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Get paid by Rhode Island Energy for grid support during peak demand events. Your battery earns up to $2,750/year (10 kW battery) while keeping your backup power fully protected.
Stack with the REF $2,000 battery adder to reduce upfront costs. Add solar for REG program income and net metering credits.
ConnectedSolutions is Rhode Island's demand response program where home battery owners earn money by discharging their battery to the grid during peak demand events. Instead of firing up expensive "peaker" power plants on hot summer afternoons or cold winter evenings, Rhode Island Energy pays you to share your stored energy.
Administered by Rhode Island Energy (the single investor-owned utility serving ~95% of RI customers), the program pays you based on your battery's enrolled capacity in kilowatts (kW). You keep a backup reserve for outages, and events are capped at roughly 60 hours per year.
Rhode Island is one of the smallest states but has some of the highest electric rates in the country (~$0.29/kWh). That makes battery storage and demand response especially valuable here.
Summer Rate
$225
per kW (Jun–Sep)
Winter Rate
$50
per kW (Dec–Mar)
Max Events
~60
hours per year
REF Battery Adder
$2,000
upfront rebate
Your ConnectedSolutions earnings depend on your battery's power capacity (kW). Rhode Island has a single utility (Rhode Island Energy) with uniform rates statewide.
| Battery Size | Example | Summer $225/kW | Winter $50/kW | Total/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | Enphase IQ 5P | $1,125 | $250 | $1,375/yr |
| 10 kW | Tesla Powerwall 3 | $2,250 | $500 | $2,750/yr |
| 13.5 kW | Tesla Powerwall 2 | $3,038 | $675 | $3,713/yr |
| 20 kW | 2x Tesla Powerwall 3 | $4,500 | $1,000 | $5,500/yr |
Revenue assumes full participation in all called events. Actual earnings may vary based on dispatch performance and number of events called per season. Summer season generates ~80% of annual revenue.
The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund (REF) offers a $2,000 battery adder on top of the standard $0.65/W solar rebate (max $5,000). This means you can receive up to $7,000 total in REF incentives when you install solar plus battery storage.
The battery adder is separate from ConnectedSolutions revenue. You get the $2,000 upfront rebate AND ongoing annual demand response payments. They stack completely.
REF operates on a grant round basis (Spring, Summer, Fall). You must apply through Commerce RI before installation begins. Check our REF Rebate Guide for current round dates and application details.
10 kW battery installed in RI
Have a ConnectedSolutions-eligible battery installed by a participating installer. Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, SolarEdge, Generac, and sonnen all qualify.
Enroll in ConnectedSolutions through Rhode Island Energy. Your installer typically submits the enrollment paperwork on your behalf.
During peak demand events (hot summer afternoons, cold winter evenings), your battery automatically discharges to the grid while your backup reserve stays intact.
Earn $225/kW for summer events and $50/kW for winter events. A 10 kW battery earns $2,250 + $500 = $2,750/year.
You retain full backup power capability. During actual outages, your battery switches to home backup mode automatically.
These battery systems are eligible for ConnectedSolutions enrollment in Rhode Island. All must have a minimum power capacity to participate in dispatch events.
13.5 kWh / 5 kW continuous
$9,000–$12,500 installed
Most installed residential battery. Gateway 2 required for ConnectedSolutions dispatch.
13.5 kWh / 11.5 kW continuous
$10,000–$14,000 installed
Integrated inverter, higher power output earns more revenue per unit.
5 kWh / 3.84 kW
$6,000–$8,500 installed
Modular design. Stack multiple units to increase enrolled capacity.
10 kWh / 3.84 kW
$10,000–$13,000 installed
Pairs with Enphase microinverter systems. Mid-size option.
9.7 kWh / 5 kW
$8,500–$11,000 installed
Works with SolarEdge inverter ecosystem. 400V high-voltage design.
9–18 kWh / 4.5–9 kW
$10,000–$18,000 installed
Scalable modular battery. Popular for whole-home backup in RI.
10–20 kWh / 4.8–8 kW
$15,000–$25,000 installed
Smart home integration. Long cycle life (10,000+ cycles). Premium option.
Installed costs include equipment, labor, permitting, and interconnection. Subtract the REF $2,000 battery adder (if eligible) from these costs.
Rhode Island lets you stack REG program payments, net metering credits, and ConnectedSolutions revenue for maximum return. Here is what that looks like with an 8 kW solar system and 10 kW battery.
