The Eversource ConnectedSolutions program - Eversource bets on smarter home batteries

The Eversource ConnectedSolutions program starts in the living room, where a Tesla Powerwall hums quietly next to the washing machine while the window glass vibrates slightly from an approaching summer storm. When the grid peaks, Eversource quietly taps that stored energy, and the homeowner gets a credit on the bill.

How ConnectedSolutions works

ConnectedSolutions is Eversource Energy's demand response program that links residential and commercial battery storage systems to the regional electricity grid in New England. Homeowners and businesses agree that Eversource can dispatch their enrolled batteries during so-called "peak events" when demand spikes and prices rise. During those events, the battery discharges to support the grid, and participants earn incentives based on the energy delivered.

According to Eversource, the program is available in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, with specific terms set by each state's regulators. For residential customers in Massachusetts, typical technology partners include Tesla, Enphase, Sonnen and other battery manufacturers approved by Eversource. The program runs seasonally, focusing on the summer peak season, and dispatch events are limited in duration so that customers retain enough backup power.

Incentives and savings for households

In the Massachusetts ConnectedSolutions battery program, residential customers can earn performance-based incentives that are calculated in dollars per kilowatt (kW) of average power provided during peak events. Eversource's published schedules show that customers with a 10 kWh home battery can earn several hundred dollars per year if they participate fully in the program. That incentive sits on top of the usual bill savings from self-consumption of solar energy and backup power during outages.

Program materials describe a typical dispatch window of a few hours on very hot or very cold days when the regional grid is under strain. Participants receive notifications in advance via their battery app or email. The battery is then automatically controlled by the manufacturer or aggregator according to Eversource's signal, so customers do not have to manually operate anything during an event.

From pilot to portfolio product

Eversource first rolled out ConnectedSolutions in Massachusetts as a way to integrate behind-the-meter battery storage into its demand response portfolio. Over time, the program has expanded to include more device types and to serve both residential and small business customers. On Eversource's website, the battery program has a dedicated subpage that outlines eligibility, approved vendors and enrollment steps.

Residential customers typically enroll through their battery provider, which acts as an aggregator and interface between Eversource and the individual devices. Companies like Tesla and Sonnen bundle the ConnectedSolutions option into their sales process, so that the homeowner signs a single agreement that covers installation, maintenance and grid participation. That makes the program more accessible than traditional utility demand response schemes that relied on separate hardware like smart thermostats.

Grid benefits and regulatory backing

Eversource describes ConnectedSolutions as a way to reduce peak demand and defer investment in expensive new peaking power plants. By drawing energy from thousands of distributed batteries during critical hours, the utility can lower its procurement costs from the wholesale market. That mechanism has been recognized by regulators like the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, which approved tariffs that include battery performance incentives.

ISO New England, the regional transmission organization, has also created market rules that allow aggregated demand response and storage resources to participate in capacity and energy markets. That market design supports the economic case for programs like ConnectedSolutions, because Eversource can monetize the aggregated battery fleet in wholesale markets while sharing some of the revenue with participants.

Voices from Eversource's leadership

In public statements on clean energy strategy, Eversource Energy CEO Joe Nolan has emphasized the importance of distributed energy resources, including customer-sited batteries, for meeting regional climate goals. He often points to programs like ConnectedSolutions as evidence that the company is moving beyond the traditional wires-and-meters model toward a more flexible grid.

Nolan has also framed demand response and storage as a reliability tool, arguing that extreme heat waves and storms make it more important to have fast-responding resources that can support the grid without building new fossil fuel peakers. That narrative aligns with state energy and climate policies in Massachusetts and Connecticut, which call for reducing emissions from the power sector while maintaining reliability.

Customer experience: noise, light, control

From the customer's perspective, a ConnectedSolutions dispatch often feels like nothing at all. The battery inverter emits a gentle whir as it ramps up, and the green status light on the wall unit may blink a little faster, but household power stays on smoothly. Many participants notice the event only when they later check the app and see a spike in discharge during the peak window.

