Powerful Incentives

New York State’s Solar incentive is also available for the energy storage (battery) component of the system and reduces your upfront cost. You must have a participating NY-Sun contractor install the system. You may also qualify for federal and state tax credits on both the solar panels and storage. Residential customers qualify for the NY-Sun Incentive when installing a Solar PV + Battery Storage System. Commercial customers are eligible to receive other incentives for both standalone and PV + Battery Storage systems when participating in the Retail Energy Storage Incentive Program. Your solar contractor can provide all of the details and submit the required documentation.

Additional Benefits and Incentives
The Energy Storage Rewards Program is a new and innovative opportunity for customers. As a participant in the Energy Storage Rewards Program, you agree to supply power from your batteries to your home or grid a few times each year—we call these instances an “event”. By participating in these events, you are rewarded with an annual payment for up to 10 years.

This opportunity is available to both Residential and Commercial customers who install battery storage, either alone or along with a Solar PV system.

Energy Storage Rewards Program

When energy use is at its peak, typically on a hot summer day, it can require the use of additional fuel-burning power plants. The Energy Storage Rewards Program is a greener, more cost-effective option.

How it works
During the Energy Storage Rewards Program period from May 1st to September 30th, if we forecast that the following day’s power needs will be near the grid’s peak capacity, we may schedule an “event” to make use of the clean, renewable power produced by solar PV customers. Each event only lasts a few hours.

Third-party “aggregators,” independent from PSEG Long Island, enroll customers and manage their participation. If we initiate an event, we notify the aggregators who will then notify customers. Once informed, customers do not have to do anything. It’s the aggregator who communicates with each enrolled solar PV system. Those systems send power from the batteries into your homes and the energy grid. It’s like suddenly adding hundreds of pollution-free power plants to the system.

Program Benefits
The payment you receive depends on how well your battery system performed during the event. The added benefit is that you will be helping the environment by supplying clean renewable energy and reducing the use of fossil fuels.

How to Enroll
Aggregators enroll customers and commit to delivering a certain amount of battery power during events. Most likely, your installation contractor will provide you with an aggregator.

PSEG Long Island does not endorse or recommend any solar PV installer. The installers listed are participating contractors approved under the state’s NY-Sun program and offer solar PV + battery storage systems and are affiliated with one or more aggregators. Before hiring a contractor, we encourage you to check the contractor’s references and talk to people who have previously hired the contractor. You should also request proposals from other participating contractors that service your area.

View list of installation contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions after browsing our FAQs, please call our Energy Efficiency Infoline at 1-800-692-2626.

What is the program period? 
Events may occur between May 1st and September 30th each year. These events can last a maximum of four hours each. A customer may participate for up to 10 years.

How will I know when there is an event?
We will notify aggregators a day in advance of an event with a minimum of 21 hours notice. Your aggregator will notify you.

How much power do I need to provide?
Your solar contractor can discuss the requirements with you and enroll you in the program. The amount of power you will be able to supply will depend on the size of your PV system and batteries.

How much will I get paid?
Payment terms are defined by the aggregator.

Will I notice any change in my electric service during an event?
No. Your batteries automatically supply stored energy into the energy grid, while your solar panels continue to power your home. You shouldn’t notice any difference in your home’s power supply.

Can I participate if I don’t have storage as part of my system?
No. This program is only available for systems that include energy storage.

I already participate in the Smart Savers thermostat program. Can I also enroll in this?
You may be enrolled in either Smart Savers or the Energy Storage Rewards Program, but not both.