California program offers portable AC batteries to help renters cut peak-power use

California regulators and OhmConnect have launched a pilot program to provide renters with portable “AC battery” systems designed to reduce electricity use during peak demand hours and lower monthly bills.

Announced June 13, 2024, the initiative from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and California-based energy technology company OhmConnect supplies renters with a portable battery that connects to an air-conditioning unit. The battery charges during off-peak periods, when electricity is typically cheaper, and then helps power the AC during peak hours—generally 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.—to ease demand on the grid.

The system is designed to switch automatically between grid power and battery power to optimize usage. The program estimates participants could save about $200 a year on electricity bills.

The effort also aligns with California’s broader push to expand virtual power plants (VPPs) and improve grid stability as heat waves increase demand for cooling. The CPUC has set a goal of reaching 1,000 megawatts of VPP capacity by 2030.

Program organizers say a key goal is to make demand-response options accessible to renters, who may not be able to install devices such as smart thermostats that can require landlord approval.