Connected Homes EV Charger Program Terms and Conditions

Connected Homes Terms and Conditions:

General Information

As part of your local Municipal Utility's commitment to maintaining low cost, reliable electric service, your local Municipal Utility, is pleased to offer the Connected Homes Program ("Program"). As a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company ("MMWEC"), your local Municipal Utility is able to participate in the Program, which is administered through MMWEC's NextZero program to allow active management of Wi-Fi enabled residential devices for customers wishing to participate in a residential demand reduction program. The Program is being offered to your local Municipal Utility's customers as part of MMWEC's suite of energy efficiency opportunities administered through NextZero. MMWEC is the authorized agent of your local Municipal Utility with respect to the Program.

The Program uses a cloud-based platform provided by Virtual Peaker, Inc. ("Virtual Peaker") to exercise load control and deliver capacity and RNS savings. In return, participating customers will receive a monthly stipend per device enrolled in the program. A customer will be notified prior to a peak load shedding event and have the ability to "opt-out" of a particular event. If a customer does "opt-out" they will not receive a stipend for that month.

The Program is intended to offer financial incentives to our customers to temporarily allow the utility the ability to adjust thermostats, hot water heaters, EV chargers and home batteries in the customer's home to help minimize energy usage at peak times of the month. Peak energy usage (typically occurring between 5:00-9:00 p.m.) can account for more than 40% of Massachusetts electric customer's annual electricity costs. ¹

Customers enrolling one or more devices in the Program and opting to participate during a peak day will be given the following credits, which will be distributed on a quarterly basis:

• Please note that the exact list of eligible devices and monthly rewards can vary depending on Municipal Utility. 

To qualify for the credit, the device must be enrolled in the Program and the customer must allow the device to participate on a "Peak Event" (defined in Section 4 of the below Consent). Peak Events shall be as determined by the Independent System Operator - New England ("ISO-NE") and the local transmission provider. We may call as many as 5 potential Peak Events per month, and, to qualify for a rebate, the customer must have the device actively participating during the Peak Event (as determined following the end of the month). No credit shall be given for participation on non-Peak Events.

By enrolling in the Program and allowing us to curtail energy usage on your connected devices, you are helping your local Municipal Utility maintain a reliable power distribution system for you and your neighbors and helping to reduce power costs.

Consent to Participate in Program ("Consent")

By enrolling in the Program, the participating customer ("Customer") consents to participate in, and agrees to abide by the terms of, the Connected Homes Program ("Program") as stated below. As agent of and provider for Energy & Demand Services to the local municipal utility that provides service to Customer ("Municipal Utility"), the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company ("MMWEC") has program specialists available to speak with you regarding program specifics. If Customer has any questions or concerns regarding the Program or processing of these home chargers, please email connectedhomes@mmwec.org. An energy efficiency specialist or program administrator would be happy to assist.

Program Terms

1. Eligibility:Customer must be on a residential rate. Commercial rate customers are not allowed to participate unless a waiver is granted by the Municipal Utility. Customer must be owner/resident of the address provided in the enrollment process.]. Townhouse, apartment and other congregate living facilities in which the resident of the dwelling is not the electric account holder, may participate under special terms only (in which the dwelling unit resident is allowed to opt into events). Only compatible devices as listed on www.nextzero.orgshall be allowed to participate in the Program.

To qualify for the credit, the device must be enrolled in the Program and the Customer must opt in to allow the device to participate on a "Peak Event" (defined in Section 4 below). Peak days shall be as determined by Independent System Operator-New England ("ISO-NE") and the local transmission provider. MMWEC, acting as agent for the Municipal Utility, may call as many as 5 potential Peak Events per month, and to qualify for a rebate, the Customer must have the device actively participating during the Peak Event (as determined following the end of the month). No credit shall be given for participation on non-peak days. Neither the Municipal Utility nor MMWEC bears any responsibility for Customer Wi-Fi or network issues that prevent device participation in the program. The Municipal Utility has the sole authority and absolute discretion over who has and has not met the criteria for rebates.

No credits shall be granted to Customer unless these eligibility and participation requirements have been satisfied.

2. Access to Device(s):To participate, you must allow MMWEC, acting as agent for the Municipal Utility, access to control your device(s). This requires you to have (i) a working and reliable internet connection and Wi-Fi network (if device requires Wi-Fi) and other related equipment in your home that is positioned to communicate reliably; (ii) an internet service provider ("ISP"); (iii) other system elements that may be specified as required by MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility or the manufacturer of any required equipment (i.e. smart phone apps). You are responsible for all fees charged by the ISP in connection with participation in the Program.

