More than 22,000 customers of Xcel Energy were locked out of their smart thermostats during an “energy emergency” on Tuesday, the company confirmed to local media.

“Due to a rare energy emergency that may affect the local energy grid, your temperature slider has been changed from 8:00 pm – 8:00 pm because you enrolled in a Community Energy Savings program.”

Participants in the program receive a one-off $100 bill credit and a meager $25 annual reward in exchange for surrendering control of their thermostats to Xcel.