Saver's Switch for Business

Minnesota businesses, you can save on your energy bill during the summer months with Saver’s Switch^®. Sign up and we’ll give you a monthly discount of $5 per ton of enrolled air conditioning on your energy bills from June through September.

Most customers have about 5 tons of air conditioning, which saves $100 each summer – customers with larger systems can save much, much more. For example, a Stillwater insurance agency saved 28% on summer energy charges.

Best of all, Saver’s Switch is free.

To enroll, sign up online or download an application under How to get started below.

On the hottest summer days when demand for electricity approaches its peak, we use a remote controlled switch to adjust your air conditioner cycling it off and on for brief 15- to 20-minute intervals. Most customers never notice a difference – until they see their discounted bills.

When you enroll in Saver’s Switch, you get:

• A monthly discount of $5 per ton of enrolled air conditioning on your energy bills from June through September.
• A free switch and installation by qualified technicians.
• Comfortable temperatures because your air conditioner fans keep circulating air when compressors are cycled off.
• Lower electric rates result in long-term savings because you’re helping reduce peak demand. 

Saver’s Switch also allows us to generate electricity more efficiently during peak demand periods and delays the need to build expensive new power plants which helps the environment.

How Saver’s Switch Works 

In return for a significant discount on summer cooling costs, you'll help us manage electrical usage peaks by cutting back just a little on the total time your system runs to cool your business. A licensed electrician installs a small remote-controlled switch outside near your central air conditioner. 

Saver’s Switch is only activated during times when electricity demand approaches its peak. 

• This is usually during the 10-15 hottest days of the summer.
• We cycle your AC on and off for brief 15- to 20-minute intervals for single-stage systems. 
• Your system fan stays on, circulating already-cooled air throughout your building.
• Historically, we’ve activated Saver's Switch about 50 hours per year in Minnesota.
• We normally control between late morning and evening on the hottest days. 

The maximum amount of allowable control hours for Minnesota is 300 hours per year. On average in Minnesota, we use only a fraction of those hours and have never reached the maximum. 

The switch will not harm your AC nor void any warranties that are known to us. 

Other Program Details

 If the monthly discount exceeds the electric energy charges for a specific month, the discount will be the value of the electric energy charges for that month. 

You must sign up for a one-year commitment to join Saver’s Switch. Your participation in Saver's Switch is automatically carried forward every year. 

For conditions and restrictions, see terms and conditions under Additional Information.

To qualify, you must:

• Be an Xcel Energy business electricity customer in Minnesota.
• Have a central air conditioning unit (no window or wall units).
• Own your building unless you receive approval from your landlord and have an A/C unit dedicated to your business space near the building (the owner must sign a consent form –see How to get started below).
• Provide access to the AC unit on your property for the installer.
• Sign up for a one-year commitment.
• For additional requirements, see terms and conditions under Additional Information. 

Note: Saver’s Switch is not recommended for hospitals, restaurants, nursing homes or any facility that has heat-generating equipment.

To enroll in Saver’s Switch,

If you have any questions about Saver’s Switch, contact our Business Solutions Center at 1-800-481-4700.