Key facts
- Every Electric provides free batteries to NYC households to power window AC units during peak demand.
- Participants can earn approximately $150 annually per air conditioner.
- The batteries charge at night and discharge during peak demand periods, managed remotely by Every Electric.
- The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 battery stores 2 kilowatt-hours of energy and is compatible with standard 120V AC units.
- The program has a waitlist for over 15,000 batteries.
- Every Electric is focused on expanding within New York City.
New York City households are participating in a program offered by startup Every Electric that provides free batteries to power window air conditioners during peak demand periods. This initiative allows residents to maintain comfort during heat waves while earning money through Con Edison's demand response program, effectively creating a distributed virtual power plant.
The program, which rebranded from Standard Potential Co. in 2026, aims to make energy storage accessible. Households receive batteries, plug them into standard outlets, and connect them to their home Wi-Fi. The batteries automatically charge during off-peak hours and discharge during peak demand, managed remotely by Every Electric. Participants can earn an estimated $150 per year per air conditioner, with a small deposit required for the batteries, which is returned upon their return.
The batteries used are Bluetti Elite 200 V2 models, capable of storing 2 kilowatt-hours of energy and supporting other appliances via USB or 12V outlets. While the program has been popular, with a waitlist for over 15,000 batteries, some participants have experienced tripped circuit breakers due to voltage reductions by Con Edison during extreme heat. Every Electric is continuously updating battery firmware to address these issues, which can vary based on building wiring.
Initially tested with 100 batteries in 65 households in summer 2025, the program scaled to 2,000 batteries across approximately 1,000 households in summer 2026. Every Electric plans to deploy over 10,000 batteries in 2027, focusing on New York City's large rental market, where many homes rely on window air conditioners.