Sacramento Municipal Utility recently rolled out a new battery storage incentive program. This program is squarely aimed at, and highlights the mutual benefit of, the potential in residential energy storage.
Utility incentives are a great form of engagement between customers and utilities yet, few have bridged the gap on energy storage. While solar net metering programs are suffering from several points of conflict, battery storage incentive programs can offer a "fresh start" and build relationships that cross the customer boundary.
Utilities can benefit from distributed storage resources to help manage distribution load and nodal peaking issues and by valuing that benefit, customers can be motivated to supply that service, for a nominal fee, retain battery for backup-needs, and collect an incentive upon purchase. If a customer wants to add solar, the battery can be included under most circumstances in the tax credit.
There are several variable rate structures which can accomplish this goal. If those programs are effectively managed and communicated, and remain elective, you can avoid many of the arguments for and against other programs such as net metering.
