Energy storage can supply backup power during power outages and help you manage your electricity use. If you have solar, a storage battery enables you to use more of the power produced by your solar system.
Battery storage enables you to have backup power. During extreme weather or environmental events, outages have the potential to last several days. Batteries can provide critical backup power for your essential devices and appliances, such as medical equipment, refrigeration, air conditioning, electric heating, lighting, and electric well pumps.
The length of time a battery storage system can provide backup power for your home depends on the size of the battery and the amount of electricity you need. Your storage provider should help you assess how long a battery — or a battery paired with solar — should be expected to last under backup power operation.
Under favorable solar conditions with limited home electricity use, pairing solar with a battery storage system can help your devices stay powered for multiple days.
BEC’s Battery Storage Program
BEC proudly announces the arrival of the Battery Storage Program that allows BEC members to lease energy storage systems for just $36.99 per month with the purchase of a solar system, protecting homeowners in power outages while helping them save money on their energy bills. Please note that a limited number of homes will be included in the program for 2024. On the Battery Storage Program BEC will lease batteries, which can be charged by the grid or excess solar power, to the member to be used during an emergency power outage. The intent of this program is to lower the demand on the electric grid during peak energy events.
Schedule a Call Interest FormHow It Works to Purchase & Sell Energy
Purchasing Energy – Importing Electricity from the Grid
When your home consumption exceeds your solar capacity, you may need to draw power from the grid, and you will be charged on bill at the retail rate.
Selling Energy – Exporting to Grid or Battery from Excess Solar
When you export electricity, the credit amount varies depending on if you export to the grid or to the battery. If you export to the grid, you are selling back to BEC at the avoided cost rate, and the credited amount will be reflected on your bill. If you export to the battery, the excess power will be stored for an emergency outage.
Lighten the Load on the Texas Grid
During peak energy events, BEC will have the ability to discharge the battery onto the electric grid, but the stored power will first cover the load of the home to which it is connected. The Cooperative will never deplete a member’s battery. BEC is currently providing a monthly credit to these members until a rate can be established.
Energy Storage & Solar Power Systems
A common myth about solar power is that you can count on it only when the sun is shining. You do need sunshine to generate electricity with solar, but what about the times when the sun isn’t shining? Most people rely on electricity from the power grid to supplement their solar-generated power. But residential solar energy systems paired with battery storage—generally called solar-plus-storage systems—provide power regardless of the weather or the time of day without having to rely on backup power from the grid. Here are the benefits of a solar-plus-storage system:
Around-the-Clock Power
If you use the utility billing mechanism known as time-of-use, and don’t have a solar energy system, your electricity in the evening is likely more expensive because of the higher demand on the system. With battery storage, however, you can use electricity generated during the day later on, rather than relying on the utility for power. This is also useful if you live in an area with frequent power outages.
Pocketbook Protection
If your utility raises electricity rates, you can avoid that with a battery. Battery storage lets you leverage low-cost energy that has already been generated and stored, ensuring your rates stay low and don’t affect your monthly budget. In some cases, you can even sell the energy you’re storing back to the grid when the rates are higher and bank the profit.
Better Monitoring
A solar-plus-storage system can help you to better track the energy your system is generating through monitoring capabilities, providing an enhanced level of transparency and precision. These systems allow you to track the energy your home is producing and using in real time.
More Energy Self-Sufficiency
While most jurisdictions require homes to be connected to their local utility even if they don’t use any electricity from the utility, a solar-plus-storage system takes you closer to “off the grid” status. Battery storage means you don’t have to rely on your utility to deliver electricity to your home most days of the year. And you can always keep some battery capacity in reserve, so that if the power goes out in your neighborhood, your house will be the one with the lights on.
You may be sold on the merits but curious about the costs. A solar-plus-storage system costs about $25,000 to $35,000, depending on the size of the battery and other factors. It is easier and cheaper to install the panels and battery at the same time. But if you’ve already installed solar panels and want to add storage, you can: The battery will cost anywhere from $12,000 to $22,000. Ask your solar installer if they can add a battery to your system. If you purchase a battery on its own or a solar-plus-storage system, you will be eligible for federal tax credits. Some states provide additional solar battery incentives.
To learn more about resources available to consumers, including guidance on demystifying the solar installation process, check out the Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar webpage, as well as the DOE’s Energy Storage Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Currently, participants in the pilot program cannot integrate a generator into the system. Future iterations may explore this possibility.
There are automations in place which the batteries will prepare for a storm if a weather related event is issued by the national weather service. BEC will also prioritize member resiliency over grid services.
Yes, members can opt out, but there is a $450 termination fee before the program's end.
Yes, you will be credited for your solar production whether it charges the battery or is sent to the grid.
The duration varies and depends on several factors, including the household loads and the available battery capacity. In the event of an outage during sunny periods, solar power can supply energy to the home during the day, while the battery takes over to power the home in the evening hours.
BEC owns and manages the battery, handling all maintenance and warranty-related work. There is no cost to the member for any corrective or preventive measures required.
BEC will require the same level of access to your home as needed for Apolloware and meter maintenance.
Batteries have the capability to charge from the grid in case there is insufficient solar energy production.
In the News
Read more about this innovative new program.
