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 temporarily adjust your water heater’s energy use during Flex events, which helps support the grid while meeting our region’s growing energy needs.
You can earn:
- $20 upon enrollment
- An additional $20 for each year you stay enrolled
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, and PSE currently supports compatible Rheem brand water heaters with Wi-Fi functionality.
What happens after I enroll?
Once enrolled, your water heater will automatically pause heating during Flex events. These events are called when PSE determines that reducing electricity demand would help support the grid. 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 between two and four 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
Once enrolled, participation of your water heater is automatic and secure, and uses smart logic to ensure your availability of hot water regardless of a Flex event. However, if you desire, you can un-enroll from the program at any time.
Enroll now
If your water heater is already equipped with demand response capability via Wi-Fi connectivity or a dedicated app for your water heater, you can enroll using the link below. Currently only Rheem brand water heaters are Wi-Fi eligible.
ENROLL
Flex Water Heaters
What is Flex Water Heaters?
Flex Water Heaters is a voluntary program that uses smart technology to help reduce electricity demand during Flex events, which helps support the grid and 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.
What types of water heaters are eligible?
Only electric tank-type water heaters are eligible for the Flex Water Heaters 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 currently enrolled in a Time-of-Use (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.
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.
What happens if the water temperature is too cold?
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 Uplight’s customer support help line at 1-888-793-9347 or support@pseflex.com between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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 is Flex Water Heaters administered and where can I receive support?
Flex Water Heaters is administered on behalf of PSE by Uplight, which oversees 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 support@pseflex.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.
How do I opt out of the Flex Water Heaters?
For the fastest assistance, you can contact Uplight's customer support directly at support@pseflex.com or by calling 1-888-793-9347.
Flex Rewards is administered on behalf of PSE by Uplight.
For the fastest assistance, help with enrollment, unenrollment, or incentives, you can contact Uplight's customer support directly at support@pseflex.com or by calling 1-888-793-9347.
Already enrolled? Access the FlexSaver portal to review earnings and adjust settings. New users can sign up now.
Flex Water Heaters is administered on behalf of PSE by Uplight.
For the fastest assistance, help with enrollment or unenrollment, or incentives, you can contact Uplight's customer support directly at support@pseflex.com or by calling 1-888-793-9347