My family has spent four summers in demand response programs, precooling our New York City apartment before switching off air conditioners during peak periods. This year, we kept window ACs running through a heat dome with two household batteries from Every Electric, part of about 1,000 NYC households in the free program.
Every Electric, founded by Andrew Wang and Richard May, loans batteries for a $30 deposit, with an option to buy for $650. Batteries charge at night and discharge during peak demand, managed remotely. Customers earn about $150 per AC annually through Con Edison’s Smart Usage Rewards.
“Being able to make air conditioners drop off the grid without impacting comfort was awesome,” said CEO Andrew Wang. The company rebranded from Standard Potential Co. in 2026, pivoting from sodium-ion R&D to residential virtual power plants.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing