NY Startup Powers Home Batteries to Ease Grid Strain
Pilot Program Enlists Residents to Bolster Energy Stability
A New York-based startup is pioneering a novel approach to energy management, aiming to reduce stress on the state’s power grid while offering financial incentives to participating residents.
“Responsible Grid” Offers Power Relief
Standard Potential, a Tarrytown firm, has launched its “Responsible Grid” pilot program, enlisting households to contribute to grid stability. Sixty-five New York City homes are currently part of this initiative, which began this summer.
Participant **Addy Spiller** expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “He was looking for beta testers and I said, ‘Yes, please.’ I love this kind of stuff.” Her involvement requires simply plugging in a battery unit to power essential appliances like her air conditioner, fan, Peloton, and home office equipment.
“When the grid is really strained, when everyone is using electricity during the summer heat waves, we can run the batteries and reduce the overall pressure on the grid,”
—Andrew Wang, CEO of Standard Potential
Andrew Wang explained the system’s simplicity: “Don’t need any permits and don’t need any install. They don’t put energy back into the grid.”
Leveraging Con Edison’s Smart Usage Program
The pilot program integrates with Con Edison’s Smart Usage Program. This existing program already compensates some customers for reducing their electricity consumption during peak demand periods. Con Edison noted that the program fosters an “enables innovation” and is typically utilized by larger buildings.
Standard Potential aims to broaden participation. “For our battery program, this allows everyday New Yorkers, tenants, co-ops, multi-family folks to participate in that same program,” **Wang** elaborated. “You get compensated based upon how much load you can reduce over a certain period.” The system relies on remote monitoring software, with **Lynne Irvin**, battery engineer at Standard Potential, confirming, “All the batteries are remotely controlled and monitored.”
Keeping Homes Cool and Productive
**Irvin** detailed how the batteries respond to Con Edison’s needs, including charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak times. “Con Ed sends a call, a text, an email and we’re able to immediately change the batteries over to the correct mode,” she stated.
Beyond the monetary benefits, participants like **Spiller** appreciate the enhanced resilience. She recalled a scorching summer day when a power outage struck, noting, “My electricity went out on a super-hot day in New York and I was able to keep working and stay cool.” Participants in the “Responsible Grid” program receive $100 for each battery air conditioning pairing, with plans to integrate heat pump units this winter. A waiting list has already formed for those eager to join.
This innovative approach aligns with broader efforts to integrate distributed energy resources, such as residential batteries, which can enhance grid reliability and help manage the increasing demand from electric vehicles and climate-controlled spaces. For instance, the U.S. Department of Energy projects that grid-interactive efficient buildings could save consumers billions by 2050 through reduced energy costs and improved grid services (U.S. Department of Energy).
