Duke Energy Florida has initiated a pilot program in the Hunter’s Creek neighborhood of Orlando to test residential battery energy storage systems (BESS) as tools for managing household energy use and supporting the electric grid during periods of high demand. The project involves more than 75 single-family homes, with plans to collect data over a 10-year period.
The Generac battery systems installed in participating homes function both as backup power sources and as devices for managing energy consumption. Typically, these batteries remain idle or charge during off-peak hours. In the event of a power outage, they automatically provide electricity to the home. On days when energy demand is high, Duke Energy can direct all participating batteries to discharge simultaneously for one to three hours, which helps reduce strain on the overall grid.
“This pilot helps us better understand how home battery systems can support both our customers and the electric system during times of high demand,” said Melissa Seixas, president, Duke Energy Florida. “By learning from this project, we can explore practical ways to use energy more efficiently while continuing to provide reliable service to the communities we serve.”
The collected data will help Duke Energy assess when and how residential battery systems are most effective at lowering energy use and grid demand. Homeowners do not need to change their daily routines or adjust their utility usage patterns; participation does not affect their billing. The stored battery power is used at no additional cost compared with regular grid electricity.
In addition, during outages such as those caused by hurricanes, homeowners involved in the pilot will have access to stored power for select areas of their homes until normal service resumes.
Duke Energy Florida serves about 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida and operates 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity. Its parent company, Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and supplies electricity to approximately 8.6 million customers across six states.
Further details about Duke Energy’s initiatives are available on its official website and news center.
