Is my radio-controlled switch working?
Sometimes we hear from members wanting to know if their switch has been activated, and it depends on its shape:

• If your radio-controlled switch is square-shaped (click to display pix), it has a small window on the box. The red light means that Buckeye Power is controlling the load and their water heater has been turned off. Any other time the green light should always be on to indicate that Buckeye Power is not controlling, your switch is not in use and it is functioning properly. (Note: if your home power goes out for any reason, when power is restored the red light will remain on for 5-10 minutes by default.)
• If your radio-controlled switch is circular-shaped, there is no way to tell if Buckeye Power is controlling load because you have one of the older model switches. Older switches operate in the same efficient way as the new model, so we only replace your switch with a new one if it is malfunctioning. We are, however, in the process of replacing all circular-shaped switches, and we'll eventually contact you about doing so.

Electric water heater switch interruptions usually occur anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, but only when it is extremely cold (10° F or below) or extremely warm (90° F or higher). They typically happen from 5-10 pm. This temporary interruption of power should not cause any inconvenience to you -- you should still have hot water. If you frequently detect having little or no hot water, you may want to contact a plumber to check your tank.

How do I qualify for a water heater rebate?
You can receive the rebate as long as your water heater is 50 gallons, has R-17 insulation (2 inches of foam), has 4,500 watt elements maximum, and has a free radio-controlled switch installed. You must speak with our customer service department to schedule one of our employees to install your radio-controlled switch, and even if you had an electrician install it, we still must visit your home to verify that it is operating properly.