Loading NuWatt Energy...
We use your location to provide localized solar offers and incentives.
We serve MA, NH, CT, RI, ME, VT, NJ, PA, and TX
Loading NuWatt Energy...
NuWatt designs, installs, and manages solar, battery, heat pump, and EV charger systems across 9 states. One company, one warranty, one point of contact.
Get a Free QuoteThe average New England home experiences 2-4 power outages per year, with winter storms knocking out power for days. Take our 2-minute quiz to score your home and discover your specific vulnerabilities.
0-100 Score
8 Questions
Vulnerabilities
Upgrade Plan
Grid-tied solar panels shut down during outages unless paired with a battery. But solar + battery = near-unlimited backup during daylight hours.
Solar panels, battery storage, and generator ownership. Battery capacity and generator type are weighted differently based on reliability and automation.
Your heating fuel type and whether you can power it during outages. Heat pumps with battery backup score highest. Electric baseboard without backup scores lowest.
Well pumps, sump pumps, and medical equipment represent life-safety and property-protection needs. Unaddressed critical needs significantly lower your score.
Backup diversity (multiple power sources) and your self-reported outage tolerance. Having solar + battery + generator gives maximum preparedness points.
83%
of outages caused by weather
EIA data 2020-2025
7.8 hrs
average outage duration
SAIDI index, NE utilities
2-4x
per year for avg NE home
winter storms + summer heat
$150+
avg food loss per outage
fridge contents spoil in 4 hrs
A solar + battery system is the single highest-impact upgrade. It provides daily bill savings, automatic storm backup, and self-recharging capability. Most homes go from F to B with this one change.
Heat pumps use 3-4x less electricity than baseboard heaters and eliminate oil/propane delivery dependency. Battery backup lasts 3x longer when heating with a heat pump vs. baseboard.
Use our Battery Backup Planner to select exactly which circuits to protect and choose the right battery capacity. One Powerwall covers essentials. Two covers whole-home including heat pump.
The score is based on four categories: Power Backup (40 points) evaluates solar, battery, and generator status. Heating Resilience (25 points) assesses your heating source and backup capability. Critical Needs (20 points) factors in well/sump pumps and medical equipment. Preparedness (15 points) considers backup diversity and your stated tolerance. The total gives a 0-100 score with a letter grade from A to F.
A score of 75+ (B grade) means your home can handle most outages lasting 24-48 hours. A score of 90+ (A grade) means you are storm-ready with multi-day backup capability. Most homes without any backup score below 35 (D or F grade). The average American home has no backup power and would score 15-25.
Grid-tied solar systems are required by law (UL 1741 anti-islanding) to shut down during power outages to protect utility workers repairing lines. Without a battery to island your home from the grid, your solar panels produce zero watts during the exact moments you need them most.
A home battery (like Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ 5P, or Franklin aPower2) is the highest-impact single upgrade. It provides automatic, instant, silent backup power. Paired with solar panels, it can recharge daily and provide near-indefinite backup during daylight hours.
A single Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh) keeps essential circuits (fridge, lights, Wi-Fi, phone charging) running for 36-48 hours. With a heat pump running, that drops to 12-20 hours. Adding solar extends this significantly — in summer, a solar + battery system can run essential loads indefinitely.
Batteries are superior for most homeowners. They start instantly (no delay), produce no carbon monoxide, require no fuel, operate silently, work indoors, and pair with solar for recharging. Generators require manual starting (portable types), fuel storage and refueling, outdoor placement, and produce noise and fumes. The main advantage of a standby natural gas generator is unlimited fuel supply from the gas line.
Significantly. All modern heating systems require electricity — even gas and oil furnaces need electric blowers and control boards. Electric baseboard heat draws enormous power (4,000-8,000W) and will drain a battery quickly. Heat pumps are the most efficient option, drawing only 800-2,000W for the same heating output, making them ideal for battery backup.
Medical equipment (CPAP, oxygen concentrators, home dialysis, refrigerated medications) is a life-safety issue during outages. A whole-home battery provides instant, seamless failover with zero interruption — unlike generators which have startup delays. If you have medical equipment, a battery backup system is not optional, it is essential.