Green Mountain Power Expanded Virtual Battery Program
Vermont businesses and residents now have more access to localized grid storage for outage protection.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Utilities
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Green Mountain Power has expanded its virtual battery storage program to 5,600 customers across Vermont as of September 30, 2026. The program provides participating businesses and residents with backup power during outages and extreme weather.
Why it matters
The program leverages distributed energy resources to provide localized grid resiliency and helps manage strain on the utility system during peak demand. This growth reflects a shift toward decentralized power storage to mitigate the impacts of increasingly severe weather events.
The utility reported 5,600 program participants as of September 30, 2026, up from 5,000 in July 2026. Participants may choose to pay a monthly cost of $55 for the battery or an outright purchase price of $5,500.
The players
Green Mountain Power
A Vermont-based electric utility company that provides power to a majority of the state's residents and businesses.
The details
The virtual battery system works by drawing and storing energy from the grid, which is then available to the customer during outages. During periods of high grid demand, the stored energy can be dispatched back to the grid to assist with load balancing. This mechanism allows the utility to manage peaks while providing customers with a localized energy buffer against infrastructure failures.
Timeline
July 2026: The program served approximately 5,000 customers.
September 30, 2026: The participant count reached 5,600.
Market Landscape
This program aligns with broader utility-scale efforts to integrate distributed storage into state grids to enhance reliability. The initiative follows the grid modernization goals outlined in the Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan.
Operators should evaluate whether the $55 monthly fee or the $5,500 capital expenditure aligns with their risk tolerance for site-specific downtime. Consider consulting with your facilities manager to determine if current site energy needs justify the investment in localized battery storage.
The takeaway
Virtual battery programs shift the burden of reliability from the central grid to localized storage units. Owners should track whether similar resiliency credits or utility-backed storage programs are available in their specific service territory to offset potential capital costs.
Further reading
For more on how power providers are navigating infrastructure reliability, see Utilities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wcax.
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