I'm an a licensed electrician in Arizona. Both our utilities in Phoenix have a demand component to the electric rate. Several of my customers have asked about a device that will allow only one of their 2 or 3 ac units to run at a time during our peak demand time. This time could be anywhere from 3 to 6 hrs m-f.
While I know about load controllers, they are expensive both to buy and to install and many times are overkill in that they are designed to shead multiple loads and when a residence has natural gas many of the high draw items that would be controlled by the LC are aready on NG.
With the NEST thermostat already able to communicate with each other in a multiple unit residence couldn't something be designed in software so during set user defined times only one ac would run at a time. During the appointed time once the first unit achieved its set temperature, it would turn off and the second unit would turn on. Once the 2nd unit reaches its set point the first could turn on again if it was above its set point or maybe the 3rd unit would start.
If this feature were available it would be a reason to have multiple NEST units in the same household and it would be useful to more than just Arizona since many utilities are going to demand billing.
