Ohio lawmakers are weighing a new energy program that would let utilities temporarily adjust household thermostats and water heaters — but only for customers who sign up.

House Bill 427, introduced this week in the General Assembly, would create an opt-in “demand response” program aimed at cutting strain on the state’s power grid during peak usage, such as summer heat waves or winter freezes.

Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland), the bill’s sponsor , said the plan extends a proven tool already used by the industry. 3

“Demand response programs have proven to be a vital tool for our large commercial users, and it’s important that similar programs are made available to residential and small commercial users,” he said in a statement.

Under the bill, households that enroll would give

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