Would Texans Allow Their Power Company to Control Their Thermostats?

"Who touched the thermostat" fights are getting more interesting with this trend:  Oregon's biggest power company is rolling out a new "Smart Thermostat" program, where THEY get to change the temperature in your home. If they're doing it in Oregon, it's only a matter of time before this trend comes to the Lone Star State.

Other cities have been adding similar programs over the last few years. Basically, you install a smart thermostat and pay a little less each month in exchange for letting them control your thermostat remotely.

During peak hours, they up the temperature by a few degrees to reduce strain on the grid. It usually happens between 3:00 and 9:00 PM.

The new Oregon version limits it to three degrees. So if your thermostat is set to 71, they might up it to 74.

Some cities set the max even higher, like a program in L.A. that lets them to increase it by four degrees. But you can override it by changing the temperature manually.

So is it worth it to save a few bucks and help the environment? Or are YOU the only one who gets to mess with your thermostat?

Here's a video...

I couldn't even IMAGINE what my late father would say if he were here today. That man took his thermostat very, very seriously! My sister and I were just talking about him and his absolute rule over the temperature of our household growing up. Pop could tell that his thermostat was touched even if he was out of the state on business!

He sorta reminded me of Peter Griffin in this scene from 'Family Guy'...