ConnectedSolutions is an innovative battery funding program that offers incentives to residential and commercial electric customers in exchange for allowing their electric utility to draw on the energy stored in their grid-connected behind-the-meter batteries at times of peak electric demand. The program uses multi-year contracts between the utility and customer to create a virtual power plant that can be called upon to provide valuable grid services, while providing revenue and back-up power to battery owners. It is frequently, but not always, run through state energy efficiency programs.
The ConnectedSolutions model was developed and implemented in Massachusetts with analytic support from Clean Energy Group, and has now been adopted by other states in the Northeast. CEG’s reports on this program model are below, along with links to relevant state programs, articles and blogs.
April 2019
This report explains the steps Massachusetts took to become the first state to integrate energy storage technologies into its energy efficiency plan.
ConnectedSolutions: The New Economics of Solar+Storage for Affordable Housing in Massachusetts
February 2021
This report represents the first independent, public analysis of the impact of ConnectedSolutions on the development of solar+storage systems for affordable housing properties.
ConnectedSolutions: A New State Funding Mechanism to Make Battery Storage Accessible to All
February 2021
This report aims to inform state policymakers about the structure and benefits of the new ConnectedSolutions battery storage program model.
ConnectedSolutions: An Assessment for Massachusetts
September 2021
This report assesses the design and performance of the Massachusetts ConnectedSolutions program during its initial 3-year program implementation cycle.
December 2021
Winter electric peaking capacity services are currently undervalued in the Massachusetts programs that provide battery customers with performance payments to supply power back to the grid at times of high demand.
ConnectedSolutions Blog Posts and Articles
- With Forward Capacity Auction Success, Batteries are Winning in New England (September 2021)
- Connecticut Powers into the Lead with Breakthrough Customer Battery Program (August 2021)
- Battery Storage is Coming to Affordable Housing Thanks to Efficiency Program (August 2020)
- Massachusetts and Vermont crack the code on distributed energy storage (July 2020)
- ConnectedSolutions First Results: Massachusetts’ groundbreaking efficiency program for customer batteries receives its first report card (July 2020)
- Energy Storage Is the New Efficiency (April 2019)
- Massachusetts becomes first in the nation to make battery storage eligible for energy efficiency incentives (February 2019)
Comments Submitted in Regulatory Dockets
ConnectedSolutions State Program Documents
Below are links to resources for state policymakers and regulators who are considering adopting a ConnectedSolutions model program.
- Arizona Corporation Commission battery rebate and BYOD program (proposed)
- California PUC staff proposal to allow BTM batteries to export power during grid emergencies
- California Southern California Edison customer battery program
- California SMUD residential solar+storage system estimator
- Connecticut Green Bank battery program proposal (Solarize Storage)
- Connecticut PURA establishes statewide electric storage program
- Connecticut energy efficiency plan
- New Hampshire energy efficiency plan proposal
- New Hampshire Liberty Utilities battery storage pilot program
- Massachusetts energy efficiency statewide plan
- Massachusetts ConnectedSolutions program materials
- Massachusetts Cape Light Compact program (including LMI solar+storage+heat pump systems, and previous free battery proposal)
- Massachusetts National Grid Navigant Consulting (Guidehouse) report (This report is no longer available online, but results are included in a presentation to the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council)
- Massachusetts SMART Program Guideline Regarding Low Income Generation Units
- Rhode Island ConnectedSolutions program materials
- Rhode Island energy efficiency plan
- Vermont GMP Tesla program
- Vermont GMP BYOD program
- Vermont GMP LMI home health program
