© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
Some people noted that energy lost during battery charging and discharging could also affect savings.
Photo Credit: iStock
Adding a second home battery may seem like a useful way to make the most of rooftop solar. For one Oregon homeowner, however, the upgrade meant fewer electricity credits heading into fall and power bills that went “nuts.”
The homeowner in Hood River, Oregon, turned to a Reddit community to ask whether installing a second home battery was worth the reduced electricity credits sent back to the grid.
“It seems the 2nd battery isn’t worth the grid credits,” the original poster wrote. “Anyone else have this conundrum?”
When solar production drops, the homeowner can draw on credits earned from earlier exports. The utility credits exported electricity at a one-for-one rate and does not charge more during peak hours, the homeowner explained.
For homeowners weighing similar purchases, EnergySage offers a way to explore battery products and compare competitive installation estimates, with utility billing arrangements an important consideration.
EnergySage also partners with electrification company Qmerit, with the stated goal of helping homeowners find the best available battery-storage pricing.
The OP had set the system to self-consumption mode with a 20% reserve, allowing most of the stored electricity to power the house rather than remain available for outages.
A California commenter with two 5P batteries prioritized using solar power at home because their utility offered little compensation for exports.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
Stored electricity typically kept that home running overnight. During the day, the batteries reached full charge by midday, and surplus solar generation supplied electric vehicles.
Another commenter encouraged the OP to compare household electricity use across summers. Others noted that energy lost during battery charging and discharging could also affect savings.
Beyond potential bill savings, the additional storage could give the OP more backup power during outages and greater energy independence. Appropriately configured systems can also support off-grid use.
Several commenters suggested raising the OP’s reserve setting so the household would use less stored electricity each day.
One recommended keeping 85% to 100% available for outages. Another suggested limiting discharge to the amount of energy used by the original single-battery setup.
The OP had not reported whether any changes helped. They were considering a 60% or 70% reserve and testing a schedule that would charge the batteries from the grid in the early morning and prevent discharge until sunset.
For households seeking a smaller backup option, Pila offers a plug-and-play alternative at a substantially lower price point than whole-home backup systems.
The California commenter also suggested trying the savings profile if the OP wanted to prioritize exports, rather than staying in self-consumption mode.
Whether a home battery pays off depends in part on your utility’s rates and solar export credits, as many homeowners have found.
• A solar homeowner’s bill barely changed after export rates dropped, prompting suggestions to add batteries.
• A Connecticut homeowner said solar credits vanished despite higher output, raising concerns about buyback arrangements.
• California’s 80% export credit cut steers new solar buyers toward batteries costing over $14,000.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source