Last Updated: May 2026 · Applies to: Connecticut and Colorado pilot programs
This page explains your rights, obligations, and what to expect as an Emporia Home Battery Host in plain language. It is based on and supplements the Residential Battery Hosting & Equipment License Agreement ("Hosting Agreement") you will sign. The Hosting Agreement controls in the event of any conflict with this summary.
The table below highlights the most important terms at a glance. Read the full sections below for details.
| Program term | 15 years from your agreement's Effective Date (Section 3.1) |
| Who owns the battery? | Emporia Energy. You are the host. (Section 3.2) |
| Upfront cost to you | CT Grid Edge homes: $0. CT Standard homes: installation cost per quote. CO homes: installation cost per quote. (Section 2.3) |
| Monthly fee to you | $0. Emporia pays your electricity costs for energy used in dispatch events. (Addendum) |
| Early exit fee (De-Installation) | Year 0–3: $6,000 | Year 4–7: $3,500 | Year 8–10: $1,000 | Year 11+: $0 (Section 10.6) |
| Right to cancel | 3 business days from signing, at no cost (Exhibit C) |
| Backup power | Not guaranteed. Not for life-critical devices. (Section 2.5) |
| Internet required? | Yes — reliable Wi-Fi is a hosting requirement. (Section 6.1) |
| Insurance required? | Yes — $250K dwelling / $100K liability minimum. (Section 9.2) |
Emporia installs a battery energy storage system at your home at little or no upfront cost. You host the battery. Emporia owns it, maintains it, and uses it to provide services to the electric grid, for example, storing energy during low-demand periods and releasing it during high-demand periods. In exchange, Emporia reimburses you for the electricity costs associated with those grid events.
You benefit from backup power capability (when the grid goes down), potential savings if you have solar or a time-of-use electricity rate, and the satisfaction of supporting a cleaner, more resilient grid, all without purchasing a battery system yourself.
This is a pilot program. Emporia may adjust how the system operates, the vendors it works with, and its program parameters over time. (Section 2.2)
Before installation, you will sign a Residential Battery Hosting & Equipment License Agreement ("Hosting Agreement"). This is a legally binding contract between you and Emporia Corp. d/b/a Emporia Energy.
The agreement runs for 15 years from the date you sign (the "Effective Date"). (Section 3.1)
Emporia will provide you with copies of the Hosting Agreement, the Grid Services Addendum, and any interconnection documents you sign within 10 business days of signing or sooner upon request. (Section 7.4)
Connecticut — Grid Edge homes: $0. Emporia covers all standard permitting, equipment, and installation labor. Homes located in CT Green Bank–designated Grid Edge zones qualify for this no-cost tier. (Section 2.3)
Connecticut — Standard homes: An installation fee applies, as quoted before you sign. Non-standard site work (e.g., electrical panel upgrades, trenching, concrete cutting) is not included in any standard scope and will be itemized separately. You may accept or decline. If you decline and the system cannot be safely installed, Emporia may cancel the project at no penalty to either party. (Section 2.4)
Colorado: An installation fee applies, as quoted before you sign.
None. There is no monthly hosting fee charged to you. Emporia reimburses you for the net incremental electricity cost you incur when the battery exports energy to the grid on Emporia's behalf. (Addendum — Grid Services Participation & Data/Dispatch Consent)
If you choose to end the agreement early ("termination for convenience") or Emporia terminates due to your breach, you will owe a De-Installation Fee based on how many years have passed since your Effective Date. (Section 10.6)
| Years Since Agreement Start | De-Installation Fee |
|---|---|
| 0–3 years | $6,000 |
| 4–7 years | $3,500 |
| 8–10 years | $1,000 |
| 11–15 years (end of term) | Waived — $0 |
The De-Installation Fee is waived if:
After 10 full years, you may exit at any time with no De-Installation Fee. After the 15-year term ends, you have no early exit fee obligations.
Emporia owns the battery system at all times. It is not your property, and it does not become part of your home or real estate. Emporia is responsible for maintaining and repairing it throughout the agreement. (Section 3.2)
To formally document that the battery is Emporia's personal property (not a fixture attached to your home), Emporia will file a UCC-1 financing statement with the state. This is a standard legal step that protects both parties. It clarifies to lenders, title companies, and future buyers that Emporia's equipment is not part of the home's real estate. (Section 11.4)
If you have a mortgage, Emporia will provide a standard recognition agreement to your lender upon request so your lender understands the battery is Emporia's personal property. (Section 11.5)
Emporia has the right, at any time during the 15-year term, to permanently transfer ownership of the battery to you at no cost ("AS IS," with no further obligation from Emporia). If Emporia exercises this option, the Hosting Agreement ends. Emporia will no longer maintain the system, pay your electricity reimbursements, or remove the equipment. You would then own the battery outright. (Section 2.2(b))
This option protects Emporia's flexibility in the pilot, and is one scenario that could arise if Emporia exits the program or restructures. See also: "If the Program Changes or Emporia Exits" below.
