Flex Water Heaters
Your water heater is the second largest electricity user in your home, after heating and cooling. By joining the Flex program, you can earn rewards by letting PSE adjust your water heater’s energy use when the community’s demand for electricity rises —a process known as demand response.
You can earn:
- $20 upon enrollment
- An additional $20 for each year you stay enrolled
- Automatic entry to win one of two $250 gift cards each month (excluding October and April)
Participation is easy
To participate, your electric water heater needs to be capable of communication with PSE. Many water heaters already have this connectivity through Wi-Fi, but if yours doesn’t, you can retrofit it with a free Smart Water Link from the PSE Marketplace (coming soon). Installation is quick, typically taking about five minutes, using only a Phillips screwdriver.
Important note: The program currently supports only equipment with Wi-Fi connectivity. However, the Smart Water Link will be available later this summer, which will allow connectivity for more equipment.
What happens after I enroll?
Once enrolled, PSE can signal your water heater to pause heating during Flex events – peak hours forecasted for high electricity usage. It’s unlikely you’ll notice a change at all, since modern water heaters are well-insulated and can store hot water for several hours without power!
Flex events typically occur during hours that use more electricity than normal and are scheduled between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., 7 days a week, lasting 2-4 hours. Events for water heaters may occur up to 200 times per year, but will not occur on holidays (listed below).
Holidays:
- New Year's Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Your water heater may also provide limited status information to PSE, such as water temperature and storage capacity, to help manage energy load. Participation is voluntary, and you can opt out of Flex events by adjusting settings on your equipment manually if needed.
Enroll now
If your water heater is already equipped with demand response capability, you can enroll by clicking the link below. To check compatibility, look for Wi-Fi connectivity or a dedicated app on your water heater. All models made after January 1, 2023, are required to have this feature.
ENROLLAdd demand response connectivity for free (coming soon)
If your electric water heater is not yet connectable, retrofit it with a free Smart Water Link from the PSE Marketplace. After ordering, you’ll receive instructions to complete your Flex program enrollment.
COMING SOONWhat is Flex Water Heaters?
Flex Water Heaters is a voluntary program that uses smart technology to smooth out the demand for energy when it’s at its highest, helping us meet our region’s growing energy needs.
Do I qualify to enroll?
Enrollment is available to residential customers whose water heating is provided by PSE electricity, have an AMI meter, and have a water heater with the ability to communicate with PSE. Depending on your model, this can be through the water heater itself or through a connected Smart Water Link. Customers who heat their water with PSE natural gas do not qualify.
What types of water heaters are eligible?
Only electric tank-type water heaters are eligible for the Flex program, whether electric resistance or a heat pump water heater (also called a hybrid electric water heater). Tankless water heaters are not eligible because they provide hot water on demand without storing it. The Flex program relies on the ability to manage and shift energy use, which is not compatible with the on-demand operation of tankless systems.
Can I participate in Time-of-Use and enroll my water heater?
Customers who are enrolled in a TOU rate plan featuring Peak Time Rebates (Sch. 317 or Sch. 324) are not eligible to simultaneously participate in PSE’s other demand response programs and will be opted out accordingly. However, customers who are currently enrolled in a standalone TOU rate plan (Sch. 307 or Sch. 327) are eligible to simultaneously enroll in both Flex Water Heaters and TOU.
How much money do I get for participating?
You will receive $20 upon enrolling, plus $20 each year you stay enrolled.
Can I enroll my water heater and also sign up for Flex Rewards?
No, if you are signed up for Flex Rewards, you cannot also enroll your water heater. However, you can enroll other qualified smart devices, such as smart thermostats and EV chargers.
How much will the equipment cost me?
Nothing. If you are a residential electric customer who agrees to participate, PSE will cover the cost of the Smart Water Link for your water heater to communicate with PSE. Power cost savings resulting from the program offset any expense incurred.
Will I have hot water when my water heater is switched off?
Modern water heaters are well-insulated and can store hot water for several hours without power, so it’s unlikely you’ll notice a change at all.
Can I still turn heating back on during an event?
If your water heater detects it is getting too cold, it will turn itself back on automatically. You don’t have to take any action to opt out. However, if you experience issues with cold water, we encourage you to contact our customer support.
What data is shared with PSE?
By enrolling, you allow PSE to signal your water heater to preheat water or to avoid heating during events. Your water heater may also communicate limited information about its status, such as the temperature of water in the tank and the storage capacity, so we know how much electric load will be shifted.
How do I enter to win the $250 gift card?
Participants who enroll are automatically entered to win one of two $250 gift cards. Giveaways will be drawn each month during the summer season (May 1 through September) and winter season (November through March).
How is Flex Water Heaters administered and where can I receive support?
Flex Water Heaters is administered on behalf of PSE by Uplight, overseeing program implementation, payment processing, and customer support. Enrolled customers can manage their accounts through the FlexSaver portal provided by Uplight. For the fastest assistance, you can contact Uplight's customer support directly at flex@pse.com or by calling 1-888-793-9347.
What is an AMI meter?
Enrolling your water heater requires that your home or business be equipped with AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), the current standard for metering technology that facilitates two-way communication between meters and PSE. As part of PSE’s Meter Upgrade Project, nearly 2 million meters in our service area were upgraded to AMI between 2018 and 2023. For more information, please visit the Meter Upgrade Project.