Key Takeaways
- The GMP ESS program lets Vermont homeowners lease home battery storage from Green Mountain Power for a 10-year term.
- During peak demand events (usually a handful of hours per month), GMP draws a slice of your stored energy to help offset strain on the grid.
- You retain full access to your battery for backup power during outages, since GMP keeps a reserve in place during and after peak events.
- ESS fits homeowners who want backup power without owning the equipment, while BYOD fits those who want to own a battery and still enroll it with GMP.
How does the ESS program work?
Through the ESS Lease Program, you can lease two Tesla PowerwallsLINK 3 · FIND from GMP for ten years. When the lease ends, you have the option to extend it or return the batteries.
While you’re leasing your batteries, you agree to allow GMP access to your stored energy during peak times of usageLINK 2 · FIND. This means that when a lot of power is in demand, the utility can take a percentage of energy from your battery to send to the grid. During peak energy times, energy can be more expensive and dirtier. Using clean energy from batteries can help offset the environmental and monetary costs of peak energy times.
Which Batteries Are Eligible Today
The ESS program currently covers two batteries: the Tesla Powerwall and the Enphase IQ Battery 10C. The Powerwall is still the most common choice for Vermont homes under the lease, but the 10C fits certain wiring configurations better and gives you a second option depending on how your electrical panel is set up.
Which battery your home ends up with depends on availability, wiring configuration, and what fits the space you have. Our team checks current GMP eligibility at the site visit so you know exactly what’s on the table before you sign anything.✓ Which Batteries Are Eligible Today
What Actually Happens During a Peak Event
Peak events are the trade-off built into the ESS lease. When GMP forecasts a period of high grid demand (hot summer afternoons and cold winter mornings are the usual triggers), they pull energy from participating batteries across the state to ease grid strain instead of leaning on additional wholesale supply.
For a typical household, this happens a handful of times per month, usually in windows of two to four hours. GMP doesn’t drain your battery completely. A reserve is always kept in place so that if the grid goes down during or right after a peak event, you still have backup power for your home.Copy What Actually Happens During a Peak Event
How much does it cost to lease batteries from GMP?
You can pay an upfront cost of $5,500 or a monthly cost of $55.00. The customer can choose which options works best for them.
Why lease instead of buy?
There are pros and cons to leasing vs buying that should be considered. When you purchase your own battery, you own your own power, which allows for greater energy independence and control, but that comes with a higher price tag. The ESS battery lease on the other hand is a more affordable alternative to consider. Leasing your batteries also allows you to try them out before you commit to the larger upfront investment that comes with buying a battery.
ESS vs BYOD: Which Program Fits
GMP actually runs two battery programs, and they target different homeowners. ESS is the lease we’ve been discussing. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a parallel program for customers who buy an eligible battery and enroll it with GMP instead.
ESS fits someone who wants backup power without owning the equipment. BYOD fits someone who wants to own the battery, enroll it with GMP for similar peak-event participation, and keep the asset after the program term ends.Copy ESS vs BYOD: Which Program Fits
How do I sign up for the ESS Program?
You can simply fill out a consultation request form on our website letting us know you’re interested in the program. We’ll contact you and send you the application. Once you’ve applied, our team will set up a free site-visit to learn more about your energy needs and determine if the program is a good fit for you. If you’re accepted to the program, we’ll come by to install your batteries. It’s that simple!
What a Typical ESS Month Looks Like
Most ESS customers barely notice the program in day-to-day life. Your batteries sit quietly providing backup whenever the grid goes down, and the only signal that anything is happening at all comes through the Tesla app.
The signal that a peak event is happening is a notification in the Tesla app showing a discharge to the grid. Your lights don’t flicker, your fridge stays cold, and your well pump keeps running. When the event ends (usually within a few hours), your battery recharges from solar the next day or from the grid overnight.Copy What a Typical ESS Month Looks Like
To ensure your home always has reliable energy, plus to help provide your community with cleaner and cheaper energy, consider adding batteries to your solar system. Through the GMP ESS Lease Program, you can achieve your energy goals without a hefty price tag. Our team can help answer any questions you have!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still get backup power during an outage if I’m on ESS?
Yes. GMP keeps a reserve in your battery so that a blackout during or right after a peak event still leaves you with backup power for your home.
Can I combine ESS with solar panels?
Yes, and most ESS customers do. The battery pairs with your solar system to store daytime production, power your home at night, and provide backup during outages.
What happens at the end of the 10-year lease?
You have the option to extend the lease, return the batteries to GMP, or switch to a buy-out arrangement if GMP offers one at the time. You’re never locked into keeping the batteries past the original term.
Is ESS or BYOD a better fit for me?
ESS is usually the better fit if you want backup power without owning the equipment. BYOD is usually the better fit if you want to own the battery, enroll it with GMP, and keep the asset after the program term. Our team walks you through which option suits your home during the site visit.Copy FAQ
Ready to See If ESS Fits Your Home?
We’ll walk your site, check current GMP eligibility, and show you whether ESS or BYOD makes more sense for your setup.
Or call us at (802) 369-9149
