Frequently Asked Questions

Energy costs vary throughout the day and electricity rates are higher when demand is greatest, such as when more people are home in the evening and wash dishes or clothes or take baths. In contrast, electricity rates are lower during the daytime, when clean, renewable energy like wind and solar are abundant. This difference in energy costs is reflected in Time-of-Use electricity plans with the highest cost of electricity typically from 4:00-9:00 p.m., depending on your specific rate plan. WatterSaver automatically heats water during the lower-cost times, avoiding the peak time when possible, so that hot water is ready when you need it, without paying the highest price. 

No. If needed to supply you hot water, your water heater will turn on during peak times. However, WatterSaver will minimize the probability of this happening by storing hot water in advance of peak times.  

Customers enrolled in WatterSaver can opt out of program participation when more hot water use is expected, for example if the size of your household increases during holidays. Just remember that you must allow your water heater to receive signals from WatterSaver for at least 14 days each month to earn the monthly Participation Reward. If you regularly opt out of participation and do not receive signals from WatterSaver for at least 14 days per month, you will not earn a Participation Reward for that month, though you will still be able to participate and earn rewards in future months. Projects not active for more than three consecutive months will be terminated and incentives not claimed within 30 days are forfeited.

• When you enroll in WatterSaver and connect your water heater you’ll receive a $50 gift card enrollment reward via email for signing up, at the end of a four-week enrollment period. You can earn an additional $5 gift card credit for each month you participate in WatterSaver. That’s $60 per year! Once you’re enrolled, WatterSaver will automatically heat your water every day during times when energy costs are lower. These are known as “load shift” events. 

• You have the option of opting out of these events whenever you want. However, you must allow your water heater to receive signals from WatterSaver for at least 14 days each month to earn the monthly Participation Reward. If you do not receive signals from WatterSaver for at least 14 days per month, you will not earn a Participation Reward for that month, though you will still be able to participate and earn rewards in future months. Projects not active for more than three consecutive months will be terminated and incentives not claimed within 30 days are forfeited.

• The accrued gift card credit can be claimed at the end of every quarter (January-March, April-June, July-August, September-December). These rewards must be claimed within 30 days and then downloaded within 30 days of claim. However, once you have downloaded your gift card, its value does not expire. If you begin participating in the program after a calendar quarter is already underway, you will be credited for your participation month(s) at the end of your first full quarter of participation. 
• If your gift card is not working or has expired, please reach out directly to [email protected] for support. 

• To get the benefits of WatterSaver you must be on a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plan. If you are not already on a TOU rate plan, you must switch to one in order to enroll in WatterSaver. 

• Note: Customers participating in electrification pilots in one of five communities in the San Joaquin Valley: Alpaugh Census Designated Place (CDP), Fairmead CDP, Lanare CDP, La Vina CDP and Le Grand CDP, collectivity identified as San Joaquin Valley Disadvantaged Communities (SJV DAC), for pilots approved as part of the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC’s) Rulemaking 15-03-010, also known as the SJV DAC Proceeding, are exempt from Time-of-Use rate participation requirements. If you’re not sure if you are a part of these programs you can email [email protected] to help. 

Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing is a rate model offered by PG&E that provides different electricity rates depending on the time of day that you use it, and PG&E TOU plans offer lower electricity rates for off-peak usage. With TOU, when you shift some of your energy use to times when the cost is lower, PG&E can pass the savings along to you. 

Any PG&E residential customer can choose a TOU rate plan. Click here to visit PG&E’s webpage to learn more. 

The make and model of your water heater can usually be found on the water heater’s tank, in a few possible locations. In some cases, it can be found on a yellow Energy Guide sticker on the tank that provides information about your water heater’s energy usage compared to similar water heater types. In the upper right corner of the sticker, the manufacturer will be listed first with the model number of the water heater listed below. This sticker will not include your water heater’s serial number. Another location where water heater information can be found is on the water heater’s nameplate. This is usually a white sticker found on the tank, but if you have a split heat pump water heating system, it will be located on the side of the outdoor unit. The nameplate will include your water heater’s make, model, and serial number.  

Locations of Nameplate & Energy Guide on Tank Type Water Heater 

Nameplate on Tank Type Water Heater 

Nameplate on Split Heat Pump

Click here to get started with enrollment!

A thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) is a valve that blends hot and cold water to provide safe and consistent water temperatures. A TMV is T–shaped, with hot and cold water entering either side of the T, and the mixed water leaving from the middle. A TMV also has a control mechanism on top (which can vary in color) used to adjust the outgoing water temperature. A TMV will be located close to the water heater and can be found by following the hot water pipe coming from the water heater (usually from the top). If you see a valve where both the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe converge, that is a TMV.  A sample TMV is pictured below:

If your heat pump water heater has a thermostatic mixing valve, WatterSaver will take advantage of it to heat water to a higher temperature during the times of the day when electricity rates are less expensive. A thermostatic mixing valve helps maximize savings while maintaining a constant, safe outgoing water temperature.  

By having higher water temperatures in the storage tank, the water heater will be better able to draw from this reserve of hot water and less likely to need to turn on when electricity costs are high. The addition of a mixing valve allows for hot water to be stored at higher temperatures by tempering down this hot water with cold water to a safe temperature before going to hot water fixtures in the home.  

Participants should work with their plumber to set the mixing valve to a temperature that will keep the water at a comfortably warm and safe temperature (e.g., 122 degrees F).  

Program participants must fully understand the following important items: 

• Failure to accurately inform WatterSaver whether or not a mixing valve is installed could result in a risk of scalding. 
• Further, improper adjustment of the mixing valve could result in extremely high water outlet temperatures that may also pose a risk of scalding. 
• By accepting the pilot’s Terms and Conditions, participants assume all responsibility for their own safety as well as the safety of anyone using the water heated by their water heater. 

If you do not have Wi-Fi in your home, you may still be abe to participate if the WatterSaver program can communicate with your water heater. Some water heaters can be retrofitted with a device called a CTA-2045 universal control module (UCM) that will allow your water heater to be remotely controlled through a cellular connection, and which the program can provide at no cost to the customer if needed. Contact our Support team for questions about a CTA-2045 UCM or other technical items at  1-888-707-9930 or [email protected]. 

• You can connect to your smart water heater via Wi-Fi by downloading the manufacturer app onto your mobile device. Follow the instruction on the app to connect your water heater to your Wi-Fi network. Please see this page for common smart water heaters manufacturer’s instructions on connecting to Wi-Fi.
• If you have any additional questions, you can reach out to one of our technical specialists at 1-888-707-9930 or [email protected].

For help at any time, call EcoNet Support: (800) 255-2388 and press 1 for Econet with Heat Pumps. You can also email [email protected] or visit Rheem.com/EcoNet for additional support.

For help at any time, call EcoNet Support: (800) 255-2388 and press 1 for Econet with Heat Pumps. You can also email [email protected] or visit Rheem.com/EcoNet for additional support.

From time to time, WatterSaver randomly selects water heaters to opt out of load shifting events in order to collect data on how water heaters perform normally. This data is used to establish a baseline that helps the program understand just how much energy customers are saving by participating. If WatterSaver selects your water heater to opt out of an event, this will not count against your participation as it relates to earning a reward for that month. 

There is no risk to joining, but if you decide that WatterSaver is not for you, please contact WatterSaver staff at [email protected].

During the winter, you may opt out from load-shifting if you would like. Keep in mind that you will not receive incentives during this period, but you will remain in the program to resume load-shifting in the spring. To do so, contact the WatterSaver team at 1-888-707-2388 or [email protected].