Neutral-to-negative for anyone with a smart thermostat: your power company can adjust it remotely during an emergency, and most people never notice the fine print.

• Utilities like Florida Power & Light offer free Nest thermostats and will install them for you.
• Once a connected thermostat is in your home, the utility can see every adjustment and learn your daily habits.
• If the company declares a power emergency, such as a summer brownout, the fine print lets them turn your thermostat up remotely.
• This is not just Florida — it applies to connected thermostats across the country.

Outlook: Expect more remote thermostat control as power grids strain under summer demand.