Eh, What's Up, Power Grid? This Startup's Got Batteries... and a Plan!

Warming World? Time for a Power Up Doc!

Of course the world is warming up carrots ain't growing like they used to and the weather's doing the Watusi. But get this folks are wising up and grabbing backup batteries like they're going out of style. But hold on a minute! These batteries only last so long and there's this old geezer of a power grid just sitting there. That's where these virtual power plant fellas comes in. Sounds fancy right? Like something Elmer Fudd would cook up to catch me but it's managed through some kinda cloud based system.

Base Power: The Battery Bunny of Austin

So this company called Base Power out of Austin Texas is the brains behind this operation see? They ain't sellin' batteries; they're rentin' them out! It's like a carrot club membership but instead of carrots you get power. Their CEO Zach Dell is sayin' they install these batteries in folks' homes and use 'em to support the power grid when it's up and runnin'. And when it goes belly up? Bingo! Homeowners get that backup power. Plus they're savin' folks 10 to 20% a month on their electricity bills. Ain't that a kick in the head?

No Selling Just Renting (and Saving!)

Unlike those Tesla and Enphase varmints Base isn't pushin' batteries on ya. They own the whole kit and caboodle. Hardware software installation the whole shebang. They're like the Bugs Bunny of the energy world always one step ahead. Dell says they handle all the maintenance just like it's their own. What a maroon!

Cheap Power? I'm All Ears!

These Base fellas are playin' it smart. They charge the batteries when demand is low usually when everyone's sawing logs. Then when everyone's crankin' up the AC or heatin' up their homes they sell that power back to the grid. It's like a carrot farmer selling carrots when everyone's got the munchies. For a small fee and a monthly charge folks get reliable power generated from all sorts of sources: wind solar natural gas even coal.

Solar Power? Now You're Talking!

About half of Base's customers got solar panels which lowers their costs even more. They can even sell that power back to Base! Base compensates customers for the power they sell back calculated as the real time wholesale energy price plus an additional 3 cents per kilowatt hour. Buyback rates may vary depending on market conditions and other factors. It's like planting your own carrot patch and selling the extras at the farmer's market!

Lennar Gets in on the Act

Base is even workin' with Lennar one of the biggest homebuilders in the nation who is also an investor! They're installin' batteries during construction in communities in Texas. Lennar's big cheese Stuart Miller says it's about more than just money. It's about improvin' the home buildin' business and addressin' markets that are stressed. Base has raised a total of $268 million from investors including Lennar Thrive Capital Valor Equity Partners Lightspeed Venture Partners and Andreesen Horowitz. Base recently announced its first utility partnership near San Antonio. Dell says they're hopin' to spread the love outside of Texas soon. But the batteries are made in China and Dell figures he'll see some impact from those pesky tariffs. Well ain't that a stinker?