The communications gateway is the third element of Energy Select. Attached to the meter outside your home, it facilitates communication between the thermostat and the appliances you have chosen to be part of the Energy Select system.

It also records and stores energy usage at each price level and communicates this information via your home's phone line to Gulf Power, where your bill is generated.

The gateway also provides free meter-based surge protection.

In order for the gateway to communicate with the Energy Select head-end system at Gulf Power, it is necessary for the customer to have compatible phone service in which an active phone line can be connected to the gateway on the electrical meter.

Once the Energy Select system is installed, it is very important that the customer not discontinue their phone service that provides this hard-wired connection to the gateway.

Otherwise, the gateway will not be able to communicate with the head-end system at Gulf Power. This communication is essential for proper billing as well as the receipt and sending of Daylight Savings Time clock updates and other important information, such as surge protection failures if they occur.