Power +
Power+ offers HCE members a new resilience option from threats of extreme weather events like wildfires, snowstorms and other outage-causing events while also benefitting the entire HCE membership by reducing wholesale energy costs.
Utilizing Tesla’s Powerwall 2 battery energy storage system, members can store energy directly from the grid or energy generated from on-site solar. Powerwall 2s can provide backup power of 4 to 8 hours on peak usage and 20 to 40 hours with reduced usage, supplying your energy needs during grid outages. Having a solar system alone will not supply this resilience without battery backup.
By allowing HCE to optimize the charging and discharging of your battery during times of high energy demand or renewable energy oversupply, the cost HCE pays for power is reduced. These savings benefit the entire co-op membership. HCE will always leave at least 20% state of charge, and this should allow you at least a few hours of resilience in a worst-case scenario such as an outage after a peak load event.
Under our Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Service Agreement, HCE will pay for the battery and its installation costs upfront for you. You repay HCE with the monthly charge on your bill, which is partially offset by ongoing bill credits that you receive in exchange for periodic control of the battery. Your repayment amount does not include interest or additional fees for ten years.