Connected Solutions Real-World Experiences (MA - National Grid / EverSource)

[jsurpless]

Hey everyone

I was hoping that folks in Massachusetts could share their real-world experiences with Connected Solutions so far this year.

Asking because my mom lives in SE MA and has EverSource - her experience so far this year has been a bit disappointing. She's had overwhelming 3-hr events (18/20) with EverSource calling events almost every weekday for the last 3 weeks even when it was cool weather and/or cloudy out. This has resulted in only a 6.6 average kW discharge for the season which is a good deal lower than the relatively conservative estimates I'd made. Perhaps my estimates were too optimistic but also perhaps it has something to do with my estimates being based on National Grid events, as opposed to EverSource. Of course, they were also based on last summer so there's that possibility too.

So... could anyone share how their events are so far this year? I live in Bellingham and have National Grid - anyone out this way? I ask predominantly because I was counting on CS as a major offset to the cost of the PWs and this is weakening that offset.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[qnzkrew]

The payments are based on the average exported Kw during each event. If you were charging your EV or otherwise had high home loads using your instantaneous Kws during events, that made the Kw exported lower, lowering your average, and lowering your payment.

It’s just based on the energy exported out of the powerwall. It doesn’t matter where it goes. If it goes to the grid or your house makes no difference. I use to think it needed to go to grid so first year I minimized my use during the events to export as much as possible. The next year I did not curtail my use and my check was about the same. Slightly lower because Tesla messed up the first few events

 

[jsurpless]

Still no check for me :-(

 

[02155]

I also have no check from National Grid after supplying power for the full summer of 2022. Considering removing myself from the program at this point.

 

[qnzkrew]

I also have no check from National Grid after supplying power for the full summer of 2022. Considering removing myself from the program at this point.

The check does not come from national grid. National grid pays tesla and it’s up to Tesla to send you the check. I doubt national grid did t pay them but possibly just tesla dropping the ball as usual.

 

[jsurpless]

I am also *still* waiting for Tesla to send me the check... they're absolutely ridiculous

 

[Gurpreet Singh]

this is my first year with connected solutions in MA. Will there be any kind of notification about the start of this year’s program in June?

 

[kb1ibt]

There hasn’t been any notifications that I‘ve seen the past 2 years, it just starts, and if last year is anything to go by it started a little rough, but it started July 1st

 

[GDBMA]

I am also *still* waiting for Tesla to send me the check... they're absolutely ridiculous

in MA with National Grid. Still no check for 2022. I’ve sent multiple emails to the Connected Solutions Dept. (where emails go to die) as well as calling Tesla Energy who sends emails to the Connected Solutions Dept and they don’t get answered. I filed a formal complaint with the MA Attorney Generals office Early last month. No results yet.

 

[adspguy]

New email from Tesla today

As a member of Tesla’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP) through ConnectedSolutions, your Powerwall will periodically contribute clean energy to the grid. To prepare your Powerwall for the 2023 season, your local utility will be performing a test event on Friday, June 23 between 3 PM and 5 PM.



Program events will start to occur regularly the first week of July, and the season will last until September 30, 2023. As a reminder, your Powerwall will dispatch energy to the grid for a few hours a day for up to 60 summer days, between 2 PM and 7 PM. Tesla will dispatch your Powerwall during these events, helping to deliver optimal performance to maximize your end-of-year incentive. Outside of these dispatch events, your Powerwall will remain in your control. Visit the ConnectedSolutions Support page to learn more.



Starting July 1, 2023, you will also have access to Tesla’s new VPP experience in the Tesla app where you’ll be able to see live information about ConnectedSolutions events, as well as access program benefits, details and support. To get started, tap the Virtual Power Plant banner in the Tesla app.



Thank you for being a part of Tesla Virtual Power Plant to make the grid cleaner and more reliable for everyone.



