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Storage Rewards Pilot Program
Earn Money with Your Home Battery
Get more value from your home battery. With the five-year APS Storage Rewards pilot program, you can earn bill credits when your battery shares stored energy during times of high demand.
It's an easy way to earn rewards from your battery while supporting a reliable energy grid.
How It Works
From May 1 through October 31, up to 60 conservation days may be scheduled each season. Conservation hours typically occur when energy demand is high, may last one to four hours, and can take place on weekdays, weekends or holidays between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Before conservation hours begin:
You'll receive advance notice by email, text or your battery manufacturer's app so you can make sure your battery is charged.
Please note: Some battery manufacturers, like Tesla, may reserve your battery's stored energy, making it unavailable during on-peak hours leading up to conservation hours.
During conservation hours:
Your battery manufacturer will signal your battery to release stored energy to your home first. Any extra energy is sent back to the grid.
Participation is always up to you:
You can opt out of conservation hours at any time without leaving the program.
How you earn bill credits
The more energy your battery provides during conservation hours, the more bill credits you can earn.
- Earn $110 per average kW your battery provides throughout the season.
- Your bill credits are based on your battery's average performance during conservation hours.
- Participate in all conservation hours to earn the most bill credits.
See what you could earn
| Average energy your battery provides during the season | Bill credit | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | $110 | ||
| 2 kW | $220 | ||
| 3 kW | $330 | ||
| 4 kW | $440 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I Eligible?
Am I eligible? You may be eligible if you:
- Have an approved battery storage system that is not enrolled in another battery management program
- Are on an APS residential rate plan
- Have received Permission to Operate (PTO) from us for your battery system
Before enrolling, review your current rate plan.
Is my battery system eligible?
The battery manufacturers and models listed below are currently eligible to participate. You can contact your installer to find out if they install one of the supported inverters. These inverters help your battery participate when conservation hours are called. Don't see your battery or inverter listed? Join our interest list to be notified if your battery manufacturer is added to the pilot in the future.
| Manufacturer | Eligible Inverters | Eligible Batteries |
|---|---|---|
| Emporia | SolaX Xpower (10kWh, 15kWh, 20kWh, 30kWh, 40kWh, 45kWh, 60kWh, 80kWh) | SolaX Xpower (10kWh, 15kWh, 20kWh, 30kWh, 40kWh, 45kWh, 60kWh, 80kWh) |
| Enphase | Paired with 10T, 10, 3T, 3 and IQ8, IQ7, MC4 microinverters | IQ Battery |
| Fortress Power | eSpire Mini, eSpire 233, eSpire 280 (include battery and inverter) Envy Inverter | eSpire Mini, eSpire 233, eSpire 280 (include battery and inverter); LFP-10 Max, eVault Max 18.5kWh, eFlex 5.4 (need to be paired with Envy inverter) |
| Franklin WH | Franklin Home Power aPower X (battery & inverter) | Franklin Home Power aPower X (battery & inverter) |
| SolarEdge | SolarEdge Inverters | SolarEdge and LG Batteries |
| Tesla (2) | All solar inverters | Tesla Powerwall 3 (1), Tesla Powerwall 2 (1), Tesla Powerwall+(1) |
(1) Tesla Powerwall has internal inverter.
(2) Only Tesla batteries connected directly to Tesla are eligible. Tesla battery systems managed by other software are not eligible at this time.
Please contact your battery vendor or installer for more information on which inverter and battery models are best suited for your system.
Is my battery system eligible?
The battery manufacturers and models listed below are currently eligible to participate. You can contact your installer to find out if they install one of the supported inverters. These inverters help your battery participate when conservation hours are called. Don't see your battery or inverter listed? Join our interest list to be notified if your battery manufacturer is added to the pilot in the future.
| Emporia |
| Eligible Inverters: SolaX Xpower (10kWh, 15kWh, 20kWh, 30kWh, 40kWh, 45kWh, 60kWh, 80kWh) |
| Eligible Batteries: SolaX Xpower (10kWh, 15kWh, 20kWh, 30kWh, 40kWh, 45kWh, 60kWh, 80kWh) |
| Enphase |
| Eligible Inverters: 10T, 10, 3T, 3 and IQ8, IQ7, MC4 microinverters |
| Eligible Batteries: IQ Battery |
| Fortress Power |
| Eligible Inverters: eSpire Mini, eSpire 233, eSpire 280 (include battery and inverter) Envy Inverter |
| Eligible Batteries: eSpire Mini, eSpire 233, eSpire 280 (include battery and inverter) LFP-10 Max, eVault Max 18.5kWh, eFlex 5.4 (need to be paired with Envy inverter) |
| Franklin WH |
| Eligible Inverters: Franklin Home Power aPower X (battery & inverter) |
| Eligible Batteries: Franklin Home Power aPower X (battery & inverter) |
| SolarEdge |
| Eligible Inverters: SolarEdge Inverters |
| Eligible Batteries: SolarEdge and LG Batteries |
| Tesla (2) |
| Eligible Inverters: All solar inverters |
| Eligible Batteries:Tesla Powerwall 3 (1), Tesla Powerwall 2 (1), Tesla Powerwall+(1) *Tesla Powerwall has internal inverter |
(1) Tesla Powerwall has internal inverter.
(2) Only Tesla batteries connected directly to Tesla are eligible. Tesla battery systems managed by other software are not eligible at this time.
