I have had a good experience with Rhythm Energy overall, but I am very disappointed that Rhythm removed Google Nest thermostat support from the Smart Thermostat Program.
I live in an apartment, and my management will not allow installation of the Amazon Smart Thermostat that Rhythm now requires. The Amazon monitoring kit cannot be installed because:
Apartment management does not permit thermostat replacement
They are not trained or comfortable installing Amazon devices
The HVAC wiring is locked behind panels that residents cannot access
I personally do not want to touch or install it myself because it is not something I want to risk tampering with in a rental unit
Because of this, I cannot use the Amazon thermostat at all.
The problem is that I already have a Google Nest thermostat installed and working perfectly. But since Rhythm removed Nest support, I cannot enroll my existing Nest device to receive the Connected Thermostat credit.
For apartment residents, Nest is often the only realistic and allowed option. We cannot legally modify wiring, remove thermostats, or install new hardware, and we should not be forced to.
Please bring back Google Nest support. It is the most common smart thermostat in apartments, and restoring it would allow many renters to participate in your energy saving program without violating lease rules or touching equipment we are not supposed to modify.
I want to stay with Rhythm because your PowerShift plan is great, but removing Nest support unfairly blocks apartment residents from credits that homeowners can access. Please reconsider enabling Nest support again.