Spread across thousands of ordinary homes, Vermont's home battery system has become the state's largest power source. Run by Green Mountain Power (GMP), the programme installs two batteries in participants' homes for $55 a month over a 10-year lease. Pollyanna Bladyka of Springfield joined in 2024 to avoid outages, saying she did it for herself but doesn't mind helping the environment.

More than 5,500 Vermonters now have similar systems, forming a virtual power plant that mimics traditional resources. These batteries provide energy security during storms and reduce grid demand. Megan Browning in northern Vermont also reports no power loss since installation, even during severe windstorms.

GMP saw enrolment surge in 2023 after state regulators lifted a cap, with steady growth continuing. The virtual plant now serves as Vermont's biggest power source, offering resilience against outages in a rural, cold-climate state where prolonged blackouts can be life-threatening.