Power Partner℠ Battery

Power Partner Battery offers two incentives:

• Recent installation: Austin Energy offers a $500 rebate for each battery system that gets Permission to Operate (PTO) after passing Austin Energy’s final inspection on or after 2/18/25. Austin Energy will verify the PTO date with the Austin Services Department upon receiving your enrollment.

  • Payments are issued as checks via mail and will be sent to your home address from our third-party vendor. (Make sure to give your correct home address when enrolling.) Please allow 1-2 billing cycles (4-6 weeks) to receive payment.
  • If you have yet to purchase a battery, Austin Energy’s installation and inspection requirements are similar to those for residential solar systems. View guidance on the permitting process. (Note: A solar system is not required for either installing a battery system or enrolling in Power Partner Battery.) Your battery’s manufacturer can refer you to a certified installation company.

• Performance payment: Austin Energy will pay you $75/kW each year based on the maximum device size, backup reserve level, and average event hours. Click on the Incentive section for details. For example, a Tesla Powerwall has 13.5 kWh. A 20% reserve provides Austin Energy with 10.8kWh of usable energy. With an average of 2.5 hours per event: (10.8 kWh)/2.5 = 4.3 kW performed average across events; 4.3 kW * $75 = ~$324 per battery per year. (Disclaimer: Costs for recharging your battery may vary based on billing rates, metering configurations, and whether you have solar generation (Value of Solar credit applies). In all cases, these costs will be less than the incentive payment, ensuring a net benefit.

  • Payments are issued annually as checks in the mail after the end of each calendar year in which the system has been enrolled. Checks will be sent to your home address from our third-party vendor. (Make sure to give your correct home address when enrolling.) Please allow 2-3 billing cycles (8-10 weeks) for processing after the conclusion of each year.

Enrollment in Power Partner Battery requires the following:

• Customer must be an Austin Energy customer, and the battery must be installed within Austin Energy’s service territory.
• The battery system must be for residential use only.
• Your battery system must comply with the Design Criteria Manual (pdf) and Distribution Interconnection Guide (pdf).
• The battery system cannot be owned or operated by a third-party owner (TPO).
• A certified contractor must be used to install the battery system.

Additional eligibility notes:

• An accompanying solar panel system is not required for battery purchase or enrollment in Power Partner Battery.
• There is no limit to the number of battery systems you can enroll.

Eligible Battery Systems

Register your eligible device through your battery manufacturer’s app. Additional guidance is provided through the manufacturer-specific “How to Enroll” links provided in the Eligibility section.

How to Receive Your Incentive Payments

See the Incentive section for details.

What is Austin Energy's Power Partner Battery program?

Power Partner Battery is a new demand response pilot program that rewards customers for allowing Austin Energy to use energy from their battery storage systems when energy demand is high.

Austin Energy remotely adjusts enrolled batteries to help reduce peak energy use and lower electricity costs for the community.

Am I eligible to enroll?

Enrollment in Power Partner Battery requires the following:

• Customer must be an Austin Energy customer, and the battery system must be installed and permitted within Austin Energy’s service territory.
• The battery system must be for residential use only.
• Your battery system must pass Austin Energy’s electrical final inspection and perform in accordance with your interconnection service agreement (ISA) with Austin Energy.
• The battery system cannot be owned or operated by a third-party owner (TPO).
• Only the following makes and models are eligible:

Manufacturer	Series	Eligible Models
Enphase	IQ Battery	IQ
FranklinWH	Franklin Home Power	aPower X, aPower 2
SolarEdge	Home Battery	SE3000H-US, SE3800H-US, SE6000H-US, SE7600H-US, SE10000H-US, SE11400H-US
Tesla	Powerwall	Powerwall+, Powerwall 2, Powerwall 3

Can I enroll if my battery system is owned or operated by a third party owner (TPO)?

No, not at this time.

Is a solar system required to install and enroll my battery system?

No. An accompanying solar panel system is not required for battery purchase or enrollment in Power Power Battery.

Is there a limit to the number of battery systems I can enroll?

There is currently no limit to the number of battery systems you can enroll.

Where can I find the Terms and Conditions for the program?

View program terms and conditions

What is the incentive for purchasing and installing a new system?

You can earn $500 per new battery system that passes inspection by Austin Energy and is issued a Permission To Operate (PTO) on or after 2/18/25. Austin Energy will verify the PTO date with the Austin Services Department upon receiving your application.

