2 chapters across the catalog
During an "energy emergency" in Colorado, Xcel Energy locked the smart thermostats of 22,000 customers, preventing them from lowering their home temperatures below 78 or 79 degrees. The company stated this was part of a voluntary "AC Rewards" program where customers receive a $100 credit in exchange for giving up control during peak demand periods. Many participants were reportedly unaware that the lockout could be overridden.
Smart Colorado and Alleged Marijuana Cookie Media Plant
An Associated Press report regarding a two-year-old girl in Longmont, Colorado, who allegedly ingested a marijuana cookie is analyzed as a potential media plant. The organization Smart Colorado, a 501c4 non-profit formed in March 2013, is identified as the likely source of the story intended to create public alarm following retail marijuana legalization. Comparisons are drawn to the 1990 Iraqi incubator baby PR campaign used to influence public opinion.
