ConnectedSolutions Program | Massachusetts
Leverage rebates and incentives to reduce your cost to acquire backup power.
What Is the ConnectedSolutions program?
ConnectedSolutions is a grid services program in New England that enables customers to contribute to a greener, more resilient power grid by sharing stored energy and helping utilities offset peak demand. During the hot summer months, ensuring a safe, reliable supply of electricity to the community is essential. Battery storage systems can help—while also offering backup power to your home in the event of power outages. When you enroll a qualifying battery system in ConnectedSolutions, homeowners can earn incentives each year by allowing your power supplier to discharge your battery during periods of peak demand. It’s a great way to earn incentives, while helping reduce pollution and keep electricity costs down. Customers of National Grid, Eversource and Cape Light Compact are eligible to participate.
ConnectedSolutions is also available in Rhode Island.
Program Incentives
Ongoing Performance Incentives
You can earn incentives based on your battery system’s average kilowatt (kW) discharge over the course of all of the season’s peak demand events
$275 / kW
Standard Residential Customers
Additional Optional Incentives
Customers can apply for a 0% HEAT Loan for the cost of the battery system with no down payment and a $25,000 lifetime cap per account number.
The reward rate is locked in place for the first 5 summers the customer is enrolled in ConnectedSolutions.
How to Participate
- Select a Fortress Power approved installer to install your system. Customers are eligible to apply for a HEAT Loan for the equipment and labor costs associated with installing a battery storage system.
- Your system is installed with a qualifying Fortress Power battery, inverter, and Guardian device.
- After the installation is complete, enroll in the ConnectedSolution program. Your installer will work with you on enrolling, or you can enroll using the Fortress Power EnergyBroker program application.
- ConnectedSolutions and your utility provider confirm your battery is operating correctly.
- Incentive payments for summer performance will be made in October, November, or December of each year, and will be paid by your utility provider.
How the Program Works Once Your System is Installed
System Monitoring
The battery storage system needs to be installed in a location with an internet service so ConnectedSolutions and your utility provider can monitor your system. The Guardian Gateway or Dongle is required to program communications. You can see the same information using the Fortress Power Owner App.
Battery Dispatch
An active dispatch event takes stored energy from the battery and puts it into the grid. Active events may occur any day during the summer season on non-holidays (June 1 – September 30) within the dispatch window of 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and are expected to happen 30-60 times. The standard event duration will last no more than 3 hours.
Eligibility
- National Grid, Eversource or Cape Light Compact Customers
- May not use the battery system for any controls other than providing backup power for the customer’s premises.
- Have a reliable internet connection
- Own the following hardware:
Fortress Power Envy Inverters
Fortress Power eForce Batteries
Fortress Power eBoost Batteries
Fortress Power eFlex MAX Batteries
Fortress Power eVault MAX Batteries
Common Questions About the ConnectedSolutions Program in Massachusetts
ConnectedSolutions is a Massachusetts demand response program administered by Eversource, National Grid, and Cape Light Compact (for Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard customers). By enrolling your home battery, you earn $275 per kilowatt (kW) for your battery's average contribution during summer peak events, helping stabilize the New England grid while reducing your electricity costs. Customers earn an average of $1,500 per summer. Your incentive rate is locked in for the first five years of participation.
The incentive rate is $275 per average kW your battery contributes across all summer events. For a typical battery capable of a 5kW continuous contribution, you could receive up to $1,375 per season. Customers on average earn $1,500 per summer. Your rate is locked for the first five consecutive years of participation, even if the program rate changes, your rate stays the same. Incentive payments are made as a check or bill credit in October, November, or December after the summer season ends.
When a peak event is called, Fortress Power automatically signals your battery to discharge stored energy, no action is required from you. Events occur between June 1 and September 30, on non-holidays between 3pm and 8pm. Each event lasts a maximum of 3 hours, and no more than 60 events are called per season. The program will not call events before large storms, ensuring your battery retains charge for backup power when you need it most. If you miss an event or have a connectivity issue, that event is recorded as zero kW and included in your seasonal average.
Fortress Power is an approved manufacturer for ConnectedSolutions across Eversource, National Grid, and Cape Light Compact. All Fortress Power residential battery systems qualify, along with select commercial and industrial products. Your system must be interconnected to the grid, paired with a compatible Fortress Power inverter, and must maintain a continuous internet connection. Battery systems must be under 50kW to qualify for the residential program.
When using a Fortress Power system, yes. Fortress Power battery systems require a solar panel installation to operate. Your battery will store energy generated by your solar panels during the day and discharge it during ConnectedSolutions peak events, maximizing both your self-consumption savings and your seasonal incentive. If you have an existing solar system, a Fortress Power battery can be added to it. If you are starting from scratch, a certified Fortress Power installer can design a combined solar and storage system sized for your home and ConnectedSolutions participation goals.
No. Some manufacturers subtract a portion of your performance-based incentive to cover the cost of managing dispatch, in some cases as much as 20%. Fortress Power does not subtract any fee from your ConnectedSolutions incentive. You keep the full amount your battery earns each season.
Complete the Fortress Power EnergyBroker enrollment form on this page. Our team will confirm your eligibility, assist with the enrollment process, and ensure your system is properly configured for ConnectedSolutions participation. To receive the full seasonal incentive, your enrollment application should be submitted by May 31. You can also apply for a 0% interest Mass Save HEAT Loan — up to $25,000 — to finance the cost of your battery installation. Contact our team to get started.
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