You grant Emporia and its contractors a limited license to access your property as reasonably needed to install, inspect, maintain, repair, and ultimately remove the system. Emporia will give you advance notice for scheduled visits except in emergencies. (Section 3.3)
You must maintain reliable internet service at your home throughout the agreement. The battery system requires a continuous internet connection for Emporia to monitor it and operate it for grid services. (Section 6.1)
Extended or repeated connectivity outages may reduce the system's ability to participate in grid programs. Persistent connectivity failures, if not resolved, are a breach of the agreement and grounds for Emporia to terminate. Emporia will provide notice and a 10-day cure period before taking action. (Sections 6.2, 10.1, 10.2)
You must maintain homeowners insurance (or condo equivalent) throughout the agreement with:
Emporia may request a certificate of insurance once per year or around an assignment or transfer event. If your coverage lapses and you don't restore it within 30 days of notice from Emporia, that is a material breach. (Section 9.2)
You may not move, modify, open, disable, or tamper with the battery system. You may not allow any third party to control or monitor it, or enroll it in any other energy program (demand response, VPP, aggregation, etc.) without Emporia's written approval. Emporia has exclusive dispatch rights. (Section 5.1)
If you receive any communication from your utility about demand response programs, export programs, or rate changes that could affect the battery, notify Emporia within 7 days. If your utility auto-enrolls your home in a program that conflicts with Emporia's grid services, Emporia may ask you to opt out and you agree to cooperate with that request. (Section 5.3)
Keep the battery's installation area reasonably accessible for Emporia's maintenance and inspection visits. Promptly notify Emporia if you notice any alarms, damage, or unusual system behavior. (Section 8.2)
Emporia may direct the battery to charge or discharge at specific times to provide services to the electric grid, for example, absorbing excess energy during low-demand periods or releasing stored energy during high-demand or high-cost periods. This is called a "dispatch event."
Emporia has exclusive authority to dispatch the battery for grid services. You cannot override a dispatch event, and no third party may control or enroll the battery without Emporia's written consent. (Section 5.1)
When the battery exports energy to the grid as part of a Company Dispatch event, Emporia reimburses you for the net incremental electricity cost you incur from that export, net of any utility credits you receive for the same energy (e.g., net metering credits). If your utility provides a 1-for-1 retail credit for exported energy, Emporia's reimbursement is limited to estimated inverter/storage losses from that dispatch. Details are in your Grid Services Addendum.
During a utility outage, Emporia will not intentionally export energy to the grid. The battery's priority will be powering your home. However, automatic safety and protection functions of the system may still operate. (Section 2.6)
Emporia retains all tax credits, utility incentives, rebates, and environmental attributes (e.g., renewable energy certificates) associated with owning and operating the battery system, unless program rules specifically require otherwise. This includes IRA investment tax credits. (Sections 12.1, 12.2)
The battery system may provide backup power to your home during a grid outage, but this is not guaranteed. System availability depends on many factors, including:
The agreement is explicit: do not rely on the system for life-sustaining medical devices, critical safety equipment, or any application where an interruption would pose a risk to life or safety. (Section 2.5)
Battery backup duration varies by home. A typical home drawing moderate loads (lights, refrigerator, phone charging, router) may see 8–16 hours of backup from a fully charged system. Homes with higher loads (HVAC, electric stoves, EV charging) will deplete the battery faster. Backup duration is not a guaranteed specification.
If you have an existing solar PV system, you grant Emporia the right to integrate the battery with your solar, including coordinating charging, discharging, and export timing with your solar generation. Emporia will operate the combined system to maximize value, including protecting your net metering benefits outside of grid services events. (Sections 4.1, 4.2)
If you add solar after the battery is installed, notify Emporia within 30 days so they can integrate the systems where feasible. (Section 4.3)
If you have a solar lease, PPA, or financing agreement, you represent that integrating the battery does not violate that agreement. If a conflict arises, you agree to resolve it at your expense. If the conflict materially impairs Emporia's grid services operations, Emporia may terminate the Hosting Agreement without a De-Installation Fee. (Section 4.4)
Your net metering credits from solar generation (not from battery discharge) remain yours. (Section 4.5)
You must notify Emporia at least 30 days before listing your home for sale (or as soon as you decide to sell, whichever comes first). (Section 11.1)
When your home sells, you have three options: (Section 11.2)
| Option | What happens |
|---|---|
| Buyer assumes the agreement | The buyer takes over the Hosting Agreement, subject to Emporia's reasonable eligibility process. The De-Installation Fee transfers to the buyer; you are released. |
| Buyer declines — battery removed | Emporia removes the battery. You owe the De-Installation Fee based on years elapsed (see table above), unless waived. |
| Mutually agreed alternative | Emporia and you may agree to a different arrangement in writing. |
Selling your home does not automatically terminate the agreement or waive the De-Installation Fee. Plan ahead and contact Emporia as early as possible in the sale process.
