Sticker shock is almost unavoidable when homeowners start pricing out whole-home battery backup systems.
But one Ohio resident shopping for enough storage to support a geothermal system learned that a seemingly huge quote may not have been as outrageous as it first seemed.
Here's what to know
The estimate, shared by a homeowner in southwest Ohio to Reddit's r/FranklinWH community, totaled $55,100 for a whole-home backup package.
According to the original poster, the home has 400-amp service, and the proposed equipment included two aGates, three Franklin aPower 2 batteries, a smart circuit module, a generator module, and a 30-amp 240-volt generator plug. The bid also covered permits, labor, breakers, disconnects, wiring, other electrical components, and drywall repair if needed.
OP wrote that, "The price seems maybe $10k more than I was expecting. What do you guys think? ... Fair price?"
The commenters surprised the OP when they overwhelmingly chimed in to say the package quote wasn't as inflated as initially thought.
One commenter wrote, "This actually seems rather cheap for all this. Apower2 are usually $11k+ each. You need a lot of wiring and conduit work."
Another user called the quote "incredibly fair in my opinion," and a third said it "seems fair, borderline cheap."
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One user added, "Looks like a very fair price. I was quoted (and I rejected) $70k for roughly half of this equipment with a bunch of panels."
For comparison, one commenter from Massachusetts said they spent $32,680 on a system with two aPower 2 batteries and one aGate. They added that theirs came with solar and no add-ons, which may have pushed some of the electrical work into the solar portion of the project.
More background
Adding battery storage is one of the best ways to protect a home during outages. It can also help households save money on energy and make partial or full off-grid living more realistic, especially when paired with solar or other electrified systems. But those wanting to harness geothermal energy can expect higher upfront costs.
For readers doing similar research, it may help to explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
Another option is Pila, which offers excellent battery backup options. Its plug-and-play batteries are priced at a fraction of what a whole-home backup system would cost, making them worth considering for households that want emergency power without committing to a major installation.
Where can I learn more?
Other homeowners have run into similar sticker shock while pricing out backup power and electrification upgrades.
• In Ohio, a homeowner weighed a $50,000 solar setup and learned their bills may not vanish.
• In Virginia, HVAC pros said to get more quotes after a $12,000 heat pump bid.
• In central New Jersey, homeowners faced $15K to $20K HVAC quotes and questioned heat pumps.
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