NRStor and MPOWER launch Tesla Powerwall Home Battery Rental Program

Consumers today are faced with ongoing challenges related to their electricity consumption. Cost, resiliency, as well as reducing consumption and impact on environment have become popular themes in their concerns. While popular strategies to reduce electricity consumption (turning lights off and not using heavy appliances during peak hours) will help with some reduction in costs, how can residential consumers make a bigger impact on improving costs, quality of power, and reducing their carbon footprint?

According to consulting firm McKinsey & Company, many consumers clearly want the added control, reliability, and resilience that comes from having a battery at home, and household batteries could contribute to making the grid more cost effective, reliable, resilient, and safe.[1]

This is why NRStor and MPOWER Energy Solutions are excited to launch Canada’s first Home Battery Rental Program, featuring the Tesla Powerwall, to Toronto homeowners; effectively creating a community microgrid that will deliver homeowners resiliency and, from time to time, support the grid during critical peaks.

In the first phase of the program, eligible residents located in the area of and around Spadina Avenue and College Street West, will have the opportunity to access reliable backup power during grid outages, better manage peak electricity usage, and monitor real time energy consumption.

NRStor believes distributed energy resources (DERs), such as batteries, solar, and electric vehicles, are disrupting the traditional utility model globally and this innovative value sharing model significantly lowers system costs to homeowners. These types of projects are gaining in popularity in the United States, and have been launched by utilities like Green Mountain Power.[2] NRStor and MPOWER will be working with both Enbridge and Toronto Hydro – two of Canada’s most progressive energy utilities – to ensure the success of the first phase of this project and grow it across the country.

How it works

In the event of an outage, the battery will provide seamless backup electricity to power essential household loads such as lights, electrical sockets, refrigerators, gas furnace fans and wireless internet. A mobile app monitors household energy flow, sending outage alerts and notifications to the homeowner once the outage has been restored. The batteries will be charged with lower-cost off-peak electricity and will then be used to power the home when grid demand is at its highest, reducing peak electricity costs for homeowners and Toronto Hydro.

Program Details

Interested residential consumers register online for the Home Battery Rental Program. MPOWER Energy Solutions will manage the installation and operations of the battery in your home. The battery will charge with lower cost off-peak electricity and use that stored energy during peak times to directly benefit you and the local electricity grid.

• You will receive alerts in the event of a power outage
• The battery will provide seamless backup power supply for your essential appliances and devices in your home.
• You will be able to monitor home energy use in real time on your phone from anywhere.
• Reduce your peak electricity bill.

The program involves a one-time connection charge and a low monthly cost for a 10-year rental.

Are you a resident living in the area of Spadina Avenue and College Street West in Toronto, and are interesting in participating? Register your interest!