Is a home battery worth it in Vermont?
Vermont is one of the better battery cases in this group: high electricity rates, real outage exposure, and Green Mountain Power's BYOD program paying $850 to $950 per kW. The federal Section 25D purchase credit expired Dec 31 2025, so a 2026 cash buyer gets $0 federal.
Vermont at a glance
- Average residential rate
- 25 cents per kWh
- Net metering
- Statewide net metering is available and credits excess generation, though the credit value has stepped down over time. Confirm current terms with your utility.
- State battery incentive
- Green Mountain Power Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): $850/kW for a 3-hour battery, $950/kW for a 4-hour battery (GMP territory). Confirm current caps and terms with the utility.
- Time-of-use plans
- Common and relevant here
What drives battery value here
Rural, tree-heavy grid with winter storms and ice, so outages are a real and recurring risk. Strong: high retail rates plus outage risk plus a generous utility BYOD credit all point in the same direction.
The federal picture in 2026
The federal residential purchase credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025, so a 2026 cash buyer gets nothing federal. The only surviving federal pathway is Section 48E, which a company claims on a lease or PPA. State and utility programs, where they exist, now do the heavy lifting.
Sources
- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a
- https://greenmountainpower.com/rebates-programs/home-energy-storage/bring-your-own-device/
Rates and incentive amounts change; always confirm current terms with your utility or program administrator.
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