Support Articles

Why is my battery acting differently at certain times — am I in a VPP program?

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Your battery’s unusual behavior at certain times is very likely due to VPP (Virtual Power Plant) events if you’re enrolled in a VPP program. Below is a clear explanation of what’s happening and how to confirm participation.

Why the battery acts differently (VPP behavior)

During a VPP event (grid peak stress or high demand), the utility sends a signal to your FranklinWH system. The battery will:

Discharge earlier or more aggressively than your normal TOU (Time-of-Use) schedule.

Stop charging from solar or grid to reserve capacity for the grid.

Maintain a higher minimum SOC (e.g., 20% instead of your usual 25%) to ensure backup readiness.

Export power to the grid even if you’d normally store it for evening useFranklinWH.

These events usually happen weekday afternoons/evenings (4–10 PM) and last 1–4 hours.

How to check if you’re in a VPP program (in the app)

Open the FranklinWH App.

Go to Settings → Virtual Power Plant (VPP).

Check for:

Enrollment status: “Enrolled” or “Active.”

Upcoming/Pending events: Scheduled times when the grid will control your battery.

Event history: Past dates/times with VPP activity.

VPP Reserved SOC: A separate reserve threshold (e.g., 20%) that overrides your normal setting during events.

You’ll also receive in-app notifications and emails before each VPP event.

Other possible reasons (non-VPP)

Storm Hedge Mode: Charges the battery to 100% before extreme weather, pausing normal cyclingFranklinWH.

TOU rate changes: New peak/off-peak times can shift charging/discharging.

Firmware updates: Temporary behavior changes during system updates.

Grid instability: Brief, unplanned adjustments by the system.

Key takeaway

If your battery behaves differently at predictable peak times and you see VPP status in the app, you’re enrolled in a VPP program. This is normal—you’ll earn bill credits or revenue for supporting the grid while keeping backup power.

For more FranklinWH VPP, please visit the address https://www.franklinwh.com/support/overview/virtual-power-plant