Problems un-enrolling from PG&E's SmartAC program

[Velums]

Has anyone run into issues un-enrolling from PG&E's SmartAC program?

I called them to unenroll over 4 months ago, and the rep did so (or at least she said she did).

I then tried to enroll in a different demand response program, and they told me that PG&E still had me enrolled in SmartAC.

Weeks went by. I called the SmartAC department again, and they had their contractor (Franklin Energy) send me an email saying that I was unenrolled.

I tried enrolling in the other demand response program again, and they said that I was still enrolled in SmartAC.

Then we had a hot day - and SmartAC kicked on (the red light on the SmartAC contoller box lit up, and the AC compressor turned off).

So I called The SmartAC department again, and the representative apologized and promised that they would unenroll me for sure, and that a signal would be sent to be SmartAC box to discontinue its behavior. So I thought all is well.

Today, there's another SmartAC event going on - and again SmartAC box lit up indicating that it was active, and the compressor turned off. So I called the SmartAC department again.

This time the rep says that I'm not enrolled, and he could find no record of my enrollment in the past, and that there is no record of a SmartAC box ever attached at this address. I verified my address and account number with him 5 times, and I even gave him the serial number on the SmartAC box.

The rep kept saying all he could do was advise me to call an HVAC specialist. But my HVAC unit works just fine when the SmartAC box isn't actively stopping it.

Any suggestions?

 

[aesculus]

Well an A/C specialist would just bypass the Smart A/C box, so problem solved, but on your dime.

 

[jjrandorin]

When I unenrolled from a similar program with SCE, I told them to come get their intercept boxes off my house as well (I was pretty unhappy with the program). How does this program interact with your solar or powerwalls?

 

[Velums]

It doesn't interact with the solar or powerwalls. (After posting I realized that I posted this in the wrong forum - should have been the more generic energy one - sorry)

 

[jjrandorin]

(moderator note: i will move it to the general energy section, with a re direct, for a couple of days.)

 

[holeydonut]

Well an A/C specialist would just bypass the Smart A/C box, so problem solved, but on your dime.

Unfortunately this is the only reasonable solution.

My neighbor didn’t even want to participate in this program and his wife had no clue what the program was. He’s tried repeatedly to get the remote control boxes removed without any luck.

The program is “contracted out” by PG&E to Franklin Energy. There seems to be no actual SLA for Franklin removing the boxes in a timely manner.