When you purchase a Generac PWRcell, you may be able to enroll in the Connected Solutions program. This program, where available, allows your utility to utilize your PWRcell during the summer to reduce grid strain. In exchange for your participation, your utility will pay you at the end of the year. The amount you get paid is based on your utility incentive rate and how much your battery contributes during high demand days.
| Incentive Rate ($/kW-month)* | Estimated Incentive Amount for 18 kWh PWRcell*** | Estimated 5-Year Incentive Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Energy | $225 | $1,080-$1,620 | $5,400-$8,100 |
| Cape Light Compact, Eversource, National Grid | $275 | $1,320-$1,980 | $6,600-$9,900 |
*This is not a guarantee of performance. The amount your battery contributes during high demand days can fluctuate based on your battery settings and how long the utility calls on your battery, among other factors.
** The incentives listed in this table represent the most up-to-date incentives from the listed utilities. Customers that applied in the past, may receive a different incentive rate. Utilities hold the incentive rate constant for five years, from the time you applied, subject to on-going regulatory approval.
***The estimated incentive range is based on 80% of an 18 kWh battery participating every time the utility calls on the battery to reduce grid strain. The low incentive value in the range assumes the utility calls on the battery for three hours. The high incentive value in the range assumes the utility calls on the battery for two hours.
Connected Solutions is a program in Massachusetts and Rhode Island where utilities partner with participating homeowners to harness clean energy during times of peak energy use, to help alleviate stress on the power grid.
During the day, when the sun is shining, your PWRcell captures and stores energy from your solar panels. Then, during peak usage hours, your utility may use batteries enrolled in the program to help the grid.
To apply, email enroll@generacgs.com to express your interest. We will reply with a request for you to provide additional information and accept program terms and conditions.
Once you apply and your utility accepts you into the program, Generac will notify you that you have been accepted into the program. After this confirmation, you do not need to take any further action. Your PWRcell will automatically participate in this program when called upon by the utility. To learn what you can do to maximize your incentive, see the FAQs section.
*See the utility’s terms and conditions for full program details.
To be eligible to participate, you must own your PWRcell and be a residential customer of Eversource (in Massachusetts), National Grid (in Massachusetts), Cape Light Compact, or Rhode Island Energy. The program terms include a full list of eligibility requirements (Cape Light Compact, Eversource, National Grid, and Rhode Island Energy).
To unenroll you can email enroll@generacgs.com
You can set up your PWRcell 2 to reserve energy for a grid outage by changing the Backup Reserve Capacity setting in your Generac app. If you have a PWRcell 1, you will be changing the Minimum Reserve Capacity setting. When the utility calls on your PWRcell to help the power grid as part of your participation in Connected Solutions, your PWRcell will not discharge below this setting. In addition, the utilities and the program administrator will make reasonable efforts to avoid calling on your PWRcell if large scale storms are forecasted.
Within PWRview you can set how much energy you want to reserve for backup power. As you lower this slider, there will be more energy provided to the power grid when the utility calls on your PWRcell to contribute. The most common setting utilized by customers and installers is 20%. However, if you are less concerned about maintaining energy in your battery to provide backup power, you can lower this to zero for PWRcell 2 and five percent for PWRcell 1 to maximize the incentive you earn in Connected Solutions.