Solrite Energy launches $20/month home battery program in Illinois

Illinois is the latest example of how a state can embrace virtual power plants and see results almost immediately. Today, Solrite Energy announced its entry into the Illinois market with a program that provides households with battery energy storage for $20 per month and makes the batteries available to support the local power grid.

The move comes as Illinois pushes to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase grid resilience. The state has set a target of 40% renewable electricity by 2030, and the grid has faced rolling blackouts during heat waves. Virtual power plants, which aggregate many small battery systems, can balance supply and demand in real time, reducing strain on the grid and cutting peak‑price electricity costs for consumers.

Under Solrite’s plan, residents install a 3‑kWh battery at home. The battery is charged from the grid during off‑peak hours and can be tapped by the utility when demand spikes or when renewable output dips. Solrite will manage the batteries through a cloud platform, ensuring that homeowners earn a share of the revenue generated when the batteries supply power back to the grid. The company says the $20 monthly fee covers installation, maintenance, and a small portion of the grid services fee, leaving a net benefit for subscribers.

Next steps include a pilot phase in the Chicago suburbs, where Solrite will partner with the local utility to integrate the batteries into the grid’s demand‑response program. If the pilot proves successful, the company plans to roll out the service statewide. The program could spur a wave of home battery adoption across Illinois, helping the state meet its renewable goals while giving consumers a new way to lower electricity bills.