What is the process for installing a new battery system?

Austin Energy's installation and inspection requirements are similar to those for residential solar systems. Visit the Solar Inspections page for guidance on the permitting process.

When and how will I receive my upfront incentive (limitations apply)?

The $500 upfront incentive will be paid via check within 1-2 billing cycles.

Note: customers are only eligible for the upfront incentive when they pass final inspection (from Austin Energy) and are issued a Permission to Operate any time after 2/18/25

What is the incentive for participating?

By enrolling and participating in the program, you earn $75 per average kW used throughout the year. Customers can earn $324 per year on average in this program.

How much can I expect to earn throughout the season?

Your payment will be based on your average power contribution during peak events (maximum of 40 per year).

For example, a Tesla Powerwall has 13.5 kWh - 20% reserve gives us 10.8kWh of useable energy. Let’s assume an average of 2.5-hour events; 10.8/2.5 = 4.3 kW performed average across events. 4.3 kW * $75 = ~$324 per battery. 

Note: Battery system performance will vary based on size, configuration, internet connectivity, and other factors. Please contact your battery storage system vendor or installer for more information about your battery's expected contribution and the incentive you can expect to earn. Costs for recharging your battery may vary based on billing rates, metering configurations, and whether you have solar generation (Value of Solar credit applies). In all cases, these costs will be less than the incentive payment, ensuring a net benefit.

When and how can I expect to receive my performance incentive?

Incentive payments for performance will be made 8-10 weeks after the season end, paid as a check. Checks will be mailed to your home address from a third-party vendor. Make sure to give your correct home address when enrolling.

How often and how long will my battery be dispatched?

Power Partner Battery events:

• Can occur on any day of the year and at any time during the day, including weekdays and holidays.
• Typically last 2-3 hours.
• Are limited to 40 per year, excluding grid emergencies.
• Can be overridden by you at any time before and during an event by using your battery manufacturer's app. Please note: Enphase systems only allow opting out up to five minutes before the event starts. There is no penalty for opting out of individual events, but doing so will affect your annual performance payment.

How can I ensure that I'll still have backup energy if I need it?

Power Partner Battery events will not reduce your systems reserve below 20 percent. Battery systems will typically regain full charge within less than 24 hours of being dispatched.

Austin Energy will typically not call events if a severe storm is forecast to ensure customers' battery storage systems can be utilized for backup power if needed.

Some battery vendors can help you configure your system to limit how much your system will discharge during events. Please note however that this will affect how much your system will earn. When a severe weather warning is issued, your battery system's storm mode, if activated, automatically overrides both Austin Energy's remote control and your current charging settings to charge your battery to 100 percent.

During a Power Partner event, will the battery export power to the grid or power my house?

Events will serve the home’s electricity needs first before being exported to the grid. Your battery will not fall below its reserve capacity minimum.

Battery discharge amounts may be reduced by any export limits imposed by Austin Energy and set by the installer per local infrastructure constraints if applicable.

During a severe weather event in which my battery's storm mode is activated while a Power Partner event is deployed, which gets priority?

When a severe weather warning is issued, your battery system's storm mode automatically overrides both Austin Energy's remote control and your current charging settings to charge your battery to 100 percent. Please check with your battery manufacturer for details on how your battery system's storm mode impacts your battery's performance:

• Enphase - Storm Guard
• FranklinWH - Storm Hedge
• SolarEdge - Weather Guard
• Tesla - Storm Watch

Can I participate if I have a battery storage system only (without solar)?

Customers who don’t have a solar system but do have a battery storage system that charges from the electricity grid may participate in the Power Partner Battery program.

Do I need to maintain an internet connection to my energy storage system?

Yes. If we cannot communicate with your energy storage system, or if your energy storage system cannot discharge when needed (due to a maintenance issue), the incentive paid will be affected.

How am I notified of events?

Depending on your battery storage system manufacturer, notifications will appear in your web/mobile application.

How can I opt out of an event?

Ability to opt out of events and regain control of your system varies by battery manufacturer. Please check with your manufacturer or your battery storage system mobile app for more information. (Enphase systems only permit opting out up to five minutes before the start of each event.)

How do I unenroll from the program?

You may either submit an online unenrollment form or contact AEpowerpartner@austinenergy.com to unenroll from the Power Partner Battery program.