Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A relay device may detect that a network has transitioned from a first energy state mode to a second energy state mode and the second energy state mode may be associated with a reduced network coverage area relative to a network coverage area associated with the first energy state mode. The relay device may activate a relaying function at the relay device based on detecting that the network has transitioned to the second energy state mode and a location of the relay device with respect to the reduced network coverage area. The relay device may communicate with a user equipment (UE) and a network entity of the network to relay transmissions between the UE and the network entity based at least in part on activating the relaying function.