Green Bank backs PURAproposal to shift battery incentives toward performance, proposes direct-pay options for low-income and multifamily projects

The Connecticut Green Bank said it supports PURA's proposal to restructure the state's Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) incentives by favoring longer-term performance payments and a smaller one-time enrollment payment, and described two financing options that could front-load some of the performance revenue for eligible projects.

Why it matters: The shift is intended to reduce ratepayer risk tied to system nonperformance, improve alignment with federal tax credits for some ownership models and prioritize underserved and low-income customers. Green Bank officials said the change will require updates to enrollment systems, data sharing, and contractor outreach before a planned launch.

The Green Bank presentation said a simpler program that pairs a single upfront enrollment incentive with performance-based annual payments would make the program easier to explain to customers and help grow participation beyond early adopters. "One-time, no-strings-attached enrollment incentive plus truly optional performance-based incentives can really help customers and salespeople also really understand the program and encourage enrollment," Edward Kranich, associate director…