The initiative offers more than a simple rebate; participants can access up to $25,000 in interest-free, on-bill financing to cover remaining installation costs. Once installed, these systems provide a dual function: securing backup power for the household and serving as a distributed energy resource for the utility. During scheduled GridSmart Battery Events, the utility may draw upon stored energy to reduce grid strain, with customers receiving prior notification of these sessions.

This pilot functions as a residential Virtual Power Plant (VPP), an aggregation strategy that allows the utility to manage distributed energy without constructing new, centralized power stations. By evaluating how these home systems perform under varied conditions, PSE&G intends to provide the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities with data to help shape a statewide VPP framework. Lauren Thomas, Vice President of Clean Energy Solutions, noted the program serves as a practical experiment in grid reliability, positioning residential storage as a core component of the state's modernized energy future.