Flex Batteries
Do you own a compatible home battery storage solution? You can get rewarded for participating in Flex events – periods of high-energy use which can cause stress on the grid. With the Flex Batteries program, you can earn rewards automatically while helping to ensure stable energy for the community. Plus, you'll have peace of mind with backup power for your home if an outage occurs.
Enroll and get $1,000 per battery, plus up to $500 per year!
Enrollment is available to residential electric customers with an eligible battery system connected to PSE's grid.
Want to install a battery?
Request a list of PSE Recommended Energy Professionals (REPs) who can help you with solar and battery options for your home.
Here's how your participation benefits you and your community:
- Earn money: Enroll in Flex Batteries and earn $1,000 per battery, plus up to $500 per year with no action required.
- Help the environment: When paired with solar, batteries can help further reduce your environmental impact.
- Support your community’s energy stability: Batteries can help take strain off the energy grid during high-energy use periods and create a more stable energy system.
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Already have a battery?
Enrollment is currently accepted from the following battery manufacturers:
To participate in the program, your battery must be connected to PSE’s grid. If your battery is paired with solar, learn more about interconnecting with PSE on PSE’s Customer Connected Solar page. If you have a storage-only battery system, learn more about interconnecting on PSE’s Distributed Renewables page.
You can download a detailed list of the current eligible systems here.
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Don’t have a battery yet?
If you’re interested in installing a battery, PSE Recommended Energy Professionals (REPs) can assist you in purchasing and installing an eligible battery. Once your battery is installed, interconnected with PSE, and online, you can enroll in Flex Batteries to start participating in events and earning rewards.
Refer to our FAQ below for specific model eligibility and a summary of the steps to successfully install an eligible battery.
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What are the incentives?
After enrolling in Flex Batteries, you'll receive a one-time incentive check for $1,000 (per battery). Additionally, you can earn up to $500 annually for each year you remain enrolled via an e-gift card with the option to redeem at a wide variety of retailers.
PSE may then call on your batteries during Flex events, but no additional action or change in energy use is required from you. Flex events can occur up to 30 times in summer (May – September) and 30 times in winter (November – March). Devices will never be discharged less than 20% of the battery’s capacity.
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Enhanced incentives
PSE also offers limited upfront incentives to increase equitable adoption of batteries. These enhanced incentives are for customers experiencing reliability issues and customers experiencing disproportionate and compounding risk due to limited income, lack of access to food and health care, linguistic and social isolation, disability, etc.
Flex Batteries FAQs
Program details
How will I be compensated and how much can I expect to earn?
All enrollees in Flex Batteries will receive
- A one-time enrollment incentive of $1,000 (per battery) by check
- An annual participation incentive of $500 in a form of an e-gift card with options to a wide variety of major retailers. Participants can track progress toward meeting performance requirements for the annual incentive in their FlexSaver account.
When do I receive my enrollment incentive?
You will receive your enrollment reward in the form of a check within 4-6 weeks after enrollment and receiving a completed W9. Then, at the end of the summer season, you will also receive payment in the form of an e-gift card for participating in Flex events.
How do I enter to win the $250 gift card?
Participants who enroll are automatically entered to win one of two $250 gift cards. Giveaways will be drawn each month during the summer season (May 1 through September 30) and winter season (November 1 through March 31).
After I enroll, where can I receive support?
Flex Batteries is administered on behalf of PSE by AutoGrid, overseeing program implementation, payment processing, and customer support. Enrolled customers can manage their accounts through the FlexSaver portal provided by AutoGrid. For the fastest assistance, you can contact AutoGrid's customer support directly at flex@pse.com or by calling 1-888-292-0502.
What is an AMI meter?
Enrolling your battery requires that your home be equipped with AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), the current standard for metering technology that facilitates two-way communication between meters and PSE. As part of PSE’s Meter Upgrade Project, nearly 2 million meters in our service area were upgraded to AMI between 2018 and 2023. For more information, please visit the Meter Upgrade Project.
Battery Enrollment
Does my battery system qualify?
