Blaine, if I get an electric bill like you're getting--you better know they will pay! Ryan, we don't see an indicator light for letting us know when the heat strips kick in; however, if we turn them on manually, the whole backdrop turns red on the thermostat. Geo people coming back on the 27th; hope to get this issue resolved (don't want the house to burn down). \:\( My other option if they don't get it fixed is get another electrician to look at it. It just isn't right that the house lights stay dim like that.