For Homes

HELP Program

HELP Program

Through participating in HELP, residential customers team up with Public Service to reduce the amount of electricity air conditioners and water heaters drain during those rare occasions when there's extreme power consumption or a system emergency.

When you volunteer for the HELP program, Public Service will mount a small remote-controlled switch on the outside of your home next to your central air-conditioning unit. You also may choose to have us install a similar switch for your electric water heater. There is no charge for these installations. In fact, you'll even receive a small credit on your Public Service bill as our way of thanking you for participating.

If a power crunch should occur, Public Service will activate the remote-controlled switches on your air conditioner and/or water heater. This will turn off only the specified equipment—it will not interfere with the rest of your electrical system.

This does not mean we'll control your equipment every time the weather gets hot. Current projections indicate we will have to manage power to your air conditioner and water heater under the HELP program for several hours on as many as eight to ten days each year.

You may select one or both of the two HELP Choices for your central air conditioner and one HELP choice for your electric water heater.

HELP Choices

Best Choice - Central Air Conditioner - Load Shed and Cycling

Choice 2 - Central Air Conditioner - Cycling Only

Choice 3 - Electric Water Heater - Load Shed and Cycling

To participate in the HELP program, call 24-hour customer service at 800-450-7260.