy's energy curtailment program to initiate a thermostat setback, specifying how many degrees and for what duration. At any time, the homeowner can choose to override the setpoint change directly through the EMi, and a message will be transmitted via the Internet back to the utility.

The customer also can remotely access the EMI from a Web browser to obtain status, adjust setpoints and perform overrides. Carrier's EMi uses emWare's device networking software to remotely monitor and control the thermostat. EmWare's software enables the communication and data transmission to and from the homeowner's EMi, the internet and CL&P. AT&T Global Network Services provide the network connectivity.

"This imaginative use of cutting-edge technology may yield another method to reduce demand when there is a power crisis," said Michael W. Townsley, CL&P's manager of Market Planning and Conservation Programs. "The initial research project will help us understand how customers use this technology so that an effective program can be designed that fits into their modern lifestyles without compromising comfort, health and the environment."

For more information visit http://www.carrier.com/