Saver's Switch

Hot summer days in South Dakota means increased air conditioning use, which pushes demand for electricity to a peak. By participating in Saver's Switch, you'll help us manage these peaks by cutting back just a little on the time your central air works to cool your home. When you sign up you’ll save 15% on your June through September energy bill each year you participate in Saver’s Switch®.

You don’t even need to be home during installation. A licensed electrician installs a small remote-controlled switch on the outside of your home near your central air conditioner. The switch and installation are free.

Saver’s Switch is a free program that helps us:

• Provide reliable transmission of electricity.
• Delay or reduce the need to build additional power plants.
• Keep electric rates lower.

You’ll stay cool and comfortable. On hot summer days – 10 to 15 days at most each year – Xcel Energy may activate Saver’s Switch. The switch cycles your air conditioner off and on generally at 15- to 20-minute intervals. However, the furnace fan stays on, circulating already-cooled air throughout your home. Most customers don't even notice when Saver’s Switch is activated. An independent test of 40 homes showed an average increase of only one to two degrees Fahrenheit during activation. On control days, Saver’s Switch is typically activated between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

You’ll receive 15% on your June through September electric bill each year you participate in the program. Even better, you can save an additional 2% if you enroll your electric water heater at the same time. The Saver's Switch will shut off the water heater usually for a six-hour period on hot summer days or cold winter afternoons. The hot water stored in the water heater is still available for use through the period. You must be home for water heater installation.

To qualify, you must be:

• You must be an Xcel Energy residential electric customer with central air conditioning in South Dakota.
• Customers who live in apartments or condominiums are not eligible unless they have owner approval and an A/C dedicated to their apartment located outside on the ground level near the building. Xcel Energy does not install Saver’s Switch on rooftop A/Cs, window, or wall units for any dwelling.
• The switch is typically installed within six to eight weeks after you sign up.
• No appointment is necessary for the installation.
• You will receive 15% discount on the June – September electric energy charges on your bills each year you participate and an additional 2%, every month, if you enroll your water heater at the same time.
• Please note, a qualifying water heater has to be enrolled in partnership with a central air conditioner. Water heaters cannot be enrolled by themselves.
• Recommended minimum participation commitment is one year. You can call to cancel your participation in the program at anytime, although you must remain enrolled in the program to receive the discount.
• The maximum amount of allowable Saver’s Switch AC control is 300 hours per year. In an average year we activate the program for 40-60 hours.
• The maximum amount of allowable Saver's Switch water heater is 15 hours shut off in any 24-hour time period.
• Your home's disconnect box or breaker box must be within 50 feet or visual site of the air conditioning unit in order to install the Saver's Switch. Our installers will determine eligibility on site.

Note: Other restrictions may apply.

It's easy. You can enroll online for the Saver's Switch program or simply call Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999 Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MST.