Green Mountain Power launches pilot program allowing customers to buy or lease storage batteries

Green Mountain Power recently announced the launch of a pilot program with Enphase Energy Systems that will allow customers to lease or purchase two Enphase IQ energy storage batteries for their homes.

Through this program, customers can choose to lease Enphase batteries for a monthly payment of $65 for ten years or buy their own for $6,500 and enroll their Enphase batteries in GMP’s “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) program. The BYOD program allows customers to get an incentive in exchange for allowing GMP to tap into the stored energy during peak usage times, which helps lower costs for all customers. Last year, GMP’s network of shared, stored energy reduced about $3 million in costs for all customers by cutting power demand during energy peaks.

“We are excited to offer customers more options for batteries, building off our already successful storage programs, as we create a stronger, flexible, and more resilient energy grid,” Josh Castonguay, GMP vice president and chief innovation officer at Green Mountain Power, said. “Our growing network of stored energy continues to deliver savings for all customers, helping cut carbon and costs. Expanding this groundbreaking work with another pilot program will allow more customers to access storage technology while increasing the savings through a shared network of neighbor helping neighbor.”

Enphase and GMP are working with four Vermont installers — HB Energy, Power Guru, Southern Vermont Solar, and SunCommon. Customers can select which they would like to work with. GMP and Enphase are encouraging more installers to be part of the program.

“We’re proud to work with Green Mountain Power on this program to offer Vermont homeowners Enphase IQ Batteries and IQ Microinverters,” Dave Ranhoff, chief commercial officer at Enphase Energy, said. “Our industry-leading software and hardware make building and deploying virtual power plants easier than ever. And none of this would be possible without the professionalism and experience of our local installer partners, who all offer a best-in-class experience for our mutual customers.”

The Enphase battery lease program is open to 100 customers.

“We rely on Enphase IQ microinverters for most of our rooftop solar customers. Bringing the same integrated communications platform with detailed energy monitoring and solar production information for each solar panel, and now for energy storage, is very exciting,” Simon Piluski, founder of Southern Vermont Solar, said. “GMP and Enphase are great partners with us in serving our community’s energy needs now and into the future.”

Green Mountain Power serves approximately 270,000 residential and business customers in Vermont.