PolicyAugust 28, 2026Source: pv magazine USA
California passes SB 913 to expand VPP access for customer-owned energy resources
California lawmakers passed Senate Bill 913, directing regulators to update Resource Adequacy rules so customer-owned batteries, bidirectional EV charging and other distributed energy resources can participate more directly in grid reliability markets.
Why homeowners should careFor California households with batteries or compatible EV charging, broader virtual power plant participation can create new compensation pathways beyond simple self-consumption. Final program rules, device eligibility and utility implementation will determine the actual homeowner value.
Read homeowner impact →Grid & SecurityAugust 26, 2026Source: Reuters
U.S. moves to restrict certain foreign-made equipment used on the power grid
A new U.S. executive order declared a national emergency related to risks from certain foreign-produced bulk-power system equipment and directed federal energy officials to restrict or condition the use of covered equipment.
Why homeowners should careThe order is aimed primarily at bulk-power infrastructure rather than ordinary rooftop solar purchases, but tighter security and sourcing rules can eventually affect equipment availability, inverter and storage supply chains, compliance costs and installer procurement decisions.
Read homeowner impact →UtilitiesAugust 26, 2026Source: Utility Dive
Nevada approves performance-based grid service tariffs for customer energy resources
Nevada regulators cleared the way for NV Energy to develop performance-based credit programs for distributed energy resources that provide energy or capacity during load-flexibility events.
Why homeowners should careNevada solar and battery owners may gain more ways to earn value from flexible home energy equipment, but participation structure and limits on third-party aggregation could affect how accessible and competitive those programs become.
Read homeowner impact →BatteriesAugust 25, 2026Source: Utility Dive
New Jersey proposes 150 MW of behind-the-meter storage for a statewide VPP pathway
New Jersey regulators proposed an initial procurement of up to 150 MW of behind-the-meter battery storage, with a maximum annual incentive of $200 per kW for qualifying resources over a ten-year period.
Why homeowners should careIf implemented, the program could add a meaningful new revenue stream for qualifying home batteries in New Jersey. It should be evaluated alongside installation cost, utility-specific programs and the private backup value of the battery.
Read homeowner impact →GridAugust 21, 2026Source: Utility Dive
PJM considers a faster surplus-interconnection pathway for batteries and new generation
PJM is considering changes to its surplus interconnection process after limited use of the existing pathway. The approach can allow new generation or battery storage to connect at existing power facilities using available interconnection capacity.
Why homeowners should careThis is not a residential interconnection rule, but faster storage and generation deployment in PJM can influence regional capacity costs, grid reliability and long-term electricity prices that ultimately matter to homeowners considering solar and batteries.
Read homeowner impact →Virtual Power PlantsAugust 19, 2026Source: Utility Dive
Virtual power plants are increasingly being valued for affordability as well as reliability
Utilities and energy experts are increasingly treating virtual power plants as tools not only for grid reliability but also for reducing peak costs, deferring infrastructure investments and improving affordability.
Why homeowners should careFor households with batteries, smart thermostats or managed EV charging, well-designed VPP programs can create another source of economic value. Compensation, opt-out rights, metering and customer protections remain critical details.
Read homeowner impact →BatteriesAugust 18, 2026Source: ESS News
Sunrun and Voltus plan to aggregate home batteries as capacity for data-center demand
Sunrun and Voltus announced a multi-year arrangement intended to aggregate residential solar-plus-storage resources in PJM and MISO and use them as flexible capacity connected to growing data-center demand.
Why homeowners should careThe deal illustrates a broader shift in battery economics: a home battery may provide backup and bill savings while also earning value as part of a larger grid-services portfolio. Homeowners still need to understand who controls dispatch and how participation affects backup reserves.
Read homeowner impact →BatteriesAugust 14, 2026Source: Canary Media
U.S. home battery installations hit a new record even after federal incentives expired
U.S. households installed about 673 MW of battery storage in the first quarter of 2026, according to analysis cited by Canary Media, surpassing the previous quarterly record even after residential storage tax credits expired at the end of 2025.
Why homeowners should careThe data suggests buyers are assigning substantial value to outage protection, grid independence and utility-program participation even without the former federal credit. That does not mean batteries are automatically economical for every home, so tariff and backup needs still matter.
