Earlier this summer, GVEC announced a new partnership with Base Power, a company that specializes in scaling residential battery systems to a utility-managed fleet of batteries. The installation of these batteries is starting with Lennar constructed homes in Hilltop Meadows, a subdivision of Voss Farms in New Braunfels, and Guadalupe Heights in Seguin. This means homebuyers in those communities can own a home equipped with a backup battery storage system at no additional cost, from the start. Following this successful pilot project, it is GVEC’s hope to expand it across its territory.
For GVEC, Base’s model makes it possible for utility partners, like us, to utilize the energy stored on those batteries as a source of generation to support the Texas grid when demand or pricing is high, instead of paying for energy generated by natural gas, for example. In industry terminology, GVEC can dispatch the available battery storage capacity—using Base’s software platform—to lower generation and transmission costs for all GVEC members. Homeowners can access the Base app to view their battery’s real-time activity and performance, and maintain backup power in the event of an outage.
As the electric industry continues to lean more toward demand-side solutions, this is another collaborative approach that allows GVEC to strategically balance costs for the membership and overall grid reliability. Additionally, similar to our Tesla partnership, we are pursuing qualification for the ERCOT Aggregated Distributed Energy Resource (ADER) pilot program, which may unlock further value for participating members.
Outside of the Base battery project, GVEC members have opportunities to manage their energy use and be part of the solution through our Peak-Time Payback (PTP) program. One advantage to PTP is that it offers financial incentives to enrolled participants, and another is that members are eligible with either a smart thermostat or a battery system. Both options help reduce strain on the electric grid and provide initial and ongoing bill credits or rebates. As a reminder, members enrolled in our smart thermostat program from May to September will see their annual bill credit on their October or November bill, depending on the billing cycle.
If these technologies aren’t right for you, another helpful way to control energy use is to utilize the MyGVEC app, which offers convenient access to account management tools. Through the app, you can track and compare usage patterns across time periods and set usage alerts. Newly integrated AI analytics also help by displaying personalized insights into your energy consumption. If you currently use the SmartHub app, please remember to transition to the MyGVEC app using your existing credentials before SmartHub is retired on December 15, 2025.
Whether you’re a new home buyer, renting for the first time or managing a long-established household, each and every member can participate in the effort for energy solutions—as a contributor, a saver and a partner in progress.
