PG&E Offers Customers Rebates for Buying Smart Home Devices With Select Plans

California utility Pacific Gas and Electric is pushing energy-saving smart devices as holiday gifts this season. Though convenience is promoted as the primary advantage of smart home devices, smart sensors and thermostats can help cut energy use and enhance safety, said Chief Customer Officer Marlene Santos Tuesday. She noted customers can use sensors connected to smart thermostats to set and maintain different temperatures in specific rooms and put holiday lights on timers using smart plugs to follow a schedule. The smart plugs can also be connected to a smart speaker for on and off control by voice, she said. The utility is offering customers up to $120 in rebates when they buy an eligible device and sign up for a time-of-use rate plan.