At the end of the 15-year term, the Hosting Agreement expires. Emporia will communicate your end-of-term options prior to that date. There is no De-Installation Fee after year 10.
If a change in law or regulation makes it impossible for Emporia to legally operate the system, the parties will negotiate in good faith for up to 60 days. If no resolution is reached, either party may terminate without a De-Installation Fee, and Emporia will remove the system at its own expense within 90 days. (Section 13.7)
You may terminate without a De-Installation Fee only if the regulatory change makes your continued participation unlawful, or imposes significant new costs or liabilities on you that weren't part of the original deal. (Section 13.7)
Emporia may end the agreement for convenience with 60 days' written notice. If Emporia exercises this right, it will remove the battery at its own expense. No De-Installation Fee applies to you. (Section 10.5)
Emporia may assign the Hosting Agreement to an affiliate, financing partner, or program successor without your consent, as long as the new entity assumes Emporia's obligations under the agreement. (Section 11.3)
In the event Emporia can no longer operate the program, Emporia may exercise its Company Transfer Option (Section 2.2(b)), permanently transferring ownership of the battery to you at no cost, "AS IS." At that point, the Hosting Agreement terminates. Emporia would have no further obligation to maintain the system, and you would own it outright with no reimbursement or support obligations from Emporia.
If Emporia exits, you will either receive the battery as yours to keep (Transfer Option), or Emporia will remove it at its expense. You will not be left with an orphaned system and a bill.
Under Connecticut law (CT Home Solicitation Sales Act) and the terms of your Hosting Agreement, you have the right to cancel this transaction without penalty or obligation until midnight of the third (3rd) business day after you sign the agreement. (Section 0.1; Exhibit C)
To cancel: complete and return the Notice of Cancellation form in Exhibit C of the Hosting Agreement to Emporia at the address or email listed in the signature block. Your cancellation must be in writing.
After the 3-business-day cancellation window, early exit is subject to the De-Installation Fee schedule described above.
If a dispute arises under the Hosting Agreement, the parties work through it in steps: (Section 13.6)
| Step | Process | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Informal resolution | Written notice describing the dispute. Good-faith discussions between representatives with authority to settle. | 30 days |
| 2. Mediation | Non-binding mediation in Connecticut by a mutually agreed mediator (or AAA-selected if no agreement). Costs split equally. | 60 days from mediation notice |
| 3. Litigation | Either party may file in Connecticut court. No litigation may begin (except for injunctive relief) without first completing mediation. | After mediation |
Small claims exception: Either party may bring an action in small claims court for disputes within that court's jurisdiction without first completing mediation. (Section 13.6.5)
Governing law: Connecticut law governs the Hosting Agreement. (Section 13.1)
Connecticut program eligibility is determined by Emporia and the CT Green Bank / CT ESS program administrators. The program is structured in two tiers:
| Tier | Who qualifies | Installation cost |
|---|---|---|
| Grid Edge | Homes on CT Green Bank–designated Grid Edge circuits — the top 10% of circuits statewide by outage frequency AND duration during major storms since July 1, 2012. Eligibility is circuit-based, not ZIP code–based. | $0 (all-in) |
| Standard | Other CT homes meeting program criteria (ownership, structural, electrical, connectivity). | Installation cost per quote |
Other eligibility factors may include homeownership, electrical panel condition, structural suitability, and interconnection requirements. Eligibility is confirmed during the site assessment and is subject to utility and program administrator approval.
Colorado program eligibility is tied to the Xcel Energy Advanced Battery Program (AVPP). Homes must be located in qualifying Xcel service territories. The initial pilot focuses on homeowners in Boulder, Jefferson, and Gilpin counties. Emporia is pursuing Aggregator approval from Xcel Energy; final program terms are subject to that approval.
Colorado program note: Xcel AVPP Aggregator approval was pending as of the campaign brief date. This page will be updated once approval is confirmed.
By participating in the program, you authorize Emporia to collect and use data from the battery system, including energy usage, charging and discharging patterns, grid services performance, and equipment diagnostics. This data is used to operate the program, fulfill regulatory reporting requirements, and improve system performance.
Emporia may also collect personal information from you (name, address, contact information, and limited credit/identity information as authorized in Section 11.6 of the Hosting Agreement) to administer the program and process assignments or transfers.
Your data is handled in accordance with Emporia's Privacy Policy. Emporia complies with applicable data privacy laws including the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA) and Colorado's privacy statutes.
If you have questions about this policy page or your Hosting Agreement, contact Emporia Energy: