How do I get started?
To use IFTTT with your ComEd service and help you manage your energy, you must:
Can I create my own applets that use ComEd’s triggers on IFTTT?
Yes, you can create your own applets that use ComEd’s triggers on IFTTT.
ComEd currently offers 4 triggers that can be utilized to create your own custom applets (Carbon Quality, Carbon Footprint, Hourly Pricing, and Peak Time Savings) – these can be connected to any of the available services on IFTTT provided by other vendors.
If you'd like to create more than 3 applets, this will require an IFTTT Pro Account subscription at an additional fee. The available ComEd applets do not count towards your limit.
We love new applet ideas! Feel free to email them to IFTTT@ComEd.com
Do I need to be enrolled in Hourly Pricing or Peak Time Savings to use these applets or connection features?
What does the "clean" and "dirty" thresholds for carbon mean?
The threshold value represents the bulk electric grid's carbon emissions intensity on a scale of 1 to 100 at the current time relative to its two-week historical average. For now, the carbon threshold for dirty carbon is any value above 50. In other words, a lower value on the scale is cleaner and a higher value is dirtier. For example, if your electricity usage were to cause the need for a fossil fuel generator to turn on, the emissions intensity would increase. If you'd like to see how this is calculated, take a look at the FAQ for carbon score calculation.
How is carbon score calculated for the carbon quality applet?
WattTime calculates realtime emissions intensity on the local grid by looking at historical data representing how power generators responded to changes in demand in various grid conditions. From there, they empirically model the emissions intensity based on current conditions to quantify what type(s) of generators are likely responding and what the corresponding change in emissions is. This Marginal Operating Emissions Rate (MOER) quantifies the lbs. CO2/MWh in a 5 minute-increment as well as an indexed percent of intensity. ComEd uses this indexed value to trigger the carbon applets. ComEd uses the PJM Chicago region's carbon intensity. The index percent reported to users is where the current intensity is between the min and max from the last two weeks.
Can I change the carbon value for the carbon footprint threshold applet?
Yes, you can customize your carbon cleanliness threshold from 0 being the cleanest to 100 being the dirtiest.
Can I change the ingredients that are part of a trigger?
You cannot change ingredients that are part of a trigger. Ingredients work like variables, and they can be used to provide data to other services and/or your smart devices.
Does IFTTT have monthly limit on SMS messages and Phone Calls?
IFTTT has a monthly limit of 100 phone calls and 100 SMS messages. IFTTT will send an email warning customer that they have sent 75 SMS/phone calls and their SMS/phone call capabilities will be paused until the beginning of the next month. Standard fees apply for SMS and phone calls.
Who should I contact if I have other questions?
You can always reach us at IFTTT@ComEd.com if you have any other questions.
How can I contribute to cleaner air?
You can contribute to clean air by enabling your IoT (internet of things) devices to react during high carbon times. This can be done seamlessly after you set up your applets and connections to automatically respond to when carbon quality is dirty.
Is there a tool that can help me see how much carbon I’m saving?
There is! You can get a weekly report on the total pounds of carbon you saved.
The option for you to receive this report will be provided upon enabling the IFTTT ComEd connections and using the carbon quality feature. Some of the connections we offer now are for ecobee thermostat, Honeywell thermostat, WeMo plug, and Philips Hue light bulbs, with more being added over time.
My report is not showing any reduction in carbon, what can I do?
Review your connection settings to make sure they are updated based on the current season. If you have an applet or a connection set to only trigger in the summer season, it won’t affect your devices or your notifications in any other season. Also make sure that if you are changing thermostat related applets or connections for another season that you also take a look at your temperature setpoints. You can also consider refreshing your connection to the service, which can be done by removing connection and reconnecting the service.
What is the difference between carbon quality and carbon footprint?
ComEd offers two different triggers for applets and connections. If you are using our pre-made applets and connections you don’t need to worry about the difference for carbon quality and carbon footprint. If you would like to setup your own applets then the difference may be useful for you. Carbon Quality uses a basic Clean or Dirty indicator so that it is clear and simple for people that want to modify their actions based on that indicator. For more advanced settings, Carbon Footprint allows customers to choose a custom carbon intensity from 0-100 and also choose how frequently it will trigger if you are looking to do something more advanced with your devices, or just want to trigger at a lower carbon threshold.