Best Regards,

The Tesla VPP Team

 

[Lmkwin]

New email from Tesla today

As a member of Tesla’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP) through ConnectedSolutions, your Powerwall will periodically contribute clean energy to the grid. To prepare your Powerwall for the 2023 season, your local utility will be performing a test event on Friday, June 23 between 3 PM and 5 PM.



Program events will start to occur regularly the first week of July, and the season will last until September 30, 2023. As a reminder, your Powerwall will dispatch energy to the grid for a few hours a day for up to 60 summer days, between 2 PM and 7 PM. Tesla will dispatch your Powerwall during these events, helping to deliver optimal performance to maximize your end-of-year incentive. Outside of these dispatch events, your Powerwall will remain in your control. Visit the ConnectedSolutions Support page to learn more.



Starting July 1, 2023, you will also have access to Tesla’s new VPP experience in the Tesla app where you’ll be able to see live information about ConnectedSolutions events, as well as access program benefits, details and support. To get started, tap the Virtual Power Plant banner in the Tesla app.



Thank you for being a part of Tesla Virtual Power Plant to make the grid cleaner and more reliable for everyone.



Best Regards,

The Tesla VPP Team

We got that same one around 1 PM today. "Test event" as in let's see how much we can pull from the VPP today for a cost benefit analysis for Eversource? Just another of the concerning things to me from prior year. Maybe the new VPP "program benefits and details and support" will ease those concerns.

 

[solarAddict]

 

[Zinc_Saucier]

What’s the over/under on us getting paid for the energy discharged during the test?

 

[jhn_]

What’s the over/under on us getting paid for the energy discharged during the test?

We aren’t paid per event so it doesn’t affect payout too much. The payment is an average of kw discharge of all the events through September. It is unclear it the test counts towards the average or not. But if the VPP calls all 60 events, or only 10 this season, the payout is the same if you can provide the max 5kw from each Powerwall for the length or each event not matter how many times they have an event.

 

[Zinc_Saucier]

Yea, was more tongue in cheek comment that this probably won’t count towards the export average and as you said there isn’t any kWh payment in place.

 

[Lmkwin]

What’s the over/under on us getting paid for the energy discharged during the test?

Seems like that was a freebie to Eversource, in lieu of payment from Tesla.

 

[jhn_]

New Tesla app UI and notification for an event in New England’s VPP tomorrow with National Grid.

 

[appleguru]

New Tesla app UI and notification for an event in New England’s VPP tomorrow with National Grid.

I saw some similar screenshots for eversource CT customers. Mine just seems to be blank on EverSource MA though:

Does anyone else on EverSource in MA see something similar? Or is it just me?

 

[appleguru]

I saw some similar screenshots for eversource CT customers. Mine just seems to be blank on EverSource MA though:



Does anyone else on EverSource in MA see something similar? Or is it just me?

Never mind, just had to update my app. Working now! Says 557 fleet homes for me (MA Eversource).

One interesting note in the detail pane:

Specifically, the note to “increase your backup reserve to limit discharge”. That would be completely new behavior (and require me to alter my strategy for this season!)

 

[jhn_]

Specifically, the note to “increase your backup reserve to limit discharge”. That would be completely new behavior (and require me to alter my strategy for this season!)

That would be an unannounced change. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow if my Powerwalls go down to my 33% reserve or the previous Connected Solutions reserve of 20%.

 

[appleguru]

That would be an unannounced change. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow if my Powerwalls go down to my 33% reserve or the previous Connected Solutions reserve of 20%.

Indeed. I also seem to have full control of my PWs atm, which is not normal on the day of an event iirc.

My reserve is currently set to 100% to make sure I’m ready for the event. If I drop it, it starts to discharge to my house. If this change is real does that mean my system would not participate at all today with the 100% reserve set? Relatedly, if I drop the reserve to 0% will it go below the “usual” 20% cutoff?

I’ll try to flip it to 0% a few minutes before the event today to get a data point there… will be annoying if we have to manage it like this, though the possibility of lower discharge might make up for the hassle…