Moderate, Intrepid, or Extreme mode: What’s the difference?
During peak demand events, when freezing temperatures drive up electricity needs across the province, Hilo steps in to reduce your energy use automatically. But did you know you have the flexibility to choose the participation mode that suits you best? Read on to see how each mode works so you can pick the one that’s right for you!
Let’s start from the beginning: During a peak demand event, Hilo lowers the temperature on your connected thermostats and encourages you to reduce your overall energy use. It’s simple: the more you cut your home’s total consumption, the more you save! You can adjust the settings for each event to match your lifestyle.
You have until midnight the day before an event to choose your participation mode — Moderate, Intrepid, or Extreme — based on your preferences. You can also enable preheating to keep your living spaces comfortable. However, we recommend using this option only in the rooms you’ll be occupying during the event to help limit your consumption.
Note: Customers whose thermostats are not connected to Hilo cannot choose between the three modes, since Hilo does not control the temperature in their homes. The preheating option is also unavailable to them.
Extreme
This option lets you save the most energy. In Extreme mode, the temperature on your connected smart thermostats rises by 2°C during preheating, then drops by 6°C during the reduction phase (the peak event itself). You can make up for the cooler temperature by curling up under a blanket in front of the TV or showing off those fuzzy slippers your grandma knit for you!
Intrepid
Midway between the other two modes, Intrepid offers greater comfort than Extreme while delivering more savings than Moderate. In this mode, the temperature rises by 2°C during preheating, then drops by 4°C during the event. It’s a chance for the whole family to pitch in to lower electricity use — and a great excuse to have some fun!
Moderate
For those who love their comfort but still want to do their part! In Moderate mode, the temperature rises by 1.5°C during preheating, then drops by 3°C during the event. Maximize your savings by avoiding the use of certain energy-intensive appliances — or by moving up to Intrepid mode once you’ve gotten a few events under your belt.
Good to know: You can also choose to exclude specific thermostats, such as the one in the kids’ room.
Gradual temperature change
Keep in mind that the temperature adjustments at each stage happen gradually. Your living room won’t plunge from 24°C to 16°C all at once!
