Electrical Contractor Newsletter | August 2026
Smart Energy Management Without a Panel Upgrade
Leviton's new Decora Smart High Current devices help modernize homes, manage growing electrical loads, and create new upsell opportunities without the cost and complexity of a panel upgrade.
Homeowners are becoming increasingly interested in energy management solutions that help control their energy bill. At the same time, they are adding electric vehicle chargers, water heaters, and other high demand loads such as heat or pool pumps to their systems. Traditionally, that meant investing in a smart electrical panel or costly system upgrades.
Contractors now have a simpler, more cost-effective option to offer.
Leviton's new Decora Smart High Current 50A Switch and Decora Smart High Current 60A Controller provide an easy, cost-effective way to add smart energy management capabilities to existing homes while leveraging standard electrical infrastructure already in place. The result is a modernized electrical system, greater homeowner convenience, and new opportunities for contractors to add value to projects.
"Many homeowners are interested in smarter ways to manage energy consumption, but they may not be ready to replace their electrical panel or make a significant investment in a whole-home energy management system," explained Sydney Cheatham, Product Marketing Manager, Residential Products at Leviton. "These new Decora Smart High Current solutions allow contractors to deliver meaningful energy management benefits using the wiring and electrical equipment already installed in the home."
A Smarter Way to Control High-Power Loads
The Decora Smart High Current 50A Switch (D2HCS-DLG) allows homeowners to remotely monitor and control high-amperage loads through the My Leviton app. Ideal for applications such as electric water heaters, pool pumps, electric baseboard heating systems, pond and well pumps, and other large electrical loads, the device offers a modern alternative to traditional mechanical and digital timers. Homeowners can create schedules, monitor operation, and manage energy usage from virtually anywhere.
For contractors, installation is straightforward while providing a compelling upgrade for customers seeking greater convenience, scheduling capabilities, and remote control.
James Shurte, Director of Product Management, Lighting Controls & Smart Home at Leviton added, "Many high-current loads in the home still rely on mechanical timers or manual operation. The 50A Switch provides a simple modernization path, allowing homeowners to automate schedules, control systems remotely, and better manage energy consumption without replacing major equipment."
Helping Homeowners Prepare for Electrification
The Decora Smart High Current 60A Controller (D2HCU-DLG) addresses that concern by intelligently managing power delivery to high-amperage equipment. Rather than requiring a service upgrade or panel replacement, the controller can help optimize available electrical capacity by only allowing a high current device to operate when the home’s total current consumption is within safe limits.
For homeowners considering EV charging, this can significantly reduce project costs while accelerating installation timelines.
"One of the biggest concerns that homeowners face when adding an EV charger is whether they'll need to upgrade their electrical service," Shurte explained. "The 60A Controller gives contractors a power control solution to help manage electrical demand intelligently, allowing customers to maximize the capacity they already have affordably without needing expensive upgrades."
An Easy Upsell Opportunity
"These aren't products that require homeowners to completely rethink their electrical system," Cheatham said. "They're practical solutions that make existing equipment smarter and help customers get more from the electrical infrastructure they already own."
Bringing Smart Energy Management to More Homes
As residential electrification continues to accelerate, homeowners are increasingly looking for affordable ways to manage energy use and control growing electrical demands. Leviton's Decora Smart High Current solutions provide contractors with a simple answer to delivering intelligent control, energy management capabilities, and future-ready functionality without the expense of a smart panel conversion or electrical service upgrade.
"Not every customer needs a full smart panel," Cheatham concluded. "For many homeowners, these solutions provide exactly what they're looking for: smarter control, better energy management, and a more modern home without a major renovation or electrical upgrade."
For more information on Leviton’s Smart Home Solutions, visit this link or contact your Leviton Sales Representative.
Decora Smart High Current 60A Controller | D2HCU-DLG | Products