Home Battery Storage Owners Can Reduce Energy Costs for All Customers Through GMP’s “BYOD” Program
Green Mountain Power (GMP) has announced a new program to partner with customers to reduce costs during high energy use times. During peak times such as cold winter nights, GMP will share access with customers’ home or business battery storage systems, rather than purchasing expensive surplus power. In return, GMP will issue credits to customers based on the amount of energy transferred from the customer’s battery to the grid. This is one of the first “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) programs using batteries to be offered by a utility, and provides value to the people or private companies who sell and install the batteries, the customers who sign up, and all customers GMP serves.
“This is so important as we partner with customers on a new energy future that is home-, business-, and community-based and leverages the latest innovations in grid modernization to drive down costs and provide value for all customers,” said Mary Powell, GMP CEO. “Battery storage is a meaningful part of that energy future.
“Green Mountain Power has been sharing energy with customers through our distributed energy resource platform for some time,” Powell explained. “We call the new program ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) because customers can now purchase any compatible batteries through any source and still receive credits on their bills. Of course, more importantly, they’re helping to keep costs down for all energy users.”
The BYOD program allows customers to find new ways to obtain backup power in a cost-competitive way, while participating in GMP’s grid transformation efforts to benefit all customers. For example, GMP customers can install battery storage with Waterbury-based solar energy company SunCommon and then share access to the storage with GMP to drive down costs for all. SunCommon is an enthusiastic participant in the BYOD program.
“Vermonters are excited to store a little sunshine for a stormy day and SunCommon is ready to help them do just that,” said James Moore co-founder of SunCommon. “Energy from the sun can power our lives and build vibrant communities. Solar storage and GMP’s innovative program brings this bright future one step closer. Kudos to GMP for their vision and support of local clean energy.”
Another local company planning to participate in the program is Grassroots Solar, Inc. in Dorset that designs and installs off-grid and grid tied solar and storage systems for homes and businesses in Vermont.
“I’m excited to see the BYOD pilot program from GMP. As we install more solar in Vermont, battery storage is now part of an energy management system and is going to be a key tool in modernizing our grid,” said Bill Laberge owner of Grassroots Solar, Inc. “Batteries with shared access can help the utility manage the grid and help customers pay for their investment. Now that’s a win-win situation.”
As part of the program, customers will allow GMP access to their battery systems through internet connections. In order to receive bill credits, customers will allow GMP to discharge their batteries back onto the grid to drive down costs. GMP will make every effort to re-charge battery storage when adverse weather events are on the horizon so that customers can count on that back-up.
For a link to more information about the program go to: https://
Green Mountain Power Offers New “Bring Your Own Device” Program to Cut Energy Peaks posted first on Green Energy Times
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