A solar battery will keep your home powered through outages and, right now, you can get paid to install one.
Through Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) Flex Batteries Program, residential electric customers can earn $1,000 for enrolling a solar battery in the program, plus up to $500 per battery per year in ongoing incentive payments.
As a PSE Recommended Energy Professional (REP), Cascadia Solar can help you choose a qualifying battery and enroll it in the program, so all you have to do is sit back and save.
How Much Can You Earn with Flex Batteries Incentives?
PSE’s Flex Batteries Program pays you when you enroll your home battery in the program and for every year you participate in it.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- Up to $1,000 per battery when you enroll (calculated as $75/kWh of installed capacity)
- Up to $500 per battery every year you participate (performance-based, calculated as $0.50/kWh throughput in a calendar year)
For example, if you install two batteries, you could earn $3,000 in your first year alone, just by joining the program.
You May Qualify for up to $10,000 in Enhanced Incentives
Some homeowners qualify for up to $10,000 in enhanced incentives through PSE, in addition to the Flex Batteries payments.
There are two pathways for qualifying:
Pathway A
You may qualify for up to $10,000 in added incentives (total, not per battery) through Pathway A if:
- You receive your own monthly bill, and your monthly income is less than the limits for your county (check income limits here)
- You’re already enrolled in PSE’s Bill Discount Program
- You have a registered medical device with PSE
- You have a referral letter from a community-based organization
- You’re a housing provider applying on behalf of a qualified future tenant
Pathway B
You may qualify for up to $5,000 in added incentives (total, not per battery) through Pathway B if:
- You experience grid reliability concerns
- You live on a specific area of PSE’s electric grid
Interested in enhanced incentives? Reach out to Cascadia Solar today, and we’ll help you determine if your home qualifies.
How Does PSE’s Flex Batteries Program Work?
PSE’s Flex Batteries Program pays you to let PSE draw stored energy from your battery during “Flex Events,” which happen when demand for electricity is high. This is typically on unusually hot or cold days, when everyone is running their heat or air conditioning.
Here’s what you can expect:
- PSE Schedules a Flex Event – Your battery receives an automatic command to charge, either from your rooftop solar panels or from the grid, depending on how it’s programmed.
- Your Battery Sends Energy to the Grid – During the event, your battery automatically discharges, providing extra electricity to the grid.
- Everything Happens Automatically – You don’t have to do anything during a flex event. Note: Once enrolled in the program, you cannot opt out of individual Flex events.
- Your Home Is Prioritized – If there is already a power outage or risk of a power outage due to inclement weather, PSE will not schedule a Flex event. PSE realizes that backup power is a top priority for homeowners, so your battery will not be used by PSE if an outage is likely.
PSE will only draw on your battery for a maximum of 50 times during the winter and 50 times during the summer. Plus, Flex Events are limited to certain hours and will only happen between 6 am and 10 pm.
How to Participate in PSE’s Flex Batteries Program
It’s easy to participate in the Flex Batteries Program. Here’s what you need to:
- Install a Qualifying Battery & Connect to the PSE Grid – FranklinWH, Enphase, Tesla Powerwall, SolarEdge, and LG Batteries paired with a SolarEdge inverter qualify. We’ll help you compare options and choose the best battery for your home.
- Enroll Your Battery – Cascadia Solar will handle this process for you.
- Earn Incentives – You’ll receive a one-time incentive of up to $1,000 when you install your battery, applied directly to your invoice. After that, you’ll get up to $500 in incentives per battery for every year you’re enrolled in the program. The annual enrollment incentive will be issued as a prepaid credit card mailed to you by PSE.
- Enhance Incentives – If you qualify for enhanced incentives through Pathway B (grid reliability concerns), you’ll receive up to $5,000 in additional incentives applied directly to your invoice. If you qualify through Pathway A (income and medical equipment), you’ll receive up to $10,000.
