There are a number of ways to enable your devices to automatically take part in equivents. Read on to learn more.
How to automatically take part in equivents.
There are multiple ways to automate participation in equivents.
- Connect your AlphaESS battery.
- Connect home appliances to a compatible KP115 or HS110 Kasa smart plug.
- Connect Wiser™ devices via our integration.
- Connect smart appliances via the IFTTT integration.
- Connect smart appliances via the equiwatt API integrations.
- Connect a compatible electric vehicle or smart charger.
- Connect your Tado Smart Thermostat.
PLEASE NOTE: All equivent points are awarded via your smart meter. If you do not have a smart meter connected to your account, then you will not be able to earn any points from your automated devices.
1. AlphaESS Battery
equiwatt's free app integrates seamlessly with your AlphaESS home battery system to help you get rewarded for doing your bit for the grid and the planet.
Once linked, the equiwatt app automatically manages when your battery charges and discharges, shifting energy away from peak times and participating in grid events, saving you money and earning rewards simultaneously.
Compatible battery systems:
- Smile 5
- Smile B3
- Smile B3 Plus
- Smile T10-HV
- Smile S6
How can I earn points?
By taking part in flexibility events, you will be able to earn points based on how much your whole household reduces its energy usage during an event in comparison to your forecast. I.e. your actual usage during the event will be compared to your predicted usage (or forecast).
If you successfully beat your forecast by using less electricity than predicted, you will be awarded points based on how much energy and CO2 you have helped to shift. The more energy you have reduced in relation to your forecast, the more points you will earn.
What if I have an export MPAN?
If you have an export MPAN, you will see two different forecasts in the app. One will show you how much energy you should use to earn points, and the other is linked to your export MPAN.
This battery export forecast will inform you how much energy you need to export during an event to earn rewards.
If you have an export MPAN, you will also be awarded points based on how much energy you have successfully exported in comparison to your export forecast. The more energy you export, the more points you will receive.
These points can then be used to redeem a range of eGift cards from over 35 popular high street brands.
This means that you can not only use your battery to reduce your home's energy bills but also transform it into a money-generating asset.
2. Kasa Smart Plugs (KP115 & HS110):
Participating in equivents with a Kasa energy-monitoring smart plug is an easy way to save energy when demand on the grid is high, as your smart plugs will do the work for you. It also gives you more opportunities to earn bonus points!
To participate in equivents with a smart plug, you simply need to connect your chosen appliance to a compatible KP115 or HS110 Kasa TP-Link Smart Plug via the equiwatt app.
TIP: You can find help setting up your Kasa Smart Plug for the first time here.
How it works:
When an equivent starts, your appliance will automatically turn itself off at the start of the equivent and switch itself back on at the end of the equivent.
With Kasa Smart plugs, you can:
- Adjust the length of time that your appliance takes part in an equivent in settings
- Opt out of equivents if you would prefer your appliance not to take part
- Automatically earn points according to how long your appliance participated in the event and the amount of energy and CO2 it saves.
- View the Command History of your devices to see when they have been switched on and off by equiwatt.
3. Wiser™ Integration
Connecting your Wiser™ devices to equiwatt lets you participate in powerDOWN events automatically.
Supported Wiser™ devices:
-
Wiser™ smart plug
-
Wiser™ smart room thermostat
During an event, any Wiser™ devices that you have connected to the equiwatt app will automatically participate when an event begins.
Any connected Wiser™ smart plug will be switched off for the duration of the event and switched back on once the event is over.
If you have connected a Wiser™ smart room thermostat, then your heating will automatically be reduced by 5°C and will resume its previous schedule once the event finishes.
You can manually override your device's participation in an event by physically switching it back on or manually adjusting the temperature; however, this may prevent you from earning any points.
If you own one of the following Wiser™ devices, you can connect it to the equiwatt app by following the steps in this article.
4. IFTTT Integration
As well as using direct integrations such as Kasa smart plugs and electric vehicles, you can also set up your smart appliances to take part in equivents via our IFTTT integration.
To participate your smart devices in equivents using the IFTTT integration, you simply need to choose or create the relevant applet on the equiwatt IFTTT page and follow the onscreen instructions. You can learn more about IFTTT here.
5. API Integrations
In addition to setting up your smart appliances to take part in equivents via our IFTTT integration, you can also use our Open API and Webhook triggers to automate your device's participation in equivents.
To use the equiwatt Open API or Webhook triggers to programmatically control the turning on and off of your devices during equivents. You can learn more about our Open API & Webook Triggers here.
6. Electric Vehicles (EVs) & chargers
If you own an electric vehicle (EV) or smart home charger, participating in equivents is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to lower your peak time energy usage and reduce your carbon footprint.
To participate in equivents with your EV, you simply need to connect your compatible EV or charger to the equiwatt app and opt in to equivents.
When an equivent starts, your EV's charging will automatically be paused at the start of the event and resume at the end of the event.
PLEASE NOTE: Your EV will not participate in an equivent if any of the following criteria are met:
- You have disabled smart charging. To enable smart charging, please ensure that the Smart Charging and the equivents toggles are set to ON within your settings.
- Your EV is unplugged or not charging due to a localised fault.
- Your EV has been detected as not charging at the ‘home’ location selected in the app. We cannot manage your EV's charging at public charging points.
When your EV is connected to equiwatt, you can:
- Adjust the length of time that your EV takes part in an equivent (choose between 30-60 mins) in the 'equivent Preferences' settings.
- Opt out from equivents if you would prefer your EV not to take part.
- Earn points from every equivent that your EV participates in.
- Earn points 5 every day that your EV is plugged in and ready to participate in an equivent. (Note: Daily points are awarded on a per-day basis whenever you connect the EV).
- Compete with other users by participating in our monthly leaderboard for the chance to win bonus points for finishing in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Find out more here.
7. Tado Smart Thermostat
Connecting your Tado smart thermostat to equiwatt lets you participate in equivents automatically.
If you have connected a Tado Smart Thermostat, then your heating will automatically be reduced by 5°C and will resume its previous schedule once the event finishes.
You can manually override your device's participation in an event by physically switching it back on or manually adjusting the temperature; however, this may prevent you from earning any points.