Electricity consumers in Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie have a new option in their choice of energy providers, one that presents a unique business model for the industry.
Base Power offers its customers reduced energy bills and protection from power outages with a battery-powered home energy service, its website states. The company guarantees that its rates will always be below the market average consumption rates.
Customers who sign up with Base Power agree to allow the company to install a whole-home backup battery outside their dwelling. Customers pay a one-time fee of $3,000 for the professional installation of the 20 kWh battery, one of the largest home batteries on the market. A comparable unit typically costs the homeowner about $20,000 to purchase and install.
The installation fee can be paid upfront or over 36 months.
Base Power retains ownership and control of the battery and handles all the maintenance and any needed repairs. This allows homeowners to enjoy the benefits of a home battery backup at about one-tenth of the cost of purchasing their own whole-home battery or generator.
“The upfront cost is low because when the grid is up and running, the battery performs grid balancing: it charges when electricity is cheap and discharges when electricity is expensive. This allows the battery to pay for itself over time without the customer having to think about it. Savings are passed on to Base customers via lower monthly energy bills,” the company’s website explains.
If the Texas energy grid goes down, Base customers have exclusive access to the stored energy in their home batteries. These batteries can power their homes for six to 24 hours, depending on the household’s energy usage,
Customers who also have solar panels can expect to see extended hours of use from the battery during a power outage, as the panels will continue to charge the battery. The company will pay customers with solar panels for any excess energy production.
Base Power says its “distributed battery storage” business model is the key to unlocking an energy-abundant future.
“Our technology supports the grid during times of peak need and protects customers during outages — for a fraction of the cost of other solutions,” the website says.
Base Power says on its website that the City of Dallas has additional requirements for homeowners to work with the company. However, Base expects to have those details worked out soon to roll out its service to Dallas homeowners in early 2025.