Keep the Lights On. Get Paid for It.

A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) connects your home battery to the grid. When demand spikes, your battery helps out — and you get paid.

Comparing 15 programs across 11 states
⚡

Prevent Blackouts

$

Earn $300–1,500+/yr

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Clean Energy

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13.5 kWh
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Dominion Energy

Dominion Energy VPP Pilot

Virginia's first state-mandated VPP pilot (450MW). Dominion Energy is developing residential, commercial, and industrial programs with at least 15MW of residential battery incentives. Customers can enroll directly or through third-party aggregators. Pilot filed with the Virginia SCC.

Purchase IncentiveOngoing Earnings: ~$200/yr
Feed-in RateN/A
Est. Monthly Earningsbased on 13.5 kWh~$17/mo
Signup BonusNone
5-Year Earnings Estimate$1,000
Battery Required
Medium Flexibility
VA

Sunrun

Sunrun CalReady VPP

The nation's largest single-owner VPP with 75,000 residential batteries. Delivers up to 375 MW peak capacity. Customers earn up to $150 per battery for sharing stored solar energy, May through October.

Purchase Incentive: $150Ongoing Earnings: ~$350/yr
Feed-in RateN/A
Est. Monthly Earningsbased on 13.5 kWh~$29/mo
Signup BonusNone
5-Year Earnings Estimate$1,750
Solar RequiredBattery Required
Medium Flexibility
CA

Tesla

Tesla Electric VPP (ERCOT)

Tesla's VPP for the Texas ERCOT market. Powerwall owners in CenterPoint (Houston) and Oncor (Dallas) areas earn monthly credits by supporting the grid during peak demand. Tesla aggregates enrolled Powerwalls and bids into the ERCOT wholesale energy market.

Ongoing Earnings: ~$250/yr
Feed-in RateN/A
Est. Monthly Earningsbased on 13.5 kWh~$21/mo
Signup Bonus$0
5-Year Earnings Estimate$1,250
Battery Required
High Flexibility
TX

Tesla / GVEC

Tesla GVEC VPP

Partnership between Tesla and Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) in Texas. One of the most lucrative VPP programs in the US with a large signup incentive and strong ongoing annual payments based on Powerwall capacity.

Purchase Incentive: $2,530Ongoing Earnings: ~$862/yr
Feed-in RateN/A
Est. Monthly Earningsbased on 13.5 kWh~$84/mo
Signup Bonus$2530
5-Year Earnings Estimate$5,062.5
Battery Required
High Flexibility
TX

National Grid / Eversource

ConnectedSolutions

New England's premier VPP program offered through National Grid, Eversource, Cape Light Compact, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, and RI Energy. Pay-for-performance model pays $225–$275/kW during summer peak events. One of the highest-earning residential VPP programs in the US.

Purchase IncentiveOngoing Earnings: ~$1,500/yr
Feed-in RateN/A
Est. Monthly Earningsbased on 13.5 kWh~$309/mo
Signup BonusNone
5-Year Earnings Estimate$18,562.5
Battery Required
High Flexibility
MARICT

Tesla / SMUD

Tesla SMUD VPP

Sacramento-area Powerwall owners earn up to $5,400 upfront per Powerwall (max $10,000/household) plus $440/year ongoing per Powerwall enrolled. One of the highest-paying residential VPP programs in the US.

Ongoing Earnings: ~$450/yr
Feed-in RateN/A
Est. Monthly Earningsbased on 13.5 kWh~$38/mo
Signup Bonus$5400
5-Year Earnings Estimate$2,250
Solar RequiredBattery Required
High Flexibility
CA

+ 8 more programs. View all →

How It Works

1

Tell Us Your Setup

Enter your zip code, battery brand, and solar info.

2

Compare Programs

See VPP earnings, rebates, and compatible batteries in your area.

3

Calculate Your ROI

See when your battery pays for itself within your homeownership timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Virtual Power Plants.

A Virtual Power Plant connects thousands of home batteries into a single network. When the electricity grid needs extra power — like during a heat wave — your battery sends energy back to the grid. In return, you get paid. Think of it like Airbnb for your battery: your battery "rents out" its stored energy when demand is high.
Earnings vary by program and location. Most VPP programs offer a signup bonus ($100–$1,500) plus ongoing payments for energy exported to the grid (typically 20–80 cents per kWh during peak events). Some homeowners report earning $500–$1,000+ per year depending on their battery size and how often events occur.
Each VPP program supports specific battery brands. Tesla Powerwall is the most widely supported, but many programs also work with Enphase, Sonnen, SolarEdge, Generac, and Franklin batteries. Use our filter above to check which programs support your battery.
No. VPP programs always keep a reserve in your battery (usually 20–30%) so you still have backup power. You can also set your own preferences in most programs — for example, keeping 50% reserve if you want extra protection.
Not always. Some VPP programs require solar panels (since they help recharge your battery), but others work with standalone batteries that charge from the grid during off-peak hours. Check each program's requirements in our comparison.
Most VPP programs are free to join — you just need a compatible battery already installed. Some programs like Base Power actually install and maintain the battery for you at a low monthly cost. There are no hidden fees in most programs.
It depends on grid conditions. In most areas, VPP events happen a few times per month during peak demand (hot summer days, cold winter evenings). Each event typically lasts 1–4 hours. You'll usually get a notification before it happens.
VPP programs are expanding rapidly across the US. Currently, states like California, Texas, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and others have active programs. Use our US Map page to see which programs are available in your state.
The best battery depends on your budget and which VPP programs are available in your state. Popular choices include the Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh, ~$15,400 installed), Enphase IQ 5P (5 kWh, ~$7,500), Enphase IQ 10T (10 kWh, ~$10,000), and Sonnen Core+ (10 kWh, ~$16,000). Use our "Looking to Buy" path above to see which batteries work with VPP programs in your area and compare prices.
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under the Inflation Reduction Act lets you claim 30% of your battery installation cost as a federal tax credit. For example, a $15,000 battery would qualify for a $4,500 credit. The battery must be installed at your home and can be paired with or without solar panels. This credit significantly reduces your payback period when combined with VPP earnings.
Payback periods vary widely depending on the battery cost, available incentives, and VPP earnings. With generous programs like ConnectedSolutions (~$1,500/year) plus the 30% ITC credit, a battery can pay for itself in 3–5 years. With lower-earning programs, it may take longer. Since the average homeowner stays 5–6 years, choosing the right VPP + battery combo is key. Use our ROI calculator to see your specific payback timeline.
Purchase incentives are one-time benefits you receive when buying a new battery — like Xcel Energy's $5,000 rebate or ConnectedSolutions' 0% financing. Ongoing VPP earnings are recurring payments you receive for participating in the program, such as feed-in rates (cents per kWh), monthly payments, or seasonal bonuses. The best deals often combine both: a large upfront rebate to lower your cost, plus ongoing earnings to reach payback faster.
Interconnection is the process of officially connecting your solar panels or battery system to the local utility grid. It involves two main steps: getting Permission to Install (your installer submits engineering plans and documentation to the utility for approval) and Permission to Operate, or PTO (the utility verifies the installation, programs your meter, and gives you the green light to generate and export power). Interconnection is required because the grid is a carefully balanced system — your utility needs to confirm your equipment is safe, won't overload the grid, and meets local electrical codes. It also enables net metering so you can earn credits for excess energy. The process typically takes 3–6 weeks and costs $0–$200 (often included in your install price). Details vary by state and utility, so your installer will handle the paperwork. Systems connected without proper utility approval can be immediately disabled. If you're joining a VPP program that requires a new battery installation, interconnection is part of the setup process.