For seniors looking to upgrade their home’s heating and cooling systems while saving money, New Jersey’s major utility companies offer attractive rebate programs for ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats. These devices not only provide convenient temperature control from your smartphone but can also reduce your energy bills by up to 10% according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
JCP&L Energy Savings Rewards
Jersey Central Power & Light offers one of the most comprehensive smart thermostat programs in the state. Customers can receive up to $100 in instant rebates when purchasing an ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat through their marketplace. Additionally, JCP&L’s Energy Savings Rewards program provides a $75 virtual prepaid Mastercard for each enrolled device, plus an annual $25 prepaid card for continued participation.
The program requires participants to allow brief thermostat adjustments of four degrees or less during peak demand periods from June through September. These adjustments typically last no more than four hours and won’t occur on weekends or holidays except during system emergencies. Eligible thermostat brands include Amazon, Google Nest, Honeywell, Sensi, and several others.
PSE&G Smart Thermostat Rebates
Public Service Electric & Gas provides substantial savings with $125 rebates on popular smart thermostat models from leading manufacturers including ecobee, Emerson, Google Nest, and Honeywell. Through their marketplace, some models like the Google Nest Thermostat are available for as low as $29.99 after a $100 instant rebate.
PSE&G limits customers to two smart thermostat rebates per eligible account from January 2025 through June 2027. Both residential electric and natural gas customers (including those with Butler Municipal Electric) qualify for these rebates.
New Jersey Natural Gas Incentives
NJNG offers instant rebates of up to $100 for smart thermostats purchased exclusively through their marketplace. The utility limits customers to two thermostats per account over the lifetime of their marketplace program.
Customers must be NJNG account holders, and the rebate eligibility is verified during the checkout process. Sales tax applies to the full purchase price before rebates, as required by New Jersey taxation rules.
Atlantic City Electric HVAC Program
Atlantic City Electric provides $100 rebates for qualifying smart thermostat installations through their HVAC Efficiency Program. The rebate applies to new installations or replacements of manual or conventional programmable thermostats with ENERGY STAR certified models, with a limit of two devices per customer per premises.
Additional Benefits for Seniors
These smart thermostat programs offer particular value for seniors who want to maintain comfortable home temperatures while managing energy costs. The devices provide remote temperature control, programmable schedules that adapt to daily routines, and compatibility with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Most utilities also offer demand response programs that provide additional annual payments for allowing minor temperature adjustments during peak usage periods, helping reduce strain on the electrical grid while providing ongoing savings to participants.
Before purchasing, seniors should verify their current heating and cooling system compatibility, as smart thermostats may not work with all HVAC systems. Each utility’s marketplace typically provides compatibility information and customer support to ensure proper selection and installation.
Please contact your utility company for the most up-to-date program information, as these programs may change over time.