How do I get started?

If you already have solar on your home, we suggest you contact the company that installed that system to discuss adding batteries. If you don’t have solar, or just want to compare options, you can consult our list of eligible contractors to begin the conversation, or reach out to the Green Bank or your local utility provider. You can find our list of eligible contractors on our webpage here.  

What is the difference between passive and active dispatch?

Passive dispatch will discharge up to 80% of your battery automatically during the season, on non-holiday weekdays in June, July and August from 3PM to 8PM.  You are required to opt-in to passive dispatch to receive the up-front incentives on your home battery. 

Active dispatch events can also be called during the summer, but you will have the option to opt in or decline to have your battery discharged. On days when Eversource or UI calls an active dispatch event, passive dispatch will be canceled so your battery will be called on to contribute to the grid no more than once per day. 

What incentives does the program provide?

Energy Storage Solutions offers an upfront incentive administered by the Connecticut Green Bank and a performance-based incentive structure managed by Eversource and UI. The upfront incentive requires eligible storage systems to automatically store and dispatch power during passive dispatch periods (the batteries will charge, and discharge as needed by the grid). The performance-based incentive compensates participants for battery energy dispatched over the summer and winter dispatch seasons. 

How will Energy Storage Solutions help improve our community and the grid?

Installing a battery system can make your home or business more resilient. The battery systems installed through this program will provide additional benefits to all ratepayers by shaving peak energy demand. It also provides incentives to critical facilities and commercial properties that are essential during outages or extreme weather events. 

To support our most vulnerable neighbors and communities, the program provides additional incentives for:  

  • Low-income customers and 
  • Underserved communities 

As well as opportunities to access other revenue streams for: 

  • Customers who historically experience the most frequent and longest duration outages in the grid edge, 
  • Small businesses, 
  • Critical facilities, and 
  • Commercial customers who replace an on-site fossil fuel generator 

Who is eligible for this program?

Eligible customers must have a UI or Eversource electric service account located in Connecticut. In addition, the battery energy storage system must be at the same location as the electric service account location. 

Residential, commercial and industrial buildings must be connected to the grid by agreement with Eversource or UI and the battery must be new to the customer (systems installed prior to January 1, 2022, are not eligible for the upfront incentive but may apply to participate in the active dispatch portion of Energy Storage Solutions). 

Specific customer classes, such as low income, underserved and grid edge customers, are encouraged to learn more about the program as PURA has prioritized delivering increased incentives and greater resilience to these customers. 

What is Energy Storage Solutions?

Energy Storage Solutions, a new energy storage incentive program, is designed to help Eversource and UI customers install energy storage at their home or business. Energy storage backup can help people across Connecticut – from homeowners and small business owners to industrial manufacturers and critical infrastructure facilities – be more secure in the face of our changing climate. Energy Storage Solutions will help create a more reliable, resilient Connecticut, especially for vulnerable communities and those hit hardest by storm-related outages. But backup power does more than just help during an outage! The battery systems installed through this program will provide additional benefits to all ratepayers by lowering the energy demand on the grid, which can help keep energy costs from rising. This program, which officially launched in January 2022, is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), is paid for by ratepayers, and is administered by the Green Bank, Eversource, and UI. PURA has set a goal of deploying 580 megawatts (MW) of electric storage by 2030.

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