Enrollment in Flex Batteries is currently accepted from:
You can download a detailed list of the current eligible systems here. If you have a question about your battery equipment eligibility, please contact the Flex Batteries team at flex@pse.com.
PSE is actively seeking more battery manufacturer partners and more options might be available in the future. PSE will update this webpage as more eligible battery manufactures become available.
How do I participate in Flex Batteries?
To participate in the program, your battery must be connected to PSE’s grid. If your battery is paired with solar, learn more about interconnecting with PSE on PSE’s Customer Connected Solar page. If you have a storage-only battery system, learn more about interconnecting on PSE’s Distributed Renewables page.
If you don’t already have a battery installed, start by installing an eligible battery.
1. Contact an installer
- Find a PSE Recommended Energy Professional who will help you with installing your battery
- Your installer will work with you to purchase an eligible battery
- Your installer will also help you apply for any applicable incentives
2. Install and interconnect your battery system
- Your installer will work with you to install and interconnect your battery
- Once your battery is fully installed, has an interconnection agreement with PSE, and is online, you will be able to enroll in Flex Batteries
3. Enroll your battery and begin to participate in events and earn rewards
If you already have a battery installed
Enroll your compatible battery.
Is it possible to enroll multiple batteries in the program?
Yes, if your household has multiple eligible batteries, you can receive an enrollment reward for each of them.
Would there be any reason why my enrollment request would be declined?
Your enrollment request might be denied for a few reasons, including:
- If inaccurate customer or account information is provided during the sign-up process.
- You don’t have an electric account with PSE.
- You don’t have an AMI meter at your home.
- Your equipment is not eligible. If you have a question about your battery equipment, please contact the Flex Batteries team at flex@pse.com.
- Your battery system is not interconnected. If your battery system is not interconnected or does not have permission to operate, please contact PSE at der@pse.com.
If you need additional assistance signing up, you can always call our toll-free help line 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1-888-292-0502 or email flex@pse.com.
Can I participate in Time-of-Use and enroll my battery?
A battery customer may not participate in Time-of-Use at this time due to billing complexities. We are working to change this in the future. Learn more.
Can I participate in net metering and enroll my battery?
Yes. For information and resources to learn more about installing solar at your home, please visit Customer Connected Solar.
Can I enroll in Flex Batteries and other PSE Flex programs?
Yes. You can enroll other qualified smart devices in PSE Flex Smart and Flex EV.
However, if you are signed up for Flex Rewards already, you will need to unenroll to participate in Flex Batteries.
How do I unenroll from Flex Batteries?
If you would like to remove your battery from Flex Batteries and no longer participate in events, please contact flex@pse.com.
Flex events
What is a Flex event and why does it occur?
Our experts can predict periods with heightened demand for electricity based on a range of different criteria, which we call “Flex events.” For example, a Flex event might occur on a day with weather hotter or colder than normal, when we tend to use more energy to heat and cool our homes and businesses.
With collective action from the community, we can prevent spikes in energy usage that strain the grid and ensure there is enough energy to go around.
What happens during a Flex event?
When PSE schedules an event, your device might receive an automatic command to charge up from your solar or from the grid ahead of the event. When the Flex event starts, your battery system will automatically start to discharge over the duration of the event. You do not need to do or change anything to participate in the event.
If your home or neighborhood is currently experiencing an outage such that your battery is already discharging to back up your home, your battery will automatically be excluded from the scheduled Flex event
How will PSE adjust my battery during the Flex event?
Through AutoGrid’s integrations with the participating manufacturers, PSE can schedule events that send automatic commands to the participating devices. These commands take into account the current status of the device, including state of charge. Devices will never be discharged less than 20% of the battery’s capacity.
When could a Flex event occur and how often?
Flex events will only occur during the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will never take place on holidays (see list below).
- Winter events can occur from November 1 to March 31
- Summer events can occur from May 1 to September 30.
- PSE may call upon your battery up to 30 times per season.
Holidays:
- New Years
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
Do I have to do anything during a Flex event?
No, events are structured such that the battery response is automatic and you do not need to do anything.
