Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Power

Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) is building the power “grid of the future,” and it’s paying Utahns thousands of dollars to participate. The company’s Wattsmart Battery program, which launched in 2020, has about 3,000 customers participating by storing approved batteries on their residential or commercial properties.

Each participant earns between $1,920 and $18,000—paid upfront—to participate in the program for four years, as well as an annual bill credit of $15 per kilowatt.

All Wattsmart Battery program participants must install an onsite solar system to charge the battery. According to William Comeau, VP for customer experience and innovation at RMP, there are 60,000 Utah customers with onsite rooftop solar. 

The batteries serve as backup electricity for participants’ homes or businesses in case of an emergency and contribute to RMP’s goal of being 70 percent renewable by 2030.

“Having that [many] renewables on the system requires a different type of grid, and the Wattsmart Battery program is one of the options we’re working with,” Comeau says.

The batteries will store energy when there is excess, like in the middle of the day, and then utilize it when the sun goes down and less energy is available.

“At the end of the day, it helps us manage renewable energy and match it with when our customers need that energy,” Comeau says.

Currently, RMP’s primary goal is a “go-back” program to get batteries installed under already-installed solar systems.“The big value or big opportunity is for those that currently have solar on their rooftop to reach out, look into the program, and look at getting a battery so they’ll have backup power during outages, and then start helping with the grid of the future,” Comeau says. “Those that hear about it that have rooftop solar are like, ‘Oh my gosh, if only I’d known.’”

Comeau says RMP is partnering with solar installers, namely ES Solar, to get more new people enrolled. When ES Solar helps someone set up solar in their home or business, they will also help them decide on the right solar system and battery size.

Currently, two battery manufacturers are supported, Sonnen and SolarEdge. Batteries range from 4.8 kW to 30 kW, with incentives of $400 per kW. 

“It’s a great resource … that can help keep costs low for customers and help the transition to a sustainable future. That’s where we fully expect it to go,” Comeau says.