Xcel Energy Residential Battery Connect Pilot Evaluation

This technical report evaluates Xcel Energy's Residential Battery Connect Demand Response Pilot, which ran for 18 months from March 2021 to September 2022. The pilot involved 125 residential customers who participated by allowing Xcel Energy to control their battery systems in exchange for a one-time incentive. The primary objectives included understanding battery performance during intervention and non-intervention days, exploring demand management capabilities, and gathering participant feedback. The report details the methodologies employed, including customer surveys and interviews, to assess battery performance and program operations. It outlines the various strategies tested during the pilot, such as Peak Load Reduction and Solar Time Shifting, and presents findings on battery usage patterns among participants. The evaluation indicates that most participants maintained their batteries for daily household needs, with Xcel Energy's events effectively overriding user settings. The report concludes with insights that will inform the next phase of the program, Renewable Battery Connect, expected to run through 2026.