Your participation in the Program will be terminated in the event that MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility, is unable to communicate with or access your device(s) and communication or access is not restored within 30 days' after notice from MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility. If communication or access is restored at a future date, you may opt back in.

3. Device System Performance:If the device system fails to perform, you will have 30 days to resolve the issue and to have MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility, test and verify that performance has been restored. If performance is not restored within 30 days, MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility, may elect to terminate your participation in the Program.
4. Control of Device(s):You acknowledge that MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility, will control the device system in your home and agree that MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility may access and control your device(s) during Peak Events and other periods where a reduction of system wide energy demand will deliver improved reliability for the Municipal Utility's system. A "Peak Event" is defined as a period of time in which MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility, will make necessary changes to the Customer device to help minimize system wide energy usage. Changes are based on device type but in general are the following:

• Wi-Fi Smart Thermostats: Adjust AC temperature up or down 2-3 degrees to temporarily reduce AC usage.
• Turn down water heater set points to reduce energy usage in making domestic hot water.
• Block EVs from charging, or allow EVs to charge at a reduced power level 1 rate (in lieu of standard 32A level 2 rate).
• Utilize home batteries to supply load to Customer's home or inject power into the utility system.
• Peak Events are anticipated to occur no more than 5 times per month for an average of 3 to 4 hours at a time. Customer will be sent notification of a Peak Event, via a smartphone app or other electronic method. If possible, notification of a Peak Event will be provided at least 4 hours in advance. Customer may elect to opt out of the Peak Event. If Customer opts out, no credit will be given.

5. Data Access & Use:As part of this Program, Customer consents to access to and use of Customer's name and address and energy usage and consumption data by MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility and by the platform provider, Virtual Peaker. By enrolling in the Program, Customer consents to this information being accessed by and provided to MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility, and Virtual Peaker. This information will be used to assist in programming, reporting, monitoring, and controlling the device system and to fulfill the reporting requirements of the Department of Energy Resources ("DOER"). Customer agrees that the MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility retains all rights to all the energy and consumption data and that such data may be disclosed to DOER.
6. Acknowledgment of Customer: Customer acknowledges and agrees that MMWEC, as the agent for the Municipal Utility will be permitted to control the device system associated with the Program that is installed in your home. You acknowledge that you remain responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of your devices and your device system.
7. Enrollment & Term:Participation in the Program shall commence upon your enrollment and shall continue for a period of ten years (the "Initial Term"), automatically renewing annually after the Initial Term, unless terminated by either MMWEC or the Customer. Either MMWEC, as agent for the Municipal Utility, or the Customer may terminate participation in the Program by providing the other party 30 days' advance written notice of termination.
8. Liability:Neither the Municipal Utility nor MMWEC shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages to any persons or property resulting from or arising out of any use, repair, delay in repairing, replacement of, modification to, unavailability of, or status of the devices or the device system. Neither the Municipal Utility nor MMWEC is responsible for any costs related to the repair, maintenance or replacement of your devices or the device system. If replacement of your device(s) or device system is necessary, you must notify the Municipal Utility or MMWEC.
9. Notices:You must send any notice required under this Consent to connectedhomes@mmwec.org.
10. Governing Law:The Program, including the Consent and Program Terms, shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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Additional hg&e-specific terms and conditions

• Monthly rewards for Customers with PHEVs and Customers with EV equipment incapable of level 2 charging will be limited to $5/month.
• If you opt-out of an event, a future charge will be applied to your HG&E account based on quarterly performance reports in the amount of the credit that was applied during the month that you opted-out.
• If Customer terminates Agreement or unenrolls from Connected Homes within the three year period immediately following initial enrollment in Connected Homes, Customer will be charged a one-time pro-rated fee on the Customer’s next monthly utility bill in the amount of $12.50 per month remaining within the Initial Term not to exceed the initial charger incentive amount received. If customer opts out three out of twelve months, customer will be unenrolled from this program and considered to have terminated this agreement.
• If customer received free or discounted charger from HG&E and does not successfully enroll in Connected Homes within 30 days of receipt of charger, HG&E reserves the right to place a charge on customers account in the amount of the cost of the charger (if a free charger was received) or the amount of the charger discount (if a discount was received). 
• If it is found that customer’s charger was not successfully enrolled in Connected Homes during any month within which customer received a monthly bill credit, HG&E reserves the right to charge customer for any bill credits received with that month.
• To be eligible for a rebate for an existing Level 2 charger, charger must have been purchased/acquired within past 15 months and must have been new when obtained.
• HG&E reserves the right to modify or end this program at any time.