As summer heat pushes customers to near-record demand on utility grids, Rocky Mountain Power’s award-winning Wattsmart Battery program leverages customer-generated solar power and battery technology to improve grid stability, enable greater use of renewables and keep costs among the lowest in the nation.
The program utilizes customer batteries to help manage the electric system during peak usage periods, resulting in benefits to all customers.
“The Wattsmart Battery program is one of the first utility-supported offerings of its kind in the country. It allows the company to access renewable energy stored in customer-owned batteries to meet modern grid demands,” says Bill Comeau, vice president for customer experience and innovation. “It’s a resource that can be called on during unpredictable weather events or peaks in demand while making the entire grid more resilient.”
How does it work?
The Wattsmart Battery program is a voluntary program for Rocky Mountain Power customers in Utah and now Idaho who are interested in journeying alongside the company toward a clean energy future.
How does the process work? When a customer participates in the program, they receive an upfront enrollment incentive of around $2,000 for installing a qualified battery. Their battery will then be made available to Rocky Mountain Power to help manage energy on the electric grid, and the customer receives an annual bill credit as an ongoing participation incentive.
“When a customer participates in the program, they are partnering with Rocky Mountain Power to innovate for the future and become part of a clean energy solution,” Comeau said.
Why existing rooftop solar customers are choosing to participate in the program:
Support the most effective use of their renewable energy.
Maximize their investment and innovate for the future.
Do their part to help keep electricity costs low.
“This first-of-its-kind model is on the cutting edge of the battery storage industry and, while novel now, it’s indicative of far-reaching, long-term shifts in how the grid is managed, and the essential role of battery storage,” said Blake Richetta, chairman and CEO of sonnen, Inc., a residential battery manufacturer.
To learn more about Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Battery Program, eligibility and incentives, visit our website or review our customer information handout.