Program documentation stresses that customers retain control over backup power settings. If a homeowner is worried about an approaching storm, they can set a higher reserve level in their battery app so that only part of the stored energy is available for grid dispatch. That balancing act between personal resilience and system needs is one of the core design questions for modern demand response programs.

Technology partners and approved devices

Eversource's ConnectedSolutions battery program uses a roster of approved devices and technology partners, which typically includes major residential battery brands. Each partner must demonstrate that its hardware and software can respond to utility signals, provide accurate metering data and respect customer settings. The list is updated periodically as new products reach the market or as existing ones receive firmware updates that change their capabilities.

For installers and developers, the program provides a predictable revenue stream to support the business case for battery projects. Incentive payments from ConnectedSolutions can be factored into project finance models, making batteries more attractive compared to solar-only installations. That push has contributed to a noticeable increase in residential battery marketing in New England over recent years.

Business customers and larger systems

ConnectedSolutions is not limited to single-family homes. Eversource also offers a commercial and industrial track that covers larger battery systems installed at businesses, schools or municipal facilities. Those installations can deliver more power during events and therefore earn higher incentive payments, but they also have to meet stricter technical requirements.

Commercial participants often work through energy service companies or aggregators that bundle multiple sites into a single resource for Eversource. That aggregation allows the utility to dispatch a large portfolio with a single signal, simplifying operations. It also creates a channel for businesses that may not want to handle the complexity of direct enrollment in a utility program.

Regulatory documents and performance data

Regulatory filings in Massachusetts and Connecticut provide detailed data on ConnectedSolutions performance. These documents, published by public utility commissions, list the number of participants, total enrolled capacity and actual dispatch performance over each season. They show that the program has grown from a pilot scale to a meaningful resource in Eversource's demand-side portfolio.

ISO New England market reports complement that picture by showing the aggregated impact of demand response and storage on peak days. During some extreme events, distributed resources including ConnectedSolutions batteries have contributed dozens of megawatts of load reduction, helping to stabilize prices and avoid emergency measures.

Risk, control and contract terms

Customer contracts for ConnectedSolutions typically run over several years, reflecting the long-term nature of battery investments. Participants commit to allow dispatch during specified windows, and in return they receive performance-based payments. The documents also spell out what happens if the battery is offline or underperforms, with formulas that reduce payments accordingly.

For Eversource, these terms provide predictability. The utility can plan its demand response portfolio knowing roughly how much capacity will be available and how often it can be called. That planning feeds into integrated resource plans and rate cases, which in turn matter for investors looking at the Eversource Energy stock.

Comparison with other utility programs

Compared to classic demand response programs based on air conditioning cycling or smart thermostats, ConnectedSolutions offers more precise control and measurement. Batteries can respond in seconds, deliver a defined power profile and report detailed data back to the utility. That makes the resource more valuable for fine-tuning grid operations and participating in wholesale markets.

Other utilities in the region, such as National Grid in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, run similar battery incentive programs with performance payments. From a customer perspective, the choice often comes down to which utility serves their territory and which program their installer prefers. From a broader system view, the proliferation of such programs signals a shift toward more active management of demand and distributed storage.

Long-term outlook and investor angle

Looking ahead, Eversource and regulators are exploring how programs like ConnectedSolutions could be expanded or modified to handle higher penetration of electric vehicles and heat pumps. Both technologies add load, but they also bring flexible demand that could be shaped through tariffs and incentives. Batteries, whether stationary or in vehicles, fit naturally into that picture.

For investors, ConnectedSolutions is one line item in a broader strategy to manage peak demand, integrate distributed resources and meet policy goals. The Eversource Energy share is listed on the New York Stock Exchange in US dollars, and the program contributes to the company's narrative as a regulated utility that is adapting its business model without abandoning its core grid role.

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