With utility bills reaching new heights and winter approaching, you might be exploring solutions to rein in your energy expenses.
What if I told you that you could simultaneously generate passive income and reduce your overall energy consumption, ultimately saving money?
Enter OhmConnect: a platform that compensates you for cutting back on energy usage, allowing you to both conserve energy and preserve your hard-earned cash.
I’ve been intermittently using OhmConnect for the past few years, and I’ve even received payments from the company.
In this comprehensive OhmConnect review, I’ll delve into how the platform operates and its potential for earnings. If you’re contemplating whether OhmConnect is a legitimate opportunity worth your time, this post is tailored for you.
Let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
â‘ What Is OhmConnect?
OhmConnect is a no-cost service that offers you the opportunity to earn complimentary gift cards in exchange for curbing your household energy consumption. It’s an entirely free platform, and as per its website, OhmConnect users typically reduce their overall energy usage by 10% or more.
Currently, OhmConnect is accessible to residents in California, New York, Texas, and Ontario.
You might be curious about how OhmConnect manages to compensate individuals for using less energy, but the concept behind it is quite ingenious.
OhmConnect collaborates with energy providers and state authorities. During periods of high energy demand, it notifies its users and encourages them to cut back on electricity consumption. In theory, this alleviates stress on the energy grid, reducing the need for utility companies to supply energy during peak hours.
Here’s the income model outlined on OhmConnect’s website:
OhmConnect receives payment from utility companies for each committed kilowatt of energy reduction throughout the year.
OhmConnect also earns revenue in the energy markets for every kilowatt of energy reduction achieved during its events.
In brief, OhmConnect’s primary objective is to assist its users in consuming less energy, particularly during periods of high demand when the power grid may be strained. Utility companies then compensate OhmConnect for providing this service, and a portion of those rewards is passed on to you!
② How Does OhmConnect Work?
OhmConnect is a straightforward platform that rewards users for reducing their electricity consumption.
The service is entirely free to use, and you earn points called Watts that can be exchanged for PayPal cash and a variety of free gift cards. Having personally used it a few years ago, I can vouch for the platform’s reliability, as I successfully cashed out through PayPal on two occasions.
Here’s a breakdown of how OhmConnect works in a few simple steps:
Sign Up: OhmConnect is a no-cost energy savings program accessible to residents of California, New York, and Texas who have a participating utility provider. It collaborates with leading energy companies such as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and Con Edison (ConEd). To participate, you must be 18 years or older and have an active account with one of the approved energy service providers. Additionally, OhmConnect is available to Hydro Energy customers in Toronto.
Note: The limited availability based on region is a drawback, but the platform requires minimal active engagement, making it a convenient option if you meet the criteria.
Pro Tip: Currently, OhmConnect is offering a complimentary $10 Amazon gift card for new sign-ups, so seize this opportunity!
Participate in OhmHours & AutoOhms: Once you’ve registered with OhmConnect and linked your energy provider to your account, the platform can monitor your power consumption at any given time. When there’s a spike in energy usage and OhmConnect aims to encourage users to reduce their consumption, you’ll receive a push notification inviting you to participate in an OhmHour. During these designated times, you can manually power down appliances or make an effort to use less energy overall to earn Watt points.
OhmConnect offers two primary ways to earn points:
- OhmHour: Turn off appliances manually for an hour or two during specified times prompted by OhmConnect, or simply reduce overall energy usage.
- AutoOhm: Connect your smart devices to OhmConnect for automatic shut-off during events, earning you even more points compared to regular OhmHours. According to OhmConnect, participating in AutoOhms can yield three times the rewards of a standard OhmHour. Devices like Google Nest thermostats and smart plug-ins work well with AutoOhms.
OhmConnect even offers its own smart plug that enhances the efficiency of AutoOhm hours, available for purchase in their store along with other devices. The ultimate goal is to consume less energy, save more money, and accumulate Watts, the in-app point system.
Refer Friends: OhmConnect provides referral rewards when you refer friends and family members. Both you and the users you refer receive bonuses. These bonuses can be augmented if you win a multiplier on the OhmConnect prize wheel using your Watts. While the specifics of bonuses may vary, I earned $60 in the past for referring readers from This Online World who signed up and connected an energy provider.
Encouraging friends or family members to sign up, especially during a move, can be particularly lucrative.
Redeem Rewards: You accrue Watts by participating in OhmHours and leveraging AutoOhms. It takes 1,000 Watts to redeem a $10 reward. Currently, reward options include:
- Free PayPal cash
- Gift cards for companies like Amazon
- Charitable donations
- OhmConnect gift cards
You can also utilize your Watts to acquire smart devices from the OhmConnect store, further reducing your energy consumption. Weekly sweepstakes are available for prizes such as Peloton bikes, appliances, gift cards, and bonus cash. However, opting for PayPal or gift cards is recommended for guaranteed rewards.
