Simple Flat Bill Frequently Asked Questions

Simple Flat Bill Benefits

What does it mean that you provide a free thermostat?

If you install our thermostat and participate in Simple Flat Bill for the full extent of the initial 12-month agreement, the thermostat is free. If you do not install the thermostat, then you must either return the thermostat right away, or after 30 days, we will need to charge you the retail price. If you decide to leave the program before the end of your first 12-month agreement, you will be charged the prorated retail price of the thermostat based on how many months you were in the program.

What happens after my 12-month agreement finishes?

After 12 months, Simple will provide you a new 12 month Simple Flat Bill, with your rate possibly adjusted based on your previous 12 months of consumption. This adjustment could decrease, or possibly slightly increase, your monthly payments. If you are unhappy with Simple Flat Bill or the new rate, then you can decline the offer, keep the thermostat, and leave the program with no obligation. If you do not opt-out of the program, you will be automatically enrolled in the next 12-month Simple Flat Bill agreement

What is your Excessive Use policy?

We reserve the right to remove a customer from Simple Flat Bill if the customer exceeds our Excessive Use limit, defined as greater than 30% increase in monthly energy bill amount (electric and/or gas, depending upon the Utility Accounts linked to the Account) for one month relative to that same month during the previous year.

Perhaps you just bought one or two electric cars, decided to build a 1000-gallon fish tank, or your 6 in-laws are soon to move in. With the possible exception of the in-laws, these are all fine things. Just not a good fit for the Simple Flat Bill program. Once you have settled into your new usage for about a year, please look into the program again. This will help us better predict your usage and how we can help find you savings.

If you do exceed the Excessive Use limit and we terminate your Simple Flat Bill agreement, you will be responsible for paying any difference between the amount you’ve paid Simple, and the amount Simple has paid your electricity provider. There will be no additional fee or penalty for exceeding the Excessive Use limit, only a reconciliation of these two amounts.

As an example, if you exceed our Excessive Use Limit, and at that point have paid Simple a cumulative $600 during the period of your Agreement, but Simple has paid your electricity provider $700 cumulatively based on your usage, you would be responsible for the $100 difference.

Additional Requirements

Do I need to have central air conditioning in my home?

Yes. At this time, Simple Flat Bill does require that our members have a central air conditioner that can be controlled by our Simple thermostat — that’s one of the places where we save you money.

Do I need Wi-Fi in my home?

Yes, your Simple thermostat must be connected to Wi-Fi to be enrolled in the Simple Flat Bill program.

Can I enroll in Simple Flat Bill if I live in an apartment?

Unfortunately we are not able to offer Simple Flat Bill for apartment dwellings at this time.

Can I be part of an existing utility cost savings program and be on Flat Bill?

We currently support CARE/FERA customers, but we cannot support medical baseline allocation customers. We also require that you do not currently have a smart thermostat. If you’re currently in an existing savings program for demand management or other efficiency or cost savings program, you may not be eligible for Simple Flat Bill.

Why do you need my utility credentials?

Yes, assuming that you are able to install the Simple thermostat.

Why do you need my DOB and SSN?

This is only needed in deregulated markets, and that's because many retail energy providers require this information to sign up. In order for us to guarantee your flat monthly bill, we must be able to shop around on your behalf for the best available rates, and switch you over when needed.

Who is Simple?

Is Simple or the Flat Bill a utility?

No. Simple is not a utility or a regulated energy provider. We are a service company with technology and energy management expertise that helps to decrease the amount of energy our customers use, saving money in the process.

If there is no cost, you guarantee I pay nothing extra, and you give me a smart thermostat, how do you make money from Simple Flat Bill?

Good question. In brief, the Simple thermostat connected to our energy intelligence technology finds lots of ways to reduce your electricity consumption and save money. We take a small percentage of those savings to run and grow our company, and the bulk of the savings go to our customers.

By learning from your home or apartment, the weather, and your preferences, the thermostat will make small adjustments to your settings to help you find the most efficient setting that still keeps you comfortable. We’ll also make your home a smart home by enrolling you in programs that help the electric grid be greener and stronger. Some of these programs might involve a small number of periods in which we make adjustments of a few degrees to your thermostat—these periods are called Community Energy Hours. However, you maintain control and can change your thermostat settings at any time.

Working With Your Utility

Do I keep paying the bill from my electricity provider?

