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Liberty Utilities has filed DE 17-189 with the NH PUC to introduce a battery storage pilot in NH using Powerwall 2's. They are looking to install 1000 batteries in customer residences, in a program modeled after Green Mountain Power's battery program in VT. Customers can lease 1 or 2 batteries for 10 years, with an upfront payment of $1000 or $10/month for 10 years (vs GMP's $1500/$15 fees).

300 batteries are earmarked for deployment on 2 circuits in West Lebanon as a 1.5MW non-wires alternative (aka, "NWA") to reduce peak demand and defer substation improvements at the Craft Hill substation, saving/deferring an estimated one-time expense of $640k in substation upgrades (see Supplemental Testimony of Heather M. Tebbetts, page 10). The remaining batteries will be available to residential customers in other areas.

In addition, participants in the program will be put on a 3-tiered time of use rate plan (GMP did not include TOU rates in their battery program). The batteries will be programmed to charge during the off-peak period (7pm-8am). They will be used to supply in-house loads during the critical peak period (2pm-7pm) and also serve as backup power during grid outages. When ISO-NE predicts a monthly peak event, Liberty will charge the battery the night before, and discharge during the critical peak period to reduce demand from the transmission grid. This reduction in peak transmission demand is expected to save nearly $700k/year (see Direct Testimony of Heather M. Tebbetts, page 9).


From the Jan/Feb bill insert:

Liberty Files for Home Battery Storage Pilot Program

In December 2017, we filed a request with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) to introduce a pilot program for our residential electric customers. This program, the first-of-its-kind in New Hampshire, is designed to provide backup power during an outage and reduce energy costs. As part of the program, Liberty will also be introducing On-Peak, Off-Peak and Critical-Peak rates.

The pilot would involve installing batteries at approximately 1,000 of our customers’ homes. The battery would be charged during off-peak times when costs are low and activated during critical peak times when costs are high. This will allow our customers to save money on their electric bills and gain peace of mind knowing they have access to another power supply during an outage.

Liberty will also benefit from this program by shifting some of that high demand to times of the day when usage is lower. This means less investment in upgrading our infrastructure to meet growing demand.

The program details have been submitted to the NHPUC who will review its merits before it can be put into place.

More information on this project will be posted on our website as it becomes available.

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