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③ Is OhmConnect Legit?
YES. OhmConnect is a legitimate platform that compensates you for reducing your energy consumption during peak usage periods. There’s ample payment proof available online, along with numerous positive reviews. My personal experience with OhmConnect from a few years ago also involved successfully cashing out my referral earnings through PayPal, and I received timely payments.
While OhmConnect won’t make you wealthy, it offers a convenient passive side hustle worth trying out.
The primary drawback associated with OhmConnect is its limited availability, as it operates in only a few regions and with specific energy providers. One can only hope that the platform continues to grow and expand into new markets in the future.
â‘Ł How Much Does OhmConnect Pay?
If you actively conserve energy during OhmHours, you can expect to earn approximately 45 points for each OhmHour. For the average user, this translates to roughly $23 per year or just shy of $2 per month.
However, the potential for higher earnings significantly increases when you connect your smart devices to enable AutoOhms.
Keep in mind that you can also boost your income by referring friends to OhmConnect. The referral program appears to offer greater earning potential. According to the OhmConnect website, some users have earned $5,000 or even $41,000 in referrals in a month, though it acknowledges that such results are not typical.
It’s worth noting that OhmConnect used to offer more substantial rewards in its early days but has since reduced the number of Watts you earn per event. While this may be seen as a drawback, the platform still provides a source of passive income if you have smart devices or regularly power down your devices.
Additionally, your earnings gradually increase when you consistently participate in OhmHours and maintain a “streak,” making you eligible for higher rewards.
In summary, OhmConnect won’t replace your full-time job or generate thousands of dollars, but it offers a dual benefit: helping you lower your energy bill while also providing an opportunity to earn extra money effortlessly.
⑤ Pros & Cons
As with any program, OhmConnect comes with its share of advantages and disadvantages. Here are the key points I’ve observed during my research for this OhmConnect review and from my personal use of the platform:
Pros:
- Generates passive income when you have smart home devices.
- Promotes energy conservation and environmental friendliness.
- The referral program offers approximately $10 per person you refer, with potential for higher earnings during promotional periods.
Cons:
- Limited earning potential.
- Rewards are lower compared to previous years.
- Limited advance notice provided for OhmHours.
- Requires effort to disconnect appliances unless you invest in smart devices.
- AutoOhms necessitate granting external control over your system.
If you’re seeking a convenient source of supplementary income, OhmConnect is worth a try and can be an enjoyable experience. However, it’s important to maintain realistic expectations, as the earnings may not be substantial.
â‘Ą Other OhmConnect Reviews
One good way to tell if a passive income idea is legit or not is to read what other users have to say about it.
And thankfully, there are plenty of other OhmConnect users on Reddit who are sharing their experiences and earning with the platform:
- lsclip says: “It’s legit but it doesn’t really work if you don’t use much power normally. Basically it is the energy differential that matters- in other words how much you can cut down from usual during their “ohm hours” or peak hours which are randomly announced. If you always use very little energy then you can’t cut down very much during them so you end up only making pennies if anything at all.”
- jkj89 says: “I’ve probably made $50 off of it already and it’s only been maybe 7 months. It’s a fun way to be more diligent about saving on your electric usage.”
- DogsOfWarAndPeace says: “Not a scam. I use it and get money back from them for saving power during specified windows of time.”
⑦ Faq About OhmConnect
OhmConnect is a platform that rewards users for reducing their energy usage during peak periods.
To sign up for OhmConnect, visit their website, and follow the registration process. You’ll need an account with a participating utility provider in California, New York, Texas, or Toronto.
Yes, OhmConnect is completely free to use.
Watts are OhmConnect’s in-app points. You can earn Watts by participating in OhmHours or by connecting smart devices for AutoOhms.
You can redeem Watts for PayPal cash, gift cards, charitable donations, OhmConnect gift cards, or smart devices available in the OhmConnect store.
OhmConnect’s referral program rewards you for referring friends and family. When they sign up using your referral link, both you and your referral receive a bonus.
OhmConnect is currently available to residents in California, New York, Texas, and Ontario.
OhmHours are periods when OhmConnect asks users to reduce their energy consumption manually. AutoOhms involve automatically reducing energy usage with smart devices connected to OhmConnect.
Earnings vary, but the average user can earn around $23 per year by actively participating in OhmHours.
Yes, OhmConnect helps reduce energy consumption during peak hours, contributing to a more sustainable energy grid and reducing the environmental impact of energy production.
