How I kept cool with NYC's free battery program for window AC units

The sweltering summer of 2023 brought record-breaking heat to New York City, with daytime temperatures soaring into the triple digits and nights becoming oppressively hot. Many families, like the author's, were hit hard by the extreme conditions, forced to endure long periods of discomfort as they meticulously pre-cooled their apartments and endured the designated "demand response periods" when the utility company Con Edison paid them to reduce energy consumption.

However, this year, the author's family took a proactive approach to combat the relentless heat. They joined a free, innovative program launched by the local startup Every Electric, which provided households with two household batteries installed inconspicuously in the living room and bedroom. By plugging their window air conditioners into these batteries, the family could continue running the units as usual during peak demand periods, thereby minimizing the impact of power outages and maintaining a comfortable living environment.

The Every Electric program offered participating households the opportunity to earn money through the local demand response program run by Con Edison. By utilizing the stored energy in the batteries, the author's family was able to avoid the strict energy reduction measures typically imposed during extreme heat events, allowing them to stay cool and comfortable while still contributing to the overall grid stability.

With a total of about 1,000 New York City households participating in this pioneering initiative, the Every Electric program represents a promising solution to the challenges posed by extreme summer weather in densely populated urban areas. By harnessing the power of household batteries and incentivizing energy conservation, the program aims to provide relief to vulnerable populations and foster a more resilient, sustainable energy future for the city.