ConnectedSolutions from Eversource Energy - smart thermostats turn into a quiet grid asset

Reviewed: ad hoc news Classics & Longseller desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-28, 02:16. Details in the imprint.

ConnectedSolutions from Eversource Energy starts with something simple in your hallway or living room - a smart thermostat clicking gently as it nudges the temperature up by one degree on a humid August afternoon. You still feel the air moving and the room stays usable, but the grid breathes out.

How ConnectedSolutions works

ConnectedSolutions turns compatible smart thermostats, battery systems and other flexible loads into one coordinated demand response product for Eversource customers in New England. In practice, that means the utility can slightly adjust devices during a limited number of peak events each summer while customers earn bill credits for participating.

On a typical peak event, your thermostat shifts the setpoint a notch or pre-cools the home before the worst heat hits, so comfort stays consistent even as your air conditioner cycles less at the most expensive moments for the grid. The program relies on networked hardware and cloud software from partners such as thermostat makers and aggregators, with Eversource acting as the orchestrator that calls the events and settles the rewards.

What customers experience

For a typical household, ConnectedSolutions mostly feels like the thermostat and, in some cases, a battery system working a bit smarter in the background. On a muggy evening, you might hear the compressor pause sooner than usual, or notice the thermostat display inching from 22 to 23 degrees, but the fan keeps a quiet breeze and the sofa remains a comfortable spot.

The key promise from Eversource is that events are limited in duration and frequency, and that customers can opt out if a particular day feels too much. That opt-out button, usually a single tap in the thermostat app, gives participants a sense of control while the overall program still aggregates thousands of devices into a robust resource during most grid stress moments.

Why Eversource cares about flexibility

At the corporate level, Eversource Energy chief executive Joe Nolan has repeatedly pointed to electrification and renewables as drivers of both opportunity and pressure on the grid. Flexible demand products such as ConnectedSolutions help turn that pressure into a manageable pattern, smoothing peaks instead of constantly building new capacity and lines.

From a system-planning perspective, the product behaves like a virtual peaking plant made of thermostats, batteries and other controllable loads rather than turbines and smokestacks. Each enrolled home or business contributes a small slice of capacity, but scaled across a territory, the aggregate effect is enough to defer infrastructure upgrades or to integrate more variable wind and solar generation without compromising reliability.

Where it shines and where it nags

One consistent strength of ConnectedSolutions is how it monetizes everyday devices that customers already value for comfort and convenience. A smart thermostat stops being only a sleek wall gadget and starts paying back through bill credits or incentive checks each season, as long as the owner stays enrolled and lets the program run.

The trade-off shows up when a heat wave stretches over several days and the grid operator needs repeated events. Some participants say they feel slightly warmer rooms and adjust ceiling fans or blinds to compensate, and those with older, less efficient air conditioners may notice the shifts more than households with modern systems that can pre-cool effectively.

Compatibility and enrollment

ConnectedSolutions does not require proprietary Eversource hardware. Instead, it relies on compatibility lists that typically include major smart thermostat brands and certain residential battery systems, as well as partnerships with third-party demand response aggregators. Customers sign up online, authorize data sharing and device control, and then wait for an email confirming their enrollment.

The onboarding process usually takes a few minutes, with clear screens explaining how many events per year are expected and what incentives look like. For a homeowner, the most tactile step happens when they tap confirm in the thermostat app and see a small banner pop up, stating that the device is now part of a demand response program and may adjust automatically during grid stress periods.

Grid impact and investor angle

All told, ConnectedSolutions fits neatly into the pattern of utilities treating demand response and flexible load management as a core resource class rather than a side pilot. It supports Eversource Energy’s regulatory narrative around decarbonization and grid modernization while giving customers a practical way to join the effort without installing heavy equipment.

For investors, the Eversource Energy share price on US markets reflects a broad portfolio of regulated networks and efficiency programs, with demand response like ConnectedSolutions positioned as a long-term, compliance-friendly way to handle growth and climate policy rather than a fast-profit product line.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.