If you have a compatible home battery and PECO electric service, PECO's Flex & Save Rewards program will pay you $80 per kW for letting it discharge your battery during peak demand. PECO says most participants average about $480 a year. The next season starts January 1, 2027.
The program is worth a look, but it isn't for everyone. People on PECO's Time-of-Use rate can't join without leaving that rate, only certain battery brands qualify, and your payment depends on how your system actually performs.
How the program works
Flex & Save pays you for the power your battery delivers during called events, in two seasons each year. Events may be called on any non-holiday weekday and typically last two to four hours. PECO won't call an event when severe weather is forecast for your area, so your battery stays available for an outage.
| Season | Dates | Event windows | PECO's example payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | January 1 to end of February | 7–9 a.m. and 6–8 p.m. | 4 kW × $80 = $320 |
| Summer | June 1 to August 31 | 2–6 p.m. | 2 kW × $80 = $160 |
The example is PECO's own illustration for a system with 10 kW of capacity. It isn't a guarantee.
How your payment is calculated
The key number is your battery's average kW across all event hours in a season, multiplied by $80. It's a measure of power over time, so both your inverter and your stored energy matter.
A larger battery can hold a higher output through a four-hour summer event. Shorter winter events let the same stored energy deliver a higher average, which helps explain why winter pays more in PECO's example.
FranklinWH estimates up to $600 a year for one 15 kWh aPower battery at a 20% reserve: up to $200 in summer and $400 in winter. That is a manufacturer's best-case figure. Your own result depends on system size, configuration, event length, internet connection, and any events you skip.
Payments arrive by paper check within six weeks after each season ends. You must stay enrolled through the end of a season to be paid for it.
Who qualifies
You need three things, per PECO's program FAQ:
- PECO residential electric service, and not be on a Time-of-Use rate
- A supported battery system with a working internet connection
- An approved interconnection agreement for the battery through PECO's Green Power Connect team
You don't need solar panels. A battery that charges from the grid can participate.
The interconnection requirement is the one to check if your battery was added after your solar. If you aren't sure your agreement covers it, ask your installer or PECO's Green Power Connect team at 833-732-6334.
Which batteries are eligible
Four manufacturers are on PECO's eligible list as of November 2026.
| Manufacturer | Eligible batteries | Eligible inverters |
|---|---|---|
| Enphase | IQ Battery, including 3T, 10T, 5P and 10C | Paired with IQ8, IQ7 or IQ6 microinverters, or MC4 microinverters |
| FranklinWH | aPower X, aPower 2, aPower S | aPower S has a built-in hybrid inverter; aPower X and aPower 2 can AC-couple with any PV inverter |
| SolarEdge | SolarEdge and LG batteries | SolarEdge inverters |
| Tesla | Powerwall 2, Powerwall 3, Powerwall+ | Works with all solar inverters; Powerwall has an internal inverter |
Other brands can't enroll unless PECO adds them. That currently includes Sigenergy, Sol-Ark and EG4, which are not on the list. Sigenergy is coming soon; confirm current eligibility before enrolling.
Flex & Save or Time-of-Use?
You have to choose one. To switch, you must leave Time-of-Use first, and returning to PECO's fixed-price rate can take up to three billing periods. You then apply once the fixed rate is confirmed, so a switch made now could miss much or all of the winter season.
The two pay in different ways. Time-of-Use rewards shifting your usage away from peak hours on your regular bill, while Flex & Save pays a seasonal check based on event performance. Compare your actual Time-of-Use savings with a realistic Flex & Save estimate before you change anything. Call PECO at 800-494-4000 to leave Time-of-Use.
The tradeoffs
For most eligible homeowners with a battery already installed, the tradeoffs are modest. They are still worth understanding before you sign up.
- Less backup during events. PECO recommends a 20% reserve, and you can set your own. A higher reserve gives you more backup but earns less.
- Efficiency losses. PECO says you pay about 10% more for recharge energy than the discharged energy was worth. If you're with an alternate supplier, your supplier's rate structure could raise that cost.
- More battery cycling. Check how your battery's warranty treats throughput, since events could be called on many weekdays.
- Internet dependence. A lost connection can reduce your payment, and failing to keep a continuous connection is grounds for disqualification under the program terms.
- Program changes. The FAQ lists the program as available through May 31, 2031, but funds are limited and PECO can change or end it without notice.
- Legal terms. You accept the risks of participating and agree to binding individual arbitration, so read the terms before you apply.
You can opt out of an event through your manufacturer's app or by adjusting the device. Skipped events can lower your payment.
Should you buy a battery for this?
No, not for this alone. If PECO's illustrative payments of $320 per winter and $160 per summer repeated from winter 2027 through winter 2031, the total would be $2,240 across five winters and four summers, and that isn't guaranteed. The federal residential tax credit also ended for systems installed after 2025.
The stronger reason to buy a battery is backup power during outages. Flex & Save is a helpful bonus that can offset some of the cost.
How to enroll
- Confirm you are not on Time-of-Use and that PECO has approved your battery's interconnection.
- Enroll through your battery's page: Enphase, FranklinWH, SolarEdge or Tesla. Sigenergy is coming soon.
- Check that your mailing address is current, since payments come by paper check.
- Set your battery reserve and turn on app notifications.
PECO says acceptance can take up to two weeks. We didn't find a published enrollment deadline for the winter season, so apply well before January 1 to be safe.
Not sure if your battery qualifies?
Pennstar Solar can review your equipment and interconnection paperwork and help you decide whether Flex & Save makes sense for your home. We install new battery systems and also service systems installed by other companies.
Call 610-900-6405 or contact Pennstar Solar to request a review.
Program details are current as of November 3, 2026. PECO can change rewards and terms, so confirm them before you enroll. This article is general information, not financial or legal advice.
