Can you really "sell power back to the grid" for profit?
This is the most common myth in home batteries, so let's be straight: in most of the United States you cannot freely sell stored electricity to the grid for profit. What you usually get is net metering — credits for solar you export, typically capped at your own usage. Few utilities pay cash for surplus, and when they do it's at a low wholesale rate, not the retail rate you pay. True "buy low, sell high" arbitrage only pays in a handful of markets with specific export tariffs.
So this calculator deliberately models the two things that actually put money in your pocket:
1. Self-consumption (if you have solar)
Instead of exporting cheap daytime solar and buying expensive power at night, you store your own solar and use it later — avoiding the full retail rate. This is the biggest real saving for most battery owners.
2. Time-of-use arbitrage (with or without solar)
If your utility charges more during peak evening hours, you charge the battery when power is cheap (off-peak or from solar) and discharge during peak — pocketing the price difference, minus about 10% round-trip efficiency loss.
Backup power during outages is a third, real benefit — but it's resilience, not cash, so we don't put a dollar figure on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Tesla Powerwall worth it in 2026?
Financially, batteries usually have long payback (often 8–15+ years) unless you have high electricity rates, a big peak/off-peak spread, or frequent outages. Many people buy them primarily for backup power and resilience rather than pure ROI.
Do I get paid to send battery power to the grid?
Rarely at a profitable rate. Most utilities offer net-metering credits capped at your usage, not cash payments at retail rates. Treat grid income as a bonus, not the business case.
Is there still a battery tax credit in 2026?
No federal credit for batteries bought outright — Section 25D expired December 31, 2025. Some states and utilities still offer rebates, and leased systems may pass through value via the surviving commercial credit.