Read homeowner impact →Energy StorageAugust 14, 2026Source: S&P Global Energy
U.S. battery storage capacity tops 55 GW as western states lead new additions
U.S. battery storage capacity surpassed 55 GW by the end of the second quarter of 2026, with the Western Electricity Coordinating Council region accounting for the largest share of new utility-scale additions during the quarter.
Why homeowners should careLarge grid batteries do not replace a home battery, but they can reshape evening electricity supply, renewable integration and wholesale price patterns. That matters as utilities redesign time-of-use rates and export compensation for rooftop solar customers.
Read homeowner impact →FinancingAugust 11, 2026Source: Utility Dive
Low-upfront battery leases are emerging as another home storage business model
Utilities and private providers are expanding battery lease and pay-as-you-go models that reduce or eliminate the large upfront purchase price in exchange for monthly payments and, in many cases, participation in virtual power plant programs.
Why homeowners should careA low upfront price can make storage accessible, but homeowners should compare lifetime payments, ownership, maintenance, dispatch rights, cancellation terms and backup guarantees against buying a battery outright.
Read homeowner impact →PolicyAugust 26, 2026Source: pv magazine USA
California plug-in solar bill moves close to final approval
California lawmakers advanced SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, after Assembly approval. The measure is designed to create a pathway for qualifying small plug-in solar devices up to 1,200 watts, subject to technical and safety requirements, with additional legislative steps still required before it can become law.
Why homeowners should careThis could create a lower-cost solar entry point for some California homeowners and renters who cannot install a conventional rooftop array. It should not be treated as a replacement for a full home solar system, and the final legal, utility and electrical requirements still matter.
Read homeowner impact →BatteriesAugust 26, 2026Source: pv magazine USA
PSE&G launches New Jersey home battery pilot with $5,000 incentive
PSE&G launched the GridSmart Battery Program, a residential virtual power plant pilot for eligible New Jersey customers. The program includes a $5,000 upfront incentive for qualifying home battery installations and an option for zero-interest on-bill financing for remaining eligible costs.
Why homeowners should careFor eligible PSE&G customers, a utility program can materially change battery economics. This is why Home Solar Atlas keeps utility-specific programs separate from generic national battery pricing: the same battery can have very different payback in different service territories.
Read homeowner impact →EV & GridAugust 25, 2026Source: pv magazine USA
PG&E expands bidirectional EV pilot for California homes
PG&E expanded hardware and software compatibility for its residential Vehicle-to-Everything pilot. The program is intended to test bidirectional EV charging, allowing eligible vehicles and chargers to interact with the home and grid, and offers incentives for qualifying participants.
Why homeowners should careEV batteries are becoming part of the home-energy calculation. In some households, a compatible EV may eventually provide backup or grid services that overlap with some functions of a stationary battery, although vehicle, charger, utility and interconnection compatibility remain major constraints.
Read homeowner impact →FinancingAugust 21, 2026Source: pv magazine USA
Solar-plus-storage PPA offering expands to Illinois homeowners
Solrite announced an expansion of its residential solar-plus-storage power purchase agreement offering to qualifying Illinois customers in ComEd and Ameren territories. The structure described by the company uses zero upfront cost in exchange for a long-term contract to purchase solar electricity.
Why homeowners should careA zero-down offer is not the same as free solar. Homeowners should compare the starting energy price, annual escalator, contract length, ownership terms and projected grid rate against cash and loan alternatives. Our financing comparison tool will model these structures separately rather than comparing only monthly payments.
Read homeowner impact →Solar PricesAugust 7, 2026Source: S&P Global Energy
New U.S. solar trade actions add another pricing variable for installers
New U.S. trade measures announced in August include minimum import pricing for certain crystalline-silicon solar materials and components and a new tariff on polysilicon. Solar-industry groups expressed differing views about how the measures will affect domestic manufacturing and energy costs.
Why homeowners should careTrade policy can influence equipment costs, but it does not translate one-for-one into a homeowner's installed price. Labor, permitting, inverter and battery choices, dealer margins and local competition are also major cost components. Comparing real local quotes remains more useful than applying a headline tariff percentage directly to a project estimate.
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