Ask me anything about home batteries
Most questions I get have a short answer, so I've put the common ones below. If yours isn't here, send it over — it comes straight to my inbox and I answer them myself.
Common questions
Will a battery actually lower my Dominion bill?
Depends on your rate plan and when you use power. On Rate 7, the savings come from not buying electricity during on-peak hours — the battery covers you instead. The analyzer runs your actual bill and tells you the number for your house, including when it isn't worth it.
I already have rooftop solar. Does this apply to me?
Yes, but differently. The systems covered here are behind-the-meter — they charge from the grid when power is cheap and run your home when it is expensive, without exporting anything back. That means no interconnection agreement and no changes to your net metering.
Will it power my whole house?
That depends on how it is wired and how big the battery is. Some setups back up the entire panel; most back up a set of essential circuits you pick. The analyzer asks which loads matter to you and sizes from there.
Does it switch on automatically when the power goes out?
Only if you have the transfer hardware. A battery on its own does not automatically take over — that requires a device like the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel or Anker’s Power Dock. Without one, you are manually plugging things in. This is the single most common misunderstanding I run into.
What does installation cost?
A licensed electrician quotes that, and it varies a lot — where your panel is, how far the cable has to run, copper vs. aluminum, permits, and your local inspector. It is a separate cost from the hardware itself.
Can I install it myself?
You can buy and place the hardware yourself. The electrical side — panel work, the transfer device, permits, and inspection — needs a licensed electrician in South Carolina.
Can you connect me with an installer?
I'm vetting local electricians right now, and I'm not recommending anyone until they clear that. Tell me you're interested and I'll reach out when I have someone I would use on my own house.
How do you make money?
Affiliate commissions on hardware links, and a referral fee if you hire an installer through me. Neither changes your price or the numbers the analyzer gives you.
Do you cover anywhere outside Charleston?
The analyzer works nationally if you enter your utility and rate details. The installer side is Charleston-metro only.
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