REG Program Income
$0.2723/kWh x 9704 kWh
$2,642/yr
Net Metering Credits
80% of $0.29/kWh retail + self-consumption
$2,448/yr
ConnectedSolutions
$225/kW summer + $50/kW winter
$2,750/yr
Total Annual Revenue
$7,840/yr
This combines REG payments, net metering bill credits, and ConnectedSolutions revenue. Additional savings from RI sales tax exemption (7%) and 20-year property tax exemption are on top of this. REF $7,000 rebate (solar + battery) further reduces upfront cost.
ConnectedSolutions revenue from a 10 kW battery on Rhode Island Energy over 10 years. This is demand response revenue only, not including REG, net metering, or tax benefits.
| Year | Annual Revenue | Cumulative Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $2,750 | $2,750 |
| Year 2 | $2,750 | $5,500 |
| Year 3 | $2,750 | $8,250 |
| Year 4 | $2,750 | $11,000 |
| Year 5 | $2,750 | $13,750 |
| Year 6 | $2,750 | $16,500 |
| Year 7 | $2,750 | $19,250 |
| Year 8 | $2,750 | $22,000 |
| Year 9 | $2,750 | $24,750 |
| Year 10 | $2,750 | $27,500 |
10-year total
$13,750
10-year total
$27,500
10-year total
$37,130
Projection assumes constant rates and full event participation. Rates may change over time as the program evolves. Most home batteries have a 10-15 year warranty, aligning well with this timeline.
Unlike Massachusetts (which splits between Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil with different rates and Unitil not participating), Rhode Island has a single utility for ConnectedSolutions: Rhode Island Energy.
This means uniform rates statewide: $225/kW summer and $50/kW winter for every participant, whether you live in Providence, Warwick, Newport, or Woonsocket. No utility confusion, no rate comparison needed.
The only exceptions are the municipal utilities of Pascoag (Burrillville) and Block Island Power Company, which do not participate in ConnectedSolutions. These serve less than 5% of RI households.
The federal residential solar and battery ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 under the OBBBA. There is no federal tax credit for homeowner cash or loan battery purchases in 2026.
However, ConnectedSolutions payments are completely unaffected. The $225/kW summer and $50/kW winter rates are utility program payments, not federal tax credits. They remain fully available regardless of federal policy.
If you finance through a PPA or lease, the third-party system owner can still claim Section 48/48E (projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026) and pass savings through as a lower rate. The REF $2,000 battery adder is also a state rebate, unaffected by federal changes.
Rhode Island Energy residential customer
Pascoag and Block Island Power customers are not eligible
Qualifying battery system installed
Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ, SolarEdge, Generac, or sonnen
Battery installed by participating installer
Installer handles enrollment paperwork with RI Energy
Solar panels (for full stacking benefits)
Solar is NOT required for ConnectedSolutions alone, but enables REG + REF + NM stacking
REF application submitted before installation
Required only for the $2,000 battery adder rebate, not for ConnectedSolutions itself
No. You set a backup reserve level (typically 20-30%) that ConnectedSolutions will never touch. During dispatch events, only the portion above your reserve is discharged to the grid. Your backup power for outages remains protected at all times.
Yes. ConnectedSolutions dispatch events only occur when the grid is operating normally during peak demand. During an actual outage, your battery switches to backup mode automatically and powers your home. Grid outages and demand response events are mutually exclusive — they never overlap.
Events are capped at approximately 60 hours per year. Summer events (June–September) are typically called on hot weekday afternoons between 2–7 PM when AC demand peaks. In practice, most batteries are dispatched 30–50 hours per summer season. Winter events (December–March) are less frequent, usually during cold evening peaks.
No. ConnectedSolutions is a battery-only program. You can enroll a standalone battery system without solar panels. However, pairing solar with a battery provides free daily recharging, qualifies you for the REF $2,000 battery adder on top of the $5,000 solar rebate, and enables REG program income — dramatically improving your total return.
Yes. The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund (REF) offers a $2,000 battery adder that stacks with the $5,000 solar rebate for a total of $7,000 in REF incentives. The battery adder is available during REF grant rounds (Spring, Summer, Fall). You must apply before installation through Commerce RI. This is separate from ConnectedSolutions revenue — you get both.
Complete guide to solar in Rhode Island including REG, REF, net metering, and financing.
Read guideReal 2026 pricing data for solar installations across Rhode Island cities.
Read guideRhode Island Renewable Energy Fund: $0.65/W solar + $2,000 battery adder.
Read guideStack solar with Clean Heat RI heat pump rebates for whole-home electrification.
Read guideFind out how much you can earn with ConnectedSolutions. Our team designs systems optimized for maximum revenue stacking with REG, net metering, and demand response in Rhode Island.
Free consultation. No obligation. Serving all of Rhode Island.