# Learn about Rush Hour Rewards > Learn about Rush Hour Rewards Source: https://support.renewhome.com/en_us/learn-about-rush-hour-rewards-ry5GZAjdxx Last updated: 2026-08-24T13:46:18.009Z # Learn about Rush Hour Rewards Energy Rush Hours are like traffic rush hours. Just as traffic clogs up roads when everyone drives to work at the same time, Energy Rush Hours occur when everyone in a particular area turns on air conditioning (AC) or heating at once. Imagine what can happen when millions of people turn on their air conditioners during a heat wave. This, in addition to all the usual energy use in households (running the refrigerator, the TV, lights, computers etc.) creates a peak in energy demand and increases costs.  To keep up with demand, energy providers may need to bring additional power plants online. It’s expensive to run these power plants only for a few hours on a few days a year, so peak demand increases everybody’s costs. There’s a better way. If enough people band together to reduce energy during these peaks they can become a virtual power plant. This lowers costs for energy providers and they’re willing to reward you for it. Rush Hour Rewards is an energy provider-based program that incentivizes participants to decrease energy usage during "energy rush hours" to form a "virtual power plant," which helps lower overall energy costs. This program may involve temperature adjustments. ![Rush hour thermostat](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/66fac38acb8bef5bf0466652/4b00df7e2bb6633ac2308e80a46d3ad8.png) ### What Rush Hour Rewards does Rush Hour Rewards helps you earn rewards for using less energy during peak demand periods, while still keeping you comfortable. Your Nest thermostat will automatically tune temperatures before and during a Rush Hour to reduce energy use and lower grid costs. You don’t have to worry about when the next Rush Hour is coming or remember to adjust the temperature. Rush Hour Rewards does it for you. And if you ever get uncomfortable, simply change the temperature on your thermostat. For complete step-by-step details, go to [How Nest thermostats work with Rush Hour Rewards](https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9749812). ### Differences between Winter and Summer Rush Hours You can get rewards for participating in both Winter and Summer Rush Hours. Winter Rush Hours can happen in the morning or afternoon while Summer Rush Hours usually occur in the afternoons or early evenings. ### How often Rush Hours happen Rush Hours typically happen on hot summer days or cold winter days - usually about 6-12 times a season. But this number depends on the overall weather patterns for the season and your energy provider. If extreme weather, such as a heat wave, hits, you might have a few Rush Hours days in a row, but typically, you won’t get more than one Rush Hour in a day or more than 15-20 Rush Hour days per season (winter or summer). Likewise, the length of a Rush Hour can change based on weather conditions. Most Rush Hours are 2-4 hours long, but sometimes rapidly changing weather conditions, like an unexpected heat wave, can cause a surge in electricity use as people try to keep their homes cool. Energy providers need to react quickly to avoid turning on new power plants. When this happens, you may experience more frequent Rush Hours, but these events will usually be shorter, 30-90 minutes. You’ll still be notified about these shorter Rush Hours, and can change the temperature on your thermostat if you want. In most energy provider programs, you’ll receive a seasonal Rush Hour Rewards payment or incentive for your participation no matter how mild or extreme the weather is, or how many Rush Hours there were. ### Critical Rush Hours Very rarely, your energy provider may have a Critical Rush Hour with little to no warning. These are a last resort to avoid rolling blackouts and other potential electrical grid issues. Because of the last-minute timing, your system won’t be able to pre-cool or pre-heat your home ahead of the Rush Hour. In addition, they may occur more than once per day or per week if there is a severe spike in electricity demand. Critical Rush Hours can also happen any day of the week and at any time of the day. Otherwise, Critical Rush Hours work the same way as a regular Rush Hour with your thermostat tuning your heating or cooling, while still keeping you comfortable. ![Rush hour thermostat](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/66fac38acb8bef5bf0466652/fa40c3409ab74eaaafdd57aa76ce1454.jpg) ### How to sign up for Rush Hour Rewards To participate in Summer Rush Hour Rewards, you’ll need to have central air conditioning that’s controlled by a Nest thermostat. For Winter Rush Hour Rewards, you'll need to have a heating system that is controlled by a Nest thermostat, however, providers may have additional requirements based on the heating type they provide. Just check that your energy provider offers the Rush Hour Rewards program on our [Nest Rebates and Rewards](https://nest.com/rebates-and-rewards) page. For detailed steps, go to [How to sign up for Rush Hour Rewards](https://support.renewhome.com/en_us/sign-up-for-rush-hour-rewards-and-manage-participation-HyF0MRoueg). ### What kinds of rewards you'll get The rewards you’ll earn, when you’ll be notified of a Rush Hour, and other details all depend on your energy provider, so check with them for specifics. Here are some examples of how your energy providers may pay you: * Most energy providers offer an incentive for enrolling, and an annual incentive for each year you participate. * Some providers have a participation requirement tied to the annual incentive. * The incentive method varies by provider, and may be in the form of a bill credit, a virtual prepaid gift card, etc. * Your energy provider may also offer discounted Nest thermostats through a marketplace. ### How Rush Hour Rewards is different than other demand response programs Rush Hour Rewards is different because it automatically balances energy savings and comfort. You also stay in control and can change the temperature any time during a Rush Hour. [Terms & Conditions](#first-foot-note-5-0)Nest Renew is powered by Renew Home in partnership with Google Nest. Refer to [Google Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms), [Nest Additional Terms of Service](https://support.google.com/product-documentation/answer/9327735?hl=en) and [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy). [Terms & Conditions](#first-foot-note-6-0)Rush Hour Rewards is powered by Renew Home in partnership with Google Nest. Refer to [Rush Hour Rewards Terms of Service](https://support.renewhome.com/en_us/categories/rush-hour-rewards-terms-and-conditions-Bkf48Bqpxl) and [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy). [Terms & Conditions](#first-foot-note-7-0)Additional features and offerings, such as Energy Provider linking, are provided by Renew Home. Refer to [Renew Home Terms of Service](https://legal.renewhome.com/terms-of-service) and [Renew Home Privacy Policy](https://legal.renewhome.com/privacy-policy).