Battery Program
Battery storage helps you cut energy use and costs
With the summer heat, it's important to reduce stress on the grid when possible. Use your battery storage device to make the grid more sustainable.
How it works
ConnectedSolutions uses batteries to reduce peak energy use, cut air pollution, and lower electricity costs.
You can participate in this program either by installing a battery with a new solar photovoltaic (PV) system or by adding a battery to an existing solar PV system. Rhode Island Energy makes it easy by sending a signal directly to your battery.
Customers who have a battery but no solar PV system can participate, but they won’t be able to send extra power to the electric grid. This limitation restricts the battery discharge rate to the power the home uses at that time, reducing incentives.
Battery power will be implemented during times of peak energy use:
- June – September
- 3 – 8 p.m.
- A maximum of 3 hours per event
- No more than 60 times
Battery implementers
If you would like to install a battery or add a battery to an existing solar system, contact a battery implementer from the following list:
Incentives
Customers will receive an incentive every summer based on the performance of their battery system.
The summer incentive rate is $225 per average kW performed each summer.
While incentive rates are normally subject to change, ConnectedSolutions allows customers to lock in their rate for the first five summers of enrollment.
Incentives are performance-based. Your battery system performance will vary based on size, configuration, internet connectivity, and other factors. Some battery implementers may offer additional discounts, such as a reduced upfront cost, for paying the ConnectedSolutions seasonal incentives to the battery implementer.
Customers can apply for 0% financing and a HEAT Loan to pay for the equipment and labor costs needed to install a battery storage system.
Financing options for eligible low-income customers
As of June 1, 2024, the 0% HEAT Financing Loan is only available for low-income (A-60) customers. A-60 rate customers can apply for 0% financing loan to pay for the equipment and labor costs needed to install a battery storage system.
To apply for a financing loan, customers must:- Call 1-888-633-7947 to request the 0% Financing Enrollment Form
- Get contractor proposals for the battery storage system you want to finance
- Submit the completed form and proposal to the Financing Administrator for approval
- Receive a 0% Financing Authorization Form and apply for a loan with a Participating Lender
- Once approved, proceed with the contracted work
- Once your qualified battery system is installed, select your battery storage manufacturer from the “Battery Implementor” list to enroll in ConnectedSolutions
- Provide proof of ConnectedSolutions enrollment to the Financing Administrator
- Finalize the loan and arrange payment to your contractor
The customer is responsible for filling out the 0% Financing Enrollment Form and agreeing to the terms and conditions. This form cannot be filled out by the customer’s vendor. By applying for the 0% Financing for a battery energy storage system, the customer agrees to enroll in ConnectedSolutions once the battery energy storage system is online and interconnected.
Battery program application
Once your qualified battery system is installed, select your battery storage manufacturer from the “Battery Implementor” list to enroll in ConnectedSolutions.
More information
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my battery for power outages?
Many customers install energy storage systems in preparation for power outages. We want to ensure that customers with solar batteries remain prepared if the lights go out.
In New England, most power outages occur in winter, while most battery usage events happen in the summer. So ConnectedSolutions participants can keep their batteries fully charged in preparation for a potential winter outage.
Do I need to maintain an internet connection to my energy storage system?
Yes. If we can’t communicate with your energy storage system, or if it can’t discharge when needed due to a maintenance issue, the incentive paid to either the system owner or their battery implementer will be affected.
Can I charge my battery storage system from the grid?
No. Your battery storage system must be charged from an on-site renewable resource, such as a solar PV system to participate in this program. Customers who own a battery without a solar PV system may also participate. However, the discharge rate of the battery will be limited to the home’s energy use during events.
Can I participate in this program if I already have a solar PV system?
Yes. Customers with existing solar PV systems can participate by adding an energy storage system to their homes. Ask your solar installer or battery implementer for details because storage cannot be easily added to every solar PV installation.
When you add a battery system to your existing solar PV system, your solar interconnection agreement will need to be updated. Your solar PV or battery implementer can complete this update.
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Must be a Rhode Island Energy residential or small business electric customer
- Have a battery energy storage system controlled by an approved battery implementer
- Have a battery energy storage system that is a behind-the-meter (BTM4) asset
- Customer agrees the battery energy storage system will receive a signal and instruct the batteries to be used for the customer’s site use and send the extra stored power to the grid during peak energy events
- Customers in the C-06 rate class may participate in either the Residential and Small Business (RSB) or C&I track, but they may not participate in both tracks at the same time or switch to a different track midseason
- Customers in the Pascoag Utility District and the Block Island Power Company service territory are not able to participate
How will I be notified of a demand response event?
Depending on your battery, you may not receive a notification before all events. Rhode Island Energy sends a signal to the battery or the inverter manufacturer the day before an event is called. Whether or not the battery owner receives a notification varies by manufacturer.
When will I receive my incentive for participating in ConnectedSolutions?
All efforts will be made to provide incentive payments for summer performance by the end of each calendar year. Some payments may be provided in the first quarter of the following calendar year. Incentive payments will be made to either the customer or another party, depending on the selection made in the ‘customer incentive payment options’ section of the customer application. Some installers or other parties may offer their customers an upfront discount on the customer battery system in exchange for the customer selecting that their performance incentives are sent to that party. Such negotiations are between the customer and the installer or other party. For any customer that is provided an incentive directly and not through another party, RIE will send an incentive check via U.S. Postal Service to the customer’s address.
The income received for participation in the program is not subject to income tax. Participants will not receive a 1099 form from Rhode Island Energy.
Can I participate in both the ConnectedSolutions Battery Program and the Solar System Program?
Yes, customers can participate in both. Participating in both programs will not decrease the incentives you earn in either program.
What if I choose to unenroll from the program?
To end your participation, please contact your battery implementer or send an e-mail to rienergy@energyhub.com.