Austin, TX and Brooklyn, NY – March 24, 2026 – Austin Energy and EnergyHub, a leading provider of grid-edge flexibility, today announced the launch of the Power Partner Battery pilot, a new residential “Bring Your Own Battery” (BYOB) program that expands the utility’s existing portfolio of distributed energy resource offerings. The program builds on Austin Energy’s Power Partner thermostat, residential EV, and EV fleet programs, giving customers multiple pathways to participate in grid-supporting initiatives and earn rewards.

Residential storage has become an increasingly important asset as utilities work to meet rising electricity demand. In 2024 alone, U.S. residential battery capacity grew by 64%, surpassing 3,028 MWh of installed capacity. BYOB programs unlock this growing flexibility resource, enabling utilities to deliver multiple grid services with minimal impact on participating customers.

Austin Energy’s existing programs deliver more than 55 MW of flexible capacity, supporting reliable and affordable services for every customer. The launch of the Power Partner Battery pilot accelerates the utility’s progress toward its goal of 78 MW of summer peak reduction capacity by 2027 and 270 MW by 2035.

“Austin Energy is committed to delivering programs that put our customers first — giving them more ways to save while supporting a reliable grid,” said Lindsey McDougall, Demand Response and Technical Services Manager at Austin Energy. “By expanding our Power Partner offerings to include batteries alongside thermostats and EVs, we’re making it even easier for customers to participate in grid programs on their terms, while helping ensure reliable, affordable power for everyone we serve.”

Customers who enroll in the pilot receive a $500 upfront incentive for new battery installations, and all participants are eligible to earn $75 per kW delivered to the grid, based on their average seasonal kW reduction. Storage systems from Tesla, GM, Fortress Power, FranklinWH, Generac, Qcells, and SolarEdge are eligible for participation.

Participants can sign up for the battery program — as well as Austin Energy’s thermostat and EV programs — through a single, streamlined microsite.

Batteries benefit both the bulk and distribution grid by delivering reliable, cost-effective peak reductions, protecting distribution assets, and helping balance supply and demand in targeted areas. EnergyHub’s cross-DER model allows batteries to operate seamlessly alongside thermostats and electric vehicles, providing additional grid value through more precise load shapes, longer-duration events, and reduced customer impact.

“Austin Energy is leading the way in building customer-centric flexibility programs that deliver critical capacity at a time when the grid is under increasing stress nationwide,” said Nathan Meadow, Strategic Client Success Manager at EnergyHub. “By managing batteries, thermostats, and EVs through a single platform, Austin Energy is scaling a multi-DER approach that maximizes benefits for both customers and the grid.”

Learn more about storage and multi-DER flexibility programs at energyhub.com. 

About EnergyHub

EnergyHub is a leading provider of clean energy software and services that unlock the full potential of distributed energy resources (DERs) for utilities, markets, and customers. With the EnergyHub Edge DERMS platform, utilities can enroll and manage DERs like thermostats, EVs, and batteries to create virtual power plants (VPPs) that deliver grid flexibility and reliability. EnergyHub helps 160+ utilities manage over 2.5M DERs and more than 3.4 GW of dispatchable flexible capacity with customer-centric programs and cross-DER optimization. To learn more, visit www.energyhub.com. Follow EnergyHub on LinkedIn and X.

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