Lower-income households in Sonoma and Mendocino counties can now get a smart thermostat installed in their homes for free — the latest move by Sonoma Clean Power to trim summer bills for the customers who feel them hardest, and to wire thousands of living rooms together into something that runs like a power plant.
Key takeaways
- Customers on CARE or FERA can get a Google Nest thermostat and free professional installation — a package worth about $400 — plus a $5 monthly credit on their bill.
- Sonoma Clean Power launched the program June 2 and wants to put 1,000 free thermostats in income-qualified homes across Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
- It is the first phase of VPP-FLEX, a four-year, $5.99 million effort to link home devices into a “virtual power plant” that eases strain on the grid.
- Customers who already own a compatible smart thermostat can enroll and collect a $200 incentive instead.
- Enroll at sonomacleanpower.org/gridsavvy-rewards or call 1 (855) 202-2139.
Who qualifies and what they get
The program launched June 2 and is open to customers enrolled in CARE or FERA, the two state discount rates for lower-income households. Those who qualify get a Google Nest thermostat and professional in-home installation — a package the utility values at about $400 — for free, plus a $5 credit on their monthly bill once the device is enrolled in SCP Rewards. Customers who already own a compatible smart thermostat can sign up and collect a $200 incentive instead.
Sonoma Clean Power serves roughly 500,000 customers across Sonoma and Mendocino counties. About 37,000 of them meet the income limits for CARE or FERA, though not all have the central heating and air a thermostat can control. The utility’s goal for this first phase is 1,000 free installations.
How a thermostat becomes a power plant
The thermostat giveaway is the opening move in a larger, four-year effort the utility calls VPP-FLEX. The “VPP” stands for virtual power plant — the idea that thousands of small devices, working together, can do some of the work of a gas-fired plant. When the grid is strained on a hot afternoon, a networked thermostat can nudge a house a degree or two warmer for a stretch, shaving demand. Multiply that across a thousand homes, plus electric-vehicle chargers, home batteries and heat-pump water heaters, and the savings add up to real megawatts the region doesn’t have to buy or burn.
“By removing cost barriers for both the thermostat and installation, we’re making it easier for families to participate in programs that can help to lower bills and improve comfort at home,” SCP Chief Executive Geof Syphers said in announcing the launch.
Participation is voluntary, and SCP says customers stay in control of their own devices. Felicia Smith, the utility’s director of customer energy solutions, said the design leans on simplicity. The thermostat program is “designed to be incredibly accessible, with no tech needed,” she said.
Where the money comes from
The money behind it comes mostly from the state. The California Energy Commission awarded SCP a $4.99 million grant for VPP-FLEX, and the utility is adding $1 million of its own, for a total of about $5.99 million. The grant runs through early 2029. Beyond the thermostats, the broader initiative includes incentives for thousands of additional devices — EV chargers, batteries, heat-pump water heaters and smart electrical panels — and a batch of 40 smart panels and battery systems aimed at apartment buildings.
Aimed at the customers who need it most
Smith said the focus on lower-income homes is deliberate, not charity. “We are really focused on low-income customers, and that is strategic because these homes have high bill burdens,” she said. Households that spend a big share of their income on power have the most to gain, and every one that signs on adds a sliver of capacity the grid can lean on when demand spikes.
SCP has run a version of this since 2017, when it started its demand-response program, GridSavvy. That program counts about 12,500 participants today, and SCP says 92% of them cut their energy use in response to alerts during 2025 — a response rate the utility points to as proof the approach works.
To reach the customers it is after, SCP set aside $250,000 for outreach through community groups that already have trust in those neighborhoods — Latino Service Providers, Council on Aging Services for Seniors, North Coast Opportunities and Nuestra Comunidad among them. “If our customers hear about [automated demand response] from a nonprofit they know, we think they might be more inclined to sign up,” Smith said.
How to enroll
Eligible customers can check their status and enroll at sonomacleanpower.org/gridsavvy-rewards or by calling 1 (855) 202-2139.
FAQ
Who is eligible for a free smart thermostat?
Sonoma Clean Power customers enrolled in the CARE or FERA income-qualified rate discounts. The home needs central heating and air for a thermostat to control.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The Google Nest thermostat and professional installation — about a $400 value — are free, and enrolled customers get a $5 monthly bill credit through SCP Rewards.
What if I already have a smart thermostat?
Customers with a compatible device can enroll and collect a $200 incentive instead of a free unit.
Does SCP control my thermostat?
Participation is voluntary, and SCP says customers stay in control of their own devices. During grid strain, enrolled thermostats can shift heating or cooling slightly to cut demand.
How do I sign up?
Go to sonomacleanpower.org/gridsavvy-rewards or call 1 (855) 202-2139. Community partners including Latino Service Providers, Council on Aging Services for Seniors, North Coast Opportunities and Nuestra Comunidad can help with enrollment.