Battery backup
Keep your lights on when the grid goes down
Solar panels alone shut off in an outage. A home battery stores your solar power and keeps your home running when the grid fails. A typical 13.5 kWh battery averaged about $15,650 installed in 2026, and 68% of Texas solar quotes on EnergySage included one.
Why DFW homeowners add a battery
- Backup: fridge, lights, Wi-Fi, fans and medical equipment keep running — more with the right design.
- Lower bills: use your own midday solar in the evening instead of selling it back for a low credit.
- Peace of mind: more than 4 million Texas customers lost power in Winter Storm Uri (2021).
How big a battery do you need?
| Goal | Typical setup |
|---|---|
| Essentials | 1 battery (13.5 kWh) |
| Essentials + some AC | 1–2 batteries + AC soft-start |
| Whole home | 2+ batteries with load management |
One 13.5 kWh battery runs a 1 kW essentials load for about 12 hours. With solar recharging it each sunny day, backup can stretch across multi-day outages.
Tesla Powerwall 3 at a glance
13.5 kWh usable, 11.5 kW continuous power, built-in solar inverter, 10-year warranty. We also compare modular options like Enphase when they fit your home better. Powerwall 3 vs Enphase →
Battery vs. generator
A natural-gas standby generator runs about $10,000–$13,000 installed, plus fuel and upkeep. A battery is silent, switches over automatically, needs no fuel, and with solar it lowers your bill every day.
Own your battery
There’s no federal homeowner credit for batteries in 2026, so we price it honestly and help you own it with cash or a solar loan — no lease, no escalator.
Frequently asked questions
How long will a battery power my house?
Divide usable capacity by what you run: 13.5 kWh covers a 1 kW essentials load for about 12 hours, less with AC. Solar recharges it each sunny day.
Can a battery run my central AC?
Often, if the battery’s output and motor-start rating match your unit — Powerwall 3 delivers 11.5 kW continuous. AC drains energy quickly, so we size for it.
Can I add a battery to solar I already have?
Usually yes. Many batteries connect without replacing your solar inverter; we check your panel and utility approval first.
Is there a tax credit for batteries in 2026?
No. The federal homeowner credit (§25D) ended after 2025 for solar and batteries.