ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A new winter pilot in Newfoundland and Labrador is offering cash-like rewards to households that help reduce electricity demand when the provincial grid is under the most pressure. Newfoundland Power, working with St. John’s-based smart thermostat company Mysa, is rolling out a limited-capacity “demand response” program aimed at trimming peak-time electricity use—primarily from electric baseboard heating—through small, automated temperature adjustments that participants can override at any time. Alapbs+2TakeCHARGE+2
The initiative is being delivered through takeCHARGE, the energy efficiency partnership backed by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Newfoundland Power. It’s designed to test whether coordinated, short-term reductions in household heating load can improve reliability and reduce strain on the system during winter peaks—while keeping comfort and customer control front and centre.
What’s new on Dec. 15, 2025: Peak demand remains high on the Island system
The pilot arrives as the Island’s electricity demand continues to climb during winter conditions. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s public “Supply and Demand” dashboard showed Current Island System Demand at 1230 MW as of 9:35 p.m. on 12/15/2025, a snapshot that underlines why utilities focus so heavily on peak-demand management in cold-weather months. Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro
Hydro’s system overview also notes that Island demand is served by a mix of resources—including hydroelectric generation, the Holyrood Thermal Generating Station and combustion turbines, and Muskrat Falls power flowing over the Labrador Island Link—along with other non-utility generation and standby diesel plants if needed.
How the Mysa Thermostat Pilot works during “peak events”
The program focuses on winter peak events—short windows when electricity demand spikes and the system needs relief. During those events:
- Your Mysa app displays a notification such as “Demand response in progress.” TakeCHARGE
- The thermostat can automatically reduce the setpoint by about 1–4°C for up to three hours, depending on the event.
- Some events may include a pre-heat period (raising the setpoint by roughly 1–2°C for up to 60 minutes beforehand) to help maintain comfort.
- Participants can opt out anytime by adjusting the thermostat—meaning customers stay in control.
- After the event ends, the thermostat returns to its original setting.
Local reporting on the program emphasizes that the adjustments are intended to be subtle enough that many customers may not notice them—while still delivering meaningful grid benefits when scaled across participating homes.
Rewards: How participants can earn up to $140
Eligible Newfoundland Power customers who enroll and participate can earn up to $140 in total rewards, structured in two main parts:
- Sign-up incentive:$25 per enrolled Mysa thermostat, up to a maximum of $100.
- Participation bonus:$40 for participating in at least 50% of peak events during the four-month pilot season.
Mysa’s program page also notes that rewards are issued as electronic Mastercard gift cards via email (with enrollment rewards typically delivered within weeks), and that the participation bonus is expected by the end of April 2026.
A potential extra perk: a free home energy monitor (limited group)
Beyond cash-like rewards, takeCHARGE says a smaller subset of participants may qualify for an enhanced pilot option: a professionally installed whole-home energy monitor (with installation) offered at no cost, described as valued at $1,000. The monitor is used to provide richer energy-usage data during the pilot, and participants selected for this option can keep the monitor after the pilot concludes.
Who is eligible in Newfoundland and Labrador?
The pilot is targeted—both to maximize impact on peak demand and to keep the test group consistent. According to takeCHARGE, you generally need to meet requirements such as:
- An active Newfoundland Power account for your primary residence
- Electric baseboard heat as the primary heating source
- An eligible Mysa smart thermostat installed (Mysa for Baseboards V1/V2 or Mysa Lite)
- A working Wi‑Fi connection that stays active for the duration of the pilot
- Installation completed by a key deadline if you’re buying thermostats specifically for this pilot
The program is also described as limited in capacity, meaning not every interested household will necessarily get in, even if eligible.
Deadline to install: Jan. 6, 2026
One of the most important details for households considering joining is the installation cutoff. Program information indicates that new Mysa customers must install and enroll eligible thermostats by January 6, 2026.
How to enroll: app, portal, and purchase options
Enrollment pathways include:
- Signing up through the takeCHARGE enrollment portal linked from the pilot page
- Enrolling through the Mysa app (for customers who already have compatible devices)
- Purchasing eligible thermostats through Mysa (where takeCHARGE also references an instant rebate and bundle discounts) and then completing enrollment
- A Costco option is also referenced for certain Mysa multi-packs, followed by portal enrollment
Why this pilot matters: grid reliability, winter heating, and “smart” demand response
Newfoundland and Labrador’s winter electricity story is shaped by electric heating—especially in homes using baseboard heat—and by weather-driven spikes that can arrive quickly. When thousands of homes draw maximum power at the same time, the system has to meet that demand instantly.
Demand-response pilots like this one aim to provide a modern alternative to blunt, system-wide measures by shaving small amounts of load from many homes at once. The theory: a tiny adjustment in one household might be barely noticeable, but coordinated across a large enough group, it can reduce peak strain, improve resilience, and potentially help avoid the need for costlier peak-time generation.
Bottom line for NL residents
If your primary residence is served by Newfoundland Power and heated mainly with electric baseboards, the Mysa Thermostat Pilot could offer a straightforward trade: allow minor, temporary temperature adjustments during a limited number of peak events—and earn rewards that can total up to $140, with a chance (for some) at an advanced home energy monitor install.
With space limited and a Jan. 6, 2026 installation deadline for new device installs, households considering the program will want to check eligibility and enrollment details sooner rather than later.
