Challenge
- Rising Texas electricity prices increased costs for Mike’s energy-intensive home,, runs a business, and produces music.
- Local regulations, state policies, and HOA requirements added complexity to the solar-and-storage home energy adoption decision.
Solution
- Installed a FranklinWH System with one aGate and three aPower 2 batteries.
- Used the FranklinWH App to prioritize stored solar and take advantage of lower-cost grid electricity after peak rate periods.
Results
- Saves about $150 per month while reducing reliance on the grid.
- Gains greater control over energy costs and stronger long-term financial value from the system
Rising Energy Costs and High Household Demand
For Texas homeowner Mike, electricity is more than a household expense. It’s a critical operational cost. He runs a business from home while also producing music, making his household very energy hungry. He has witnessed energy costs consistently climbing. “Energy has increased in price year-over-year. For Texas residential, it is about 4% per year,” Mike noted. The persistent inflation made reducing his reliance on the grid and gaining greater control over his energy consumption a priority.
The transition to solar and battery storage initially seemed daunting. In addition to choosing the right system, Mike had concerns about regulations: “There was some possible intimidation that happened when I was trying to research and make a decision here. Some of those intimidation factors were local policies, state policies, and what we are allowed to do in an HOA neighborhood.”
FranklinWH System: Intelligent Energy Management Maximizing Local Energy Resources
FranklinWH worked with Prometheus and the right installation professionals, to equip Mike’s home with a FranklinWH System consisting of one aGate and three aPower 2 batteries. The team alleviated his regulatory concerns. "They guided me through the entire process and FranklinWH was really great about setting our minds at ease with all of the paperwork and procedural efforts," Mike recalled.
With solar paired with the FranklinWH System, Mike can generate more of his own electricity, store it locally, and use it when grid electricity is more expensive. He also relies heavily on the FranklinWH App to manage his system optimization. Because his electricity rate drops considerably after 8:00 p.m., he can configure the system around those pricing periods, prioritizing stored solar energy to avoid steep grid purchase before drawing electricity from the grid and taking advantage of lower-cost grid power. As he explains, "only when I really run out of that solar will it then start pulling from the grid. It's significantly cheaper." The app also provides real-time transparency, allowing him to estimate how much he is saving.
About $150 in Monthly Savings
The FranklinWH System enabled both greater energy freedom and massive financial savings. Mike estimates that the system is saving him roughly $150 per month. Based on his current savings, he expects to recover his investment in approximately 7 years, after which the ongoing savings can translate into a positive financial return. "The beauty of the system is that the battery warranty that FranklinWH provides on this exceeds that payback period,” Mike said. This helps strengthen his confidence in the long-term value of the investment.
For Mike, investing in a premium home energy management and battery storage solution is ultimately a way to get ahead of rising electricity prices. "If you can pay for something now to ensure that you don't have to pay twice as much for it later. To me, that's a no-brainer," Mike commented. Instead of remaining fully exposed to future utility-rate increases, he can produce, store, and strategically use more of his own energy, turning greater control over his home's power into long-term financial benefits.
