Palmetto launched a battery-only subscription service on July 8, 2026, that gives homeowners whole-home backup power without paying to buy the hardware outright, the company said. The Palmetto Energy Backup Plan replaces a purchase model that can cost $16,000 or more with a monthly subscription covering 12 years of hardware, service and repairs.
- No upfront payment for home battery storage
- 12-year subscription includes maintenance and repairs
- Live now in 25 states, with more planned
A gap in existing solar systems
About 4 million rooftop solar systems in the US have no battery backup, according to Palmetto, so they lose power when the power grid goes down even though the panels are still installed. Palmetto pointed to a U.N. warning that this El Nino year could bring more frequent and severe summer storms as a reason homeowners are looking at backup now.
"Most solar systems shut off when the grid does," said Chris Kemper, Palmetto's founder and CEO, calling battery storage "the missing piece of true home resilience."
How the subscription works
Customers manage the system through the Palmetto app, setting a backup reserve level and using stored power for energy arbitrage, drawing on the battery instead of the grid during expensive peak-rate hours to cut utility bills. Palmetto stays the single point of contact for service across the 12-year term.
A new pitch for installers
Palmetto also positioned the plan for its dealer and installer partners. Removing the upfront cost takes away the main objection buyers raise about batteries, the company said, making it easier for partners to close new sales or sell backup as an upgrade to existing solar customers.
