The Eversource ConnectedSolutions program. Battery owners earn cash for grid support

The Eversource ConnectedSolutions program starts getting real the moment the hum of your home battery inverter deepens on a hot evening and the air outside feels heavy. Instead of just sitting there as backup, that battery suddenly works for the grid and for your wallet.

How ConnectedSolutions actually works

ConnectedSolutions is Eversource's demand response program that links residential and small business batteries to the regional grid and pays owners for discharging during peak events. Customers enroll compatible devices such as Tesla Powerwall, Enphase or Generac systems through partner apps.

When ISO New England or local conditions signal a high demand period, Eversource sends an event signal and participating batteries automatically discharge to reduce the owner's grid consumption or even export energy. Each event typically lasts two to three hours on sweltering summer afternoons or icy winter evenings.

Payouts, seasons and limits

Program manager Kate Peters has explained in public information sessions that customers earn incentive payments based on average kilowatt performance across events, not just a single best day. In Massachusetts, ConnectedSolutions sets seasonal performance targets and offers incentive rates per kilowatt per summer or winter season.

For residential customers with a fully dedicated battery, the summer incentive can reach around 225 dollars per kilowatt of average contribution, while winter incentives are lower but still material. The battery typically discharges up to about 80 percent depth to protect the owner's backup reserve and hardware.

Hardware partners and integration

Eversource does not sell batteries itself; instead ConnectedSolutions integrates with several manufacturers' products through software APIs and aggregator platforms. Tesla, Generac, Sonnen and Enphase all promote eligibility for Eversource's program in their regional marketing materials and technical documents.

During enrollment, the customer links their battery account to ConnectedSolutions via a consent screen that authorizes limited control during demand response events. The status lights on the battery cabinet may shift from a calm glow to brighter activity as discharge ramps up, giving a subtle visual cue that the grid call is on.

Grid impact and regional strategy

Eversource executives including CEO Joe Nolan emphasize demand response and distributed energy resources as key tools to avoid building expensive new peaker plants. ConnectedSolutions aggregates thousands of small batteries into a virtual power plant that can deliver tens of megawatts of flexible capacity in New England.

This approach helps stabilize wholesale prices during extreme weather, lowers strain on transformers and lines, and can cut emissions by displacing older fossil units that would otherwise run at peak times. Regulators in states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut encourage such programs through performance-based incentives and cost recovery frameworks.

Customer experience and risks

From the customer's perspective, the main trade-off is letting a utility influence when the battery charges and discharges within predefined limits. The smartphone app usually shows upcoming events and historical performance, so owners can see how much energy flowed and how much they earned.

Participants must accept that on some sticky August evening, the battery may discharge more than they expect, leaving somewhat less backup energy if a local outage hits right afterward. Eversource and device makers mitigate that risk by allowing a user-defined minimum reserve level that stays untouched.

Financial relevance for Eversource

For Eversource Energy, ConnectedSolutions is not a standalone product line with its own line item in quarterly reports, but it feeds into a broader strategy of non-wires alternatives and grid modernization capital plans. By deferring or resizing network upgrades, the program can improve the utility's long-term cost profile while supporting regulated returns.

On the New York Stock Exchange, the Eversource Energy share (ISIN US30040W1080) gives investors exposure to this demand response and distributed energy ecosystem alongside the company's traditional electric and gas operations.