Will I get notified of a Flex event?
By default, you will not receive a notification of your battery’s participation during a Flex event from AutoGrid or PSE. However, you may receive a notification from your battery manufacturer, depending on your battery setting.
If you would like to receive a notification from PSE, please contact AutoGrid’s customer support directly at Flex@pse.com or by calling 1-888-292-0502.
Can I opt out of a Flex Event?
By default, you will not have the option to opt out of a Flex event. However, you may opt out of events as supported by the device manufacturer.
Interconnection and Billing
How does Flex Batteries work with net metering?
If you have solar panels and a qualifying battery, you can participate in both Flex Batteries and PSE Net Metering. The combination solar and battery system will need to be approved through our interconnection process. Then, through net metering, you can use or store the solar power you generate. At times when your solar panels generate more power than you can use or store, the excess energy will be sent to PSE's grid and you'll receive net metering credit. Learn more.
I am interested in installing a storage-only system. Can I still participate in Flex Batteries?
Yes, you can still participate in Flex Batteries with a storage-only system as long as it is an eligible system and is interconnected to PSE’s grid. When your battery sends energy back to the grid during events, your meter tracks this contribution, and PSE credits it back to your monthly bill. This ensures that you are not billed twice for the same energy—once for using it and again for sending it back during events.
If you're installing a storage-only system and want to participate in the Flex Batteries program, the installation process is similar to Net Metering, and you'll still need to work with an installer and apply for interconnection. Visit PSE’s Distributed Renewables page to get started.
I am installing a storage-only system, but not participating in Flex Batteries. What should I do?
If you’re installing a storage-only system for back-up power only and not interconnected to PSE’s grid, PSE offers installation guidelines.
If you’re installing a battery that is not interconnected to PSE grid, we strongly encourage installers and our customers to report their standalone battery installations throughout our service area by filling out and submitting this online notification form.
By sharing your information, you’ll help PSE properly manage the services that we provide to all customers on our grid. You will also help us evaluate further opportunities to support customers’ battery storage installations.
If you are planning to operate your storage-only system in parallel with PSE's grid (e.g., if your battery can provide energy to your load at the same time as the grid), then PSE requires that you have an interconnection agreement. Learn more about interconnecting at a storage-only system on PSE’s Distributed Renewables page.
Other Questions
Is there financial help available for installing batteries?
Yes, the Federal Investment Tax Credit may apply to your installation. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes a 30 percent Investment Tax Credits for both standalone battery storage systems and solar plus battery systems. This includes systems installed in 2022 and will be available through the end of 2032. We encourage you to consult with a tax professional to fully understand the tax credit eligibility requirements. Learn more.
Many solar installers can help you access financing through a local credit union or other financial institution and explain how that impacts the cost, benefits and estimated return on investment from your installation.
Are the enrollment and participation rewards taxable?
Incentives for enrolling and participating in the programs are considered taxable income. As such, AutoGrid will collect W-9s from all participants before processing incentives so that AutoGrid has the necessary information to issue 1099 forms in January. The tax implications for each participant will depend on individual circumstances and we recommend you discuss with your tax professional.
W-9 forms will be stored securely with restricted access and used only for the purpose of issuing the 1099 forms.
I am an installer. How can I learn more?
Find resources and guidelines for contractors and installers on PSE’s Customer Connected Solar page.
What else is PSE doing around battery storage?
PSE is working on battery storage in a variety of local scenarios to determine the best ways they can potentially enhance the grid and meet our customers’ unique energy needs. Learn more.
Have questions not answered here?
You can find answers to additional frequently asked questions related to battery storage technologies on our Battery Storage FAQ page.
Still have questions? Please contact our Energy Advisors.
The Flex Batteries program is administered on behalf of PSE by AutoGrid.
For the fastest assistance, contact AutoGrid’s customer support at flex@pse.com or by calling 1-888-292-0502
Already enrolled? Access the FlexSaver portal to review earnings and adjust settings. New users can sign up now.
Have questions about PSE’s Flex Batteries program and how to get started? Energy Advisors are here to help.