Is OhmConnect Legit? Can You Really Get Paid To Use Less Energy?

With utility bills sky high and winter weather just around the corner, you might be researching some options to help keep your energy costs under control.

But what if I told you that it's possible to earn passive income and reduce your overall energy usage to save money at the same time?

Enter OhmConnect: a platform that pays you to lower your energy usage so you can save energy and your hard-earned money.

I've used OhmConnect on and off for the last few years, and I've even been paid by the company.

So in this OhmConnect review, I'm covering how it all works and the earning potential. If you're wondering if OhmConnect is legit and worth your time, this is the post for you.

Looking for more money-making ideas? Checkout:

• Arrived: Lets you invest in income-generating rental properties with only $100!
• User Linker: Find the top energy companies that pay you to save energy!

What Is OhmConnect?

OhmConnect is a free service that lets you earn free gift cards in exchange for lowering the amount of energy you use in your home. It's a completely free platform, and according to its website, OhmConnect users reduce their overall energy usage by 10% or more.

Currently, OhmConnect is available to users in California, New York, Texas, and Ontario.

You might be wondering how OhmConnect can afford to pay people to use less energy, but it's actually a pretty genius idea.

OhmConnect actually works with energy providers and states, and during periods of high-usage, it notifies its users and asks them to use less electricity. Theoretically, this helps reduce strain on the energy grid, and utility companies don't have to spend as much to provide energy to people during peak hours.

Here's how OhmConnect makes money according to its website:

• OhmConnect gets paid by utility companies an amount for every reliable kilowatt of energy reduction it promises for the whole year.  
• OhmConnect also gets paid in the energy markets for every kilowatt of energy reduction during its events.

So in short, OhmConnect's goal is to help its users use less energy, particularly during periods of high consumption when there might be a strain on the power grid. Utility companies then pay OhmConnect for this service, and it passes on some of those rewards to you!

How Does OhmConnect Work?

OhmConnect is very simple and rewards users for reducing their electricity use.

The service is completely free to use, and you earn points called Watts which are redeemable for PayPal money and various free gift cards. When I used it a few years ago, I was able to cash out through PayPal twice, so I know this platform pays.

Here's how OhmConnect works in a few simple steps:

1. Sign Up

OhmConnect is a free energy savings program that is available to California, New York, and Texas  residents who have a participating utility provider.

It partners with the following energy companies to help consumers reduce usage:

• Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
• Southern California Edison (SCE)
• San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
• Con Edison (ConEd)

Participants in OhmConnect must be 18 years or older and need an active account with one of the approved energy service providers.  OhmConnect is also available in Toronto to Hydro Energy customers.

The limited availability is one of the main downsides to this side hustle. However, it's completely passive, so if you're using one of the energy providers listed above and live in the right area, OhmConnect is for you!

Pro Tip: Right now, OhmConnect is also giving users a free $50 Amazon gift card for joining, so take advantage while you can!

2. Participate In OhmHours & AutoOhms

After you sign up for OhmConnect and sync your energy provider with your account, OhmConnect can tell how much power you use at a given time.

So, when there's a power-usage spike and OhmConnect wants to encourage users to use less energy, it sends you a push notification to take part in an OhmHour. You can then check the app to see how many Watt points you can earn for using less power during that period of time.

Here are the two main types of ways to earn points with OhmConnect:

• OhmHour – This is where you turn off appliances manually for an hour or two during designated times OhmConnect prompts you to or just try to use less energy overall.
• AutoOhm – Connect your smart devices to OhmConnect to turn them off automatically and earn even more points than during regular OhmHours.

According to OhmConnect, participating in AutoOhms can earn you three times the rewards as a regular OhmHour, so it's definitely a good idea to connect your smart devices to your account.

Examples of devices that can work for AutoOhm are smart thermostats like Google Nest and smart plug-ins like Google Nest Hub. OhmConnect even has their own smart plug that works with their app to help make AutoOhm hours more efficient. This sells in their store along with other devices.

Either way, the entire goal is to use less energy to save more money while also earnings Watts, the in-app point system.

3. Refer Friends

OhmConnect also pays referral rewards when you refer friends and family members. When users that you referred sign up, you get a bonus and so will they. These earnings can be increased if you win a multiplier on the OhmConnect prize wheel when using your Watts. 

Bonuses change all the time, but in the past, I earned $60 for referring readers from WebMonkey once they actually signed up and connected an energy provider.

If you have friends or family that are moving, this is a particularly good time to encourage them to sign up.

