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Prime Time Plus - Smart Thermostat
Prime Time Plus - Water Heater
- Customers can save hundreds of dollars a year through Tampa Electric’s free Prime Time Plus program
- Participants receive monthly bill credits, a free ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat and mobile app access to help manage energy use
- Since the program launched in 2023, power pauses have been rare
As Florida enters the hottest months of the year, many customers are looking for ways to lower their electric bills. Tampa Electric is reminding residential customers that it’s not too late to enroll in Prime Time Plus, a free program that rewards eligible participants with monthly bill credits, a professionally installed ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat and additional tools to help manage home energy use.
Customers can earn hundreds of dollars annually in automatic bill credits by enrolling eligible equipment, including heating and cooling systems, electric water heaters, pool pumps and Level 2 electric vehicle chargers. The more qualifying equipment that customers enroll, the more they can save.
During rare periods of exceptionally high electricity demand, Prime Time Plus temporarily pauses power only to the equipment customers chose to enroll. Only the enrolled equipment is affected. Lights, outlets and the rest of the home’s electrical service are never impacted.
By reducing electricity demand during periods of exceptionally high use, Prime Time Plus helps lower demand on the electric grid, reducing fuel use and helping delay the need for new power plants, which can help keep energy costs lower for everyone.
“One of the questions we hear most often is how frequently power might be paused,” said Karen Sparkman, vice president of Customer Experience for Tampa Electric. “The answer is ‘Not very often.’ Since Prime Time Plus launched in 2023, enrolled equipment was paused for a total of just more than three hours over three years. While it’s impossible to predict when a power pause may occur, they typically last an hour or less, making Prime Time Plus an easy way for customers to save while helping support a more reliable electric grid.”
Eligible participants also receive a free, professionally installed ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat with mobile app access that allows customers to remotely adjust temperatures, create schedules, monitor energy usage and receive maintenance reminders and system alerts.
Installation by a licensed professional is free and typically takes about two hours.
Eligible equipment includes:
- Centrally ducted electric heating and cooling systems
- Electric tank water heaters
- Most pool pumps
- Hardwired Level 2 electric vehicle chargers
Customers can enroll by logging into their Tampa Electric online account, selecting Prime Time Plus and answering a few qualifying questions, or by calling 813-275-3909 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Prime Time Plus is one of many Tampa Electric programs designed to help customers manage their electric bills. In addition to Prime Time Plus, these programs include:
- Budget Billing - Smooths out payments to avoid spikes in peak usage periods.
- Due Date Plus - Enables customers on fixed incomes to select when their payments are due.
- Neighborhood Weatherization - Provides energy-efficient LED light bulbs, hot water heat pipe insulation wraps, low-flow shower heads and related products to reduce qualifying customers’ energy usage.
- Personalized Energy Audits - Tampa Electric will review your consumption and recommend tips for saving energy.
- Energy Planner - Helps customers lower their rates by shifting electrical usage to times when electricity costs less.
These are just a few of the many programs Tampa Electric has created to help customers manage their utility bills or improve energy efficiency. Customers can also explore additional resources by visiting TampaElectric.com/Save.
To learn more or enroll in Prime Time Plus, visit TampaElectric.com/PrimeTimePlus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prime Time Plus
What is Prime Time Plus?
Prime Time Plus is a free, voluntary Tampa Electric program that rewards eligible residential customers with monthly electric bill credits for enrolling qualifying equipment, including heating and cooling systems, electric water heaters, pool pumps and Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.
How much can I save with Prime Time Plus?
Customers can save hundreds of dollars per year with automatic monthly bill credits by enrolling all eligible equipment. The amount saved depends on the equipment enrolled.
Is the smart thermostat really free?
Yes. Eligible participants receive a professionally installed ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat at no cost.
How frequently will my equipment be powered off?
It’s impossible to predict extreme weather conditions. If there is extremely high demand, enrolled equipment can be powered off. A power pause typically lasts one hour or less, though longer pauses are possible.
Will I receive a notification when my equipment’s power is paused?
Yes. When your equipment’s power is paused, you’ll receive a message on your thermostat and in the thermostat’s mobile app. If you’ve opted in to receive email notifications, you’ll also receive an email.
Will my whole house lose power?
No. Only the equipment you choose to enroll may be temporarily paused. Your lights, outlets and the rest of your home’s electrical service are never affected.
Can I opt out of a power pause?
Yes. If a power pause would cause an inconvenience, for example if you’ll be holding an event at your home, you can opt out by calling Tampa Electric’s Energy Management Services at 813-275-3909 at least one business day in advance. One opt-out per year will not affect your monthly bill credits.
When do I get my bill credits?
Your monthly electric bill will reflect the credits earned during the prior month of service. You automatically get credits every month, even if no power pause occurs.
Who is eligible for Prime Time Plus?
Prime Time Plus is available to residential customers with eligible equipment who use a minimum of 400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month. Customers participating in Energy Planner are not eligible.
Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 870,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc. (NYSE: EMA)