If you exceed your allowance, there is no penalty . You simply pay the standard energy rate for all electricity used. You never lose money by using more energy; you just miss out on the reward.
The fluorescent lights of the strip-mall leasing office hummed a tune of bureaucratic indifference. Marcus rubbed his temples, staring at the seemingly endless scroll of electricity providers on his laptop. It was the classic modern nightmare: his apartment lease required him to switch providers, and the "Choose Your Provider" website was a dizzying kaleidoscope of rates, kilowatt-hours, and hidden fees.
His laptop was dying during a blackout scare (a common Texas occurrence), and he remembered seeing something about a "smart thermostat" perk buried in the rewards portal. He logged back into the Arcadia dashboard, which served as the treasury for his green rewards.