Cool Smart FAQs

OPPD’s Cool Smart program pays customers to participate in peak-load reduction activities. Peak-load refers to the amount of electricity being used when demand for electricity is at its highest.

OPPD will attach a free outdoor device to your home on the siding or brick nearest your AC unit or heat pump. This will require the use of hardware, such as screws or nails, but no appointments are necessary and no one goes into your home. On some summer days when demand for electricity is at its highest, the device will manage your AC for no longer than 3 hours between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. During this time, your AC will run in approximately 15 minute intervals (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off), while your cooling system’s blower fan continues to circulate air throughout your home.

Depending on summer weather patterns, OPPD may not need to manage your air conditioner at all, but by participating in the program you are agreeing to allow OPPD to manage your air conditioner or heat pump up to 12 days per year. A Cool Smart event will never occur on holidays or weekends.

Air conditioners and heat pumps contribute greatly to the demand for electricity on warm summer days. Cool Smart events are usually not noticed by participants, but significantly lowers the demand for electricity.

No. OPPD will attach a free outdoor device to your home on the siding or brick nearest your AC unit or heat pump (see photo below). This will require the use of hardware, such as screws or nails, but no appointments are necessary and no one goes into your home.

Please note: Per city electrical code, a city official may inspect your AC unit or heat pump after the Cool Smart device has been installed. This inspection is simply for the city to verify the device was installed properly. No appointments are necessary and you do not need to be home. The city official will have the proper identification and uniform, and drive a marked city vehicle or private vehicle.

Yes. Cool Smart events will last no longer than 3 hours. During an event your cooling system will never be off for longer than about 15 minutes and the blower fan will continue to circulate the conditioned air already in your home, keeping you and your family comfortable. A 1 to 3 degree temperature increase can be expected in a typical home.

A solid or blinking green light is normal operation, and device is receiving it’s paging signal. A red light indicates the air conditioner or heat pump is being managed.

During a Cool Smart management event, your AC unit will run in approximately 15-minute intervals (on for 15, off for 15). While it’s possible that both AC units’ off cycle will overlap slightly, it is very unlikely they will be off at the same time for the entire 15-minute off cycle. 

OPPD advises you to contact the manufacturer of your cooling system to answer that question. There are more than five million and growing users of these types of devices across the country. 

No. Your air conditioner naturally cycles on and off as needed to maintain a set temperature in your home. When your AC unit or heat pump is managed, it will turn off and on in the same fashion without harming the unit.

No. We will only help manage the energy used by your air conditioner or heat pump.

No. You control your thermostat settings – OPPD cannot adjust your thermostat settings through this program.

The program will help OPPD maintain low rates and keep energy costs low. You will also receive a yearly bill credit for your participation. However, participants don’t usually see a significant difference in their electricity consumption month-to-month.

After the Cool Smart device has been installed, OPPD will deduct $30 from your upcoming electric bill. You will also receive a $20 annual bill credit, which will be deducted from your OPPD bill each September. That’s $50 for the first year!

Please note: You must have the Cool Smart device installed prior to Sept. 1 in order to receive the $20 participation credit for that year. For instance, if your device is installed on Sept. 2, you will receive the $30 installation credit. Management events typically occur in June, July and August. Therefore, any device installed after Sept. 1 will have not participated in any summer management events and will not receive the $20 annual bill credit until the following year. 

The bill credits will be subtracted from your monthly budget amount. For example, if your budget is $50 a month and you receive the $30 Cool Smart credit in June, the amount due in June would be $20 instead of $50. The same applies to the $20 annual credit you will receive each September for participating in the program.

No. The program, the device and the installation is free. You will not pay anything to participate in the program. In fact, OPPD will pay you to participate.

No. Participating in the program is easy and requires no effort, time or investment on your part.

To be eligible to participate in Cool Smart you must:

• Have a working central air conditioner or heat pump
• Own a single-family home
• Be willing to have a free outdoor device attached to your home on the siding or brick nearest your AC unit or heat pump. This will require the use of hardware, such as screws or nails.
• Be confident everyone in your home is healthy enough to tolerate a 1 to 3 degree temperature rise in your home
• Not be already enrolled in OPPD's Smart Thermostat Program. Email customer service or call 402-536-4131 to cancel enrollment in the Smart Thermostat Program prior to enrolling in Cool Smart.

Unfortunately no, geothermal systems do not qualify for Cool Smart because of issues with the device not receiving a signal.

Yes. If you wish to opt-out of a management event, you may do so by notifying OPPD a day in advance before 3 p.m. You may opt-out five days each year.

No. To participate in Cool Smart, all air conditioning units at the home must be enrolled. A separate incentive will be given for each unit.

To sign up, fill out the online form, email customer service, or call OPPD at 402-536-4131 or 1-877-536-4131 outside the metro. By returning a completed application form, you are indicating a desire to participate and have a device installed at your home.

Email customer service or call 402-536-4131 or 1-877-536-4131 outside the metro. OPPD will arrange to have your device installed on your new air conditioner or heat pump at no additional cost.

No. The device installed at your home is extremely reliable. The equipment has been used in similar programs across the country for more than 20 years. It is designed to allow your cooling or heating system to continue working in the unlikely event of a failure. If you believe the switch on your home device has failed, please email customer service, or call 402-536-4131 or 1-877-536-4131 outside the metro.

If you have not yet signed up for Cool Smart, email customer service or call 402-536-4131 or 1-877-536-4131 outside the metro.

Cool Smart is a partnership between the customer and OPPD. This air conditioning management program helps drive down energy demand on the hottest days of summer. Participating customers receive $30 for signing up and another $20 each year they stay on the program.

OPPD’s HVAC Smart program pays customer rebates when you purchase a high efficiency air conditioner or heat pump. 

An air conditioning disconnect switch is needed for our electrical contractor to install the Cool Smart device on your air conditioner per the National Electrical Code, and City of Omaha electrical inspectors division.