Hundreds more Vermonters will be able to add home battery backup power

Hundreds more Vermonters will be able to add home battery backup power after state regulators agreed to lift a cap on the program. The Public Utility Commission released a ruling Thursday that the cap on the number of home batteries has been lifted. For several years, Green Mountain Power has been deploying Tesla Powerwalls so customers can store energy at home to use during power outages, which have become more common in recent years. Depending on type, usage and solar panel presence, batteries can run for days and last for over a decade. If customers opt to share their stored energy during peak energy periods like heat waves, they can receive a monetary incentive. GMP hopes the expansion will breed greater resilience in the face of climate change. GMP says customers on the waitlist should contact their local installers to get the ball rolling and interested customers can visit their website to learn more.