You’ll pay Simple directly and we’ll pay your current electricity provider on your behalf. Note that you may still get a bill from your electricity provider in the mail, but so long as you pay the separate bill from Simple you can ignore the bill from your electricity provider because we’ll take of it. Simple is not obligated to pay your bill on your behalf if you have not paid your Simple Flat Bill (we’re nice, but not that nice). You’ll get one bill per month from Simple, each with the same flat payment amount—regardless of how much electricity you use.

Is Simple or the Flat Bill a utility?

How does the timing work?

Once you accept your Simple Flat Bill offer, we will send you a Simple thermostat so you can install it. Simple will pay the electricity bill for the first period that ends more than 5 days after installation of your thermostat. So, if you install your thermostat on March 3, and your electricity provider’s billing cycle is February 15 to March 15, we will pay your bill for the February 15 to March 15 period. If you install your thermostat on March 3, and your electricity provider’s billing cycle is February 6 to March 6, we would not pay your bill until the March 6 to April 6 bill is due. You would be responsible for paying your March 6 bill.

Can I be part of an existing utility’s cost savings program and be on Flat Bill?

What if my electricity provider changes its rates during my 12 month Simple Flat Bill agreement?

This is the one scenario in which we may have to increase your Flat Bill rate. Simple is a service company, not an electricity provider (or utility). Rate increases affect the entire community, not just our Simple Flat Bill customers. We optimize among the electricity provider’s plans and use technology to help lower consumption. But, if a rate change occurs during the course of your Simple Flat Bill agreement, we reserve the right to change your Simple Flat Bill by an amount proportional to the change in the electricity provider’s rate. Any change we make will be fully explained and 100% transparent.

What does it mean that I don't need to search for retailer plans anymore?

We know that in deregulated markets, you need to keep on switching retailer plans to avoid sudden electricity rate increases. The problem is that the advertised rates don't tell the full picture; they're misleading at best. Here at Simple we can analyze the full picture with extensive electricity consumption data and take into account any and all fees associated with a plan. We do all the heavy lifting for you, so sit back and relax.

How can you guarantee my Flat Bill rate while putting me on a green program?

We use our extensive knowledge of the retail energy markets, coupled with your actual consumption data to find you the best retailer plans in deregulated markets. When you add in the Simple thermostat's energy efficiency algorithms, we get your rates and consumption low enough to cover the additional cost related to being on a renewable energy plan.

What are Community Energy Hours?

Community Energy Hours can occur on weekdays any time of year, but are generally in the late spring or summer and last a maximum of 4 hours. During these hours, your thermostat can be changed by a few degrees. If you’re uncomfortable you can always change the thermostat to your preferred setting.

What Happens if...

What happens if you can’t save me money?

With Simple Flat Bill, you will not pay more for your electricity usage compared to your pre-Simple Flat Bill annual total. The only possible exceptions to this are when your electricity provider raises their rates, or if there is a violation of our program’s Excessive Use policy (details below).

What happens if I move before the end of the 12 month agreement or desire to cancel my agreement?

There is no penalty or cancellation fee. We understand that the Simple Flat Bill may not be for everyone. If you’ve paid us more than what you’ve used, we’ll reconcile the difference and refund you. If you have used more power than Simple has charged you for, we’ll charge you the difference, so you’re back to having paid the same amount that you’d have originally paid without Simple Flat Bill. In addition, you will need to pay the prorated price of the thermostat, e.g. if you cancel after nine months (75% of your contract), you will need to pay 25% of the current retail cost of the Simple thermostat.

What happens if I go on vacation for 6 months and use much less electricity this year than I did last year?

When putting together our Simple Flat Bill offer for you for the next year, we use your previous 12 months of consumption as the primary factor in determining your next 12 months’ offer. If your electricity consumption dropped an unexpectedly large amount during your 12-month agreement term, Simple calculates what we need to run our service, but then gives the rest of the savings back to you in the form of a lower offer for your next agreement term.

What happens if my utility contract ends before my Simple Flat Bill contract or if I change electricity providers?

We know that it's common to switch between electricity retailers in deregulated markets. If you switch providers on your own, we have the right to re-price or cancel the agreement. If your provider contract expires within the 1-year commitment with us, we are responsible for finding a new plan for you. This may or may not be with your existing provider. We will be in contact with you during this time to make sure you are all set and there’s no confusion. If you choose not to sign up with the recommended provider, we reserve the right to re-price or cancel the agreement.

What if I don't want to switch providers?

We here at Simple appreciate the value of familiarity, and always will respect your personal preferences. However, should you not want to move onto a plan we suggest or want to avoid specific retailers, you must notify us at the time of signup and we reserve the right to revise your Simple Flat Bill agreement to adjust for the potentially higher rates.