Key facts
- Energy storage startup Base Power has begun selling its home battery systems in Illinois.
- This marks Base Power's entry into the PJM Interconnection grid territory, the largest in the U.S.
- PJM has experienced significant increases in wholesale electricity prices due to rising demand from data centers.
- Base Power's model requires customers to purchase electricity from the company, offering rates 25% below ComEd's in Illinois.
- The company has already deployed over 500 megawatt-hours of battery storage in Texas.
Energy storage startup Base Power has launched its residential battery systems in Illinois, marking its first expansion into the PJM Interconnection grid territory. PJM, the largest U.S. grid operator by territory, has been grappling with surging electricity demand, particularly from data centers, which has nearly doubled wholesale electricity prices over the past year. Base Power's entry aims to alleviate this strain by offering cheaper electricity.
Founded two years ago in Texas, Base Power specializes in large residential battery systems. Instead of selling the batteries outright, the company requires customers to purchase electricity from it. In Illinois, Base Power's rates are 25% lower than those offered by utility ComEd. The company has already deployed over 500 megawatt-hours of battery storage in Texas, charging during off-peak hours and dispatching power when the grid needs it most.
PJM has faced criticism for its handling of rising electricity demand, having paused applications for new generating sources from 2022 until April. Base Power's strategy of deploying capacity behind the meter at residential homes allows it to bypass the grid operator's lengthy interconnection queues. The startup has seen rapid growth, securing a $1 billion funding round led by Addition in October, following a $200 million round in April 2025 led by Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Valor Equity Partners.