Every Electric’s Free Batteries Keep Window ACs Running for About 1,000 NYC Households

The program works by delivering one or more batteries to a home. The batteries are plugged into a standard wall electrical outlet, and window air conditioners are then plugged into the batteries. Households can run the air conditioners as usual during peak demand periods, the article said.

Ars Technica described one family’s experience. The family has spent four summers participating in demand response programs, in which utility companies pay customers to reduce energy use on the hottest summer days. Most summers involved carefully precooling their New York City apartment before switching off the air conditioners and sweating it out during the designated demand response periods.

This year, the family kept its window air conditioners running throughout a heat dome event that drove daytime temperatures into the triple digits and made the nights oppressively hot. The difference was two household batteries tucked away unobtrusively in the corners of the living room and bedroom. The batteries powered the air conditioners during the event.

The family was among about 1,000 New York City households in the Every Electric program. The company’s proposition is to get one or more batteries delivered to a home, plug the batteries into a standard wall electrical outlet, and then plug the window air conditioners into the batteries. Households can keep running air conditioners as usual during peak demand periods while also earning money through the local demand response program with Con Edison.

The article describes the program as free and growing. It does not provide additional details about pricing, battery capacity, installation requirements, or the amount of money households can earn.