4. Redeem Rewards

You earn Watts for participating in OhmHours and by leveraging AutoOhms. It takes 1,000 Watts to redeem a $10 reward. Currently, reward options include:

• Free PayPal cash
• Gift cards to companies like Amazon
• Charitable donations

You can also use your Watts to redeem smart devices from the OhmConnect store which help you reduce your energy consumption even more.

There are also weekly sweepstakes you can enter for prizes like Peloton bikes, appliances, gift cards, and bonus cash. However, I think sticking to PayPal or gift cards is best so you can guarantee your rewards.

Is OhmConnect Legit?

Yes, OhmConnect is legit and pays you for reducing your energy usage during periods of peak usage. There is plenty of payment proof online and positive reviews. And when I had an OhmConnect account years ago, I was able to cash out my referral earnings through PayPal and got paid on time.

You won't get rich by using OhmConnect, but it's a nice passive side hustle that you can try out.

The main complaint people have about OhmConnect is that it's only available in a few places and with specific energy providers. Hopefully, the platform keeps growing and expanding to new markets.

How Much Does OhmConnect Pay?

If you conserve energy during the OhmHours, you can on average earn about 45 points for every OhmHour. For the average user, this will equal about $23 per year or just under $2 per month.

However, connecting your smart devices to enable AutoOhms helps you earn much more.

And remember: you can also earn money by referring friends to OhmConnect. It seems that the referral program has a larger earning potential. The OhmConnect website claims that they have had users earn $5000 and even $41,000 in referrals in a month, but also admits that those results aren't typical.

It's also worth noting that OhmConnect used to pay a lot more in the early days but has since reduced how many Watts you earn per event. This is a downside, but again, you're still making money on autopilot if you have smart devices or if you turn off your devices regularly.

Also, your earnings slowly increase when you participate repeatedly in OhmHours and get on a “streak”. This will make you eligible for higher earnings.

At the end of the day, OhmConnect won't replace your day job or make thousands of dollars. But it helps you reduce your own energy bill and lets you earn free money in the process.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Earns passive money if you have smart home devices
• Saves energy and is environmentally friendly
• The referral program pays around $10 per person you refer but can pay more during promotional periods

Cons:

• Low earning potential
• Rewards now lower than years past
• You don't always get much advance notice about OhmHours
• There's work involved in disconnecting appliances unless you invest in smart devices
• AutoOhms require giving outside control to your system

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.”

As you can see, users are pretty happy with OhmConnect, and some have earned $50 or more over a few months of using OhmConnect. One review on Reddit even says they won a $500 mega OhmHour prize as well, which is definitely a nice surprise for anyone.

Overall, most OhmConnect reviews are positive, but also have realistic expectations. And as one user points out, if you already use very little energy, you probably won't earn too much.

What Are Some Alternatives?

OhmConnect isn't the only way you can reduce your energy bill and earn. And not every state has the same rules for how energy companies can operate and market to customers.

One new company that you can also consider is Arbor. It's a smart energy advisor that helps you lower your electricity bills, and members save up to $544 per year on average.

All you have to do is link your electric account to Arbor. From there, it helps you find a lower energy rate when it's available and secures the savings for you. It all happens automatically and without causing interruptions to your energy.

Arbor is also completely free for customers since energy companies are its customers, which is pretty cool.

Alternatively, you can use a tool like User Linker to find qualifying energy companies in your area that pay you to use less energy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OhmConnect A Scam?

OhmConnect isn't a scam. It is a legitimate program that helps individuals earn rewards for cutting back on their electrical usage. However, it doesn't pay very much, and it's not available in many states.

How Does OhmConnect Make Money?

OhmConnect is paid by utility companies for reducing energy usage during periods of peak usage. It then passes some of the money on to you in exchange for using less energy.

Is OhmConnect Worth It?

OhmConnect is worth it if you want to get paid for using less energy and also enjoy the idea of being more energy-conscious. And if you have smart devices, you can participate in AutoOhms and earn money passively.

If you want to make more money, OhmConnect isn't the right passive income app for you. It can make a few dollars per month at most, but that's about it.

Final Thoughts

If you want to use less energy and get paid for doing so, OhmConnect is for you. It's a very unique passive income idea, and even though it won't make you rich, it can be a nice source of extra cash.

The main downsides are the OhmConnect is only available in a few areas and doesn't pay as much as it used to.

And, of course, you have to be willing to use less energy during OhmHours to actually get paid. But if you want to be more aware of your overall energy usage, OhmConnect is a very useful, fun side hustle.

Hopefully, it's available in your area and you can use it to spend less on energy every month while scoring some rewards!

Sign up for OhmConnect and start earning rewards!

Looking for even more money-making ideas? Checkout:

• The Best Ways To Get Paid To Do Nothing.
• How To Make $2,000 A Week.