What a home battery does during a power outage

Why outages are a Bay Area issue

During high winds and dry weather, PG&E may turn off power to prevent wildfires. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). When possible, PG&E sends alerts two days before, one day before and just before the power goes off. The City of San José notes that power could stay off for as long as seven days.

Solar alone shuts off in an outage

A standard solar system without a battery does not work when the grid is down. A home battery lets your home keep using solar during an outage.

How a home battery takes over

• Automatic switch. When the grid goes down, a battery set up for backup disconnects from the grid and powers your home on its own.
• Stored energy and power. Storage and power vary by battery. Compare the batteries we install on our battery storage page.
• Power for big loads. Several batteries can start heavy loads like central air conditioners. This is rated in locked-rotor amps (LRA).
• Recharges from solar. With solar, the battery can recharge during the day, even while the grid is down.
• Room to grow. Most systems let you add batteries later for more power and storage.

Whole home or selected circuits

Your system can back up your whole home or only the circuits you choose, like the refrigerator, lights, internet and medical equipment. We design the backup around what matters most to you.

Make your backup last

• Use less of the energy-heavy appliances during an outage: air conditioners, EV charging, electric heaters and dishwashers.
• Turn on your battery app’s storm mode if it has one. Many batteries can charge to full when severe weather, like a red flag warning, is issued for your area.
• Set a higher backup reserve if outages are common where you live.

Want to know what a home battery would back up in your home? Our free assessment uses your real bills and your home’s electrical setup. Learn more about battery storage.