Please contact your battery vendor or installer for more information on which inverter and battery models are best suited for your system.
Can I participate if I have a battery but no solar?
Yes. Customers with an eligible battery storage system can participate, even if they do not have solar.
Can I participate if my battery is leased?
Leased battery systems may be eligible if they are compatible with the program. Participation may also depend on the terms of your lease agreement.
Is this program right for me?
This program may be a good fit if you:
- Can manage your energy use without relying on your battery during higher-cost on-peak hours
- Can shift major appliance use to off-peak hours or stagger usage during higher-cost on-peak hours
- Enjoy energy-saving technology
This program may not be the best fit if you:
- Regularly rely on your battery during higher-cost on-peak hours
- Are on a time-of-use rate plan and do not adjust your energy use based on on-peak and off-peak hours
How will my battery operate during conservation hours?
Battery performance varies by manufacturer and system configuration.
Battery manufacturers may handle stored energy differently during conservation hours. For example, some manufacturers, such as Tesla, reserve battery energy until conservation hours begin. In these cases, stored energy may not be available for use during on-peak hours if conservation hours occur later in the day.
If you have questions about how your battery operates during conservation hours, contact your battery manufacturer.
How is payment calculated?
You’ll earn $110 for each average kW your battery provides throughout the season.
Here are a few examples of how compensation works based on battery system performance. For example, if your battery delivers an average of 2.11kW across all conservation hours, you would earn $232.10 at the end of the season.
If your battery contributed 4.14kW during conservation hours on the first day and you skipped the second, your average battery performance would be 2.07kW across the two conservation days, earning you $227.70.
| Customer | Day 1 | Day 2 | Average kW discharged | Bill Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer 1 | 0.96kW discharged | 3.25kW discharged | 2.11kW | 2.11kW x $110 = $232.10 |
| Customer 2 | 0.98kW discharged | 1kW discharged | .99kW | 0.99kW x $110 = $108.90 |
| Customer 3 | 4.14kW discharged | 0kW discharged (opted out of event) | 2.07kW | 2.07kW X $110 = $227.70 |
| Customer 1 | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | 0.96kW discharged |
| Day 2 | 3.25kW discharged |
| Average kW discharged | 2.11kW |
| Bill Credit | 2.11kW x $110 = $232.10 |
| Customer 2 | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | 0.98kW discharged |
| Day 2 | 1kW discharged |
| Average kW discharged | .99kW |
| Bill Credit | 0.99kW x $110 = $108.90 |
| Customer 3 | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | 4.14kW discharged |
| Day 2 | 0kW discharged (opted out of event) |
| Average kW discharged | 2.07kW |
| Bill Credit | 2.07kW X $110 = $227.70 |
How can I make sure I have backup power if I need it?
Your battery won't be fully drained during conservation hours.
If you'd like to keep more energy available for backup power, you have options:
- Reserve energy for backup power: Many battery manufacturers let you choose how much energy stays in your battery instead of being shared during conservation hours
- Opt out at any time: Participation in conservation hours is always optional
Please keep in mind that reserving more energy for backup power may reduce the bill credits you earn.
If you'd prefer not to recharge your battery from the grid after conservation hours end, set your reserve level at or above your normal reserve level. This helps ensure your battery maintains the amount of energy you've set aside for backup power.
Contact your battery manufacturer if you need help adjusting your settings.
Does my battery need an internet connection?
Yes. An internet connection allows your battery manufacturer to communicate with your battery system during conservation hours.
If your battery cannot be reached or is unable to release stored energy during conservation hours (due to a maintenance issue), your rewards will be affected.
How do I opt out of conservation hours?
You can opt out of conservation hours through your battery manufacturer. Keep in mind that conservation hours you opt out of count as 0 kW when your seasonal average is calculated, which may lower your bill credit. Opting out does not remove you from the program.
Battery manufacturer opt-out methods:
- Emporia: Change the battery mode in the Emporia app under the Battery Control page.
- Enphase: Opt out in the Enphase app through the Grid Services dashboard.
- Fortress Power: Opt out in the Fortress Power app or by responding to the notification email. You can opt out before or during conservation hours.
- FranklinWH: Opt out in the FranklinWH app by toggling the Participate in Event button under event details. You can opt out before or during conservation hours.
- SolarEdge: Use the opt-out link provided in the notification email. You can opt out up to 5 minutes before conservation hours begin.
- Tesla: Opt out in the Tesla app by toggling the Virtual Power Plant button under event details.
If you need assistance, please contact your battery manufacturer.
When and how will I receive my rewards?
At the end of the season, your rewards will be applied to your APS bill as a bill credit labeled BYOD Storage Rewards. The bill credit is typically applied within one to two billing cycles after October 31, once your battery's performance has been confirmed.
If your bill credit is more than your APS bill, the remaining balance will roll over to next month.
What if I no longer want to participate in the program?
You can leave the program at any time by emailing apsstoragerewards@energyhub.com.
Please note: If you have a Tesla battery, it may take up to one week for your device to be removed from the program. During that time, your battery may still participate in conservation hours if any are scheduled.
Who should I contact with questions?
- Battery questions: Contact your battery manufacturer.
- Enrollment questions: Email apsstoragerewards@energyhub.com.
- Other questions: Email storagerewards@aps.com.
