Meet Jim, a longtime Meltek customer in PSEG Loing Island territory. Jim is a project manager working for a consumer electronics company. He and his family live in a four-bedroom house, and he works from home. Motivated by the potential savings, Jim actively participates in the program by adjusting his thermostat during peak hours and avoiding high-energy appliances. In this Q&A, Jim shares how he has actively participated in the demand response events with Meltek and how he maximizes the benefits.
Meltek: When did you start using Meltek and how did you learn about us?
Jim: I think I started using Meltek after receiving a direct email from you. The email highlighted the opportunity for getting money back based on energy usage.
I primarily work from home, so I have access to to the thermostat once an alert e-mail comes out a few hours before (an event), so it's fairly easy for me to implement.
Meltek: What motivated you to join the Meltek program?
Jim: The primary motivation was the opportunity to save money and get money back, especially during the summer months when AC usage is high.
Meltek: How has your behavior changed since you started participating in the program?
Jim: My thermostats are pre-programmed and scheduled, so I manually adjust the thermostat during peak hours and avoid using washing machine and dishwasher to maximize financial returns.
(When events happen) the kids are at school, my wife's at work, so I'm sacrificing the coolness at home myself, but over the last two seasons that I've used the app, it was beneficial.
Meltek: How do you find Meltek's alert system?
Jim: The alert system is effective, providing a few hours' notice, which allows me to plan and adjust my thermostat settings accordingly.
Meltek: How do you redeem your rewards and what is your preferred method?
Jim: I primarily redeem rewards as cash refunds linked to my bank account. I have also considered using an Amazon gift card.
Meltek: Have you used Meltek's customer service? How was your experience?
Jim: I have not interacted much with customer service. I registered through the website first and then downloaded the app and linked my utility account through the app. It's been pretty seamless.
Meltek: Would you recommend Meltek to others? Why or why not?
Jim: Yes, I would recommend Meltek to others because it is easy to use and flexible in responding to alerts.
