What Do You Pay for a Base Power Battery If You Never Buy It?
Summary
Base Power keeps ownership of the battery for the whole agreement. The homeowner pays an installation fee and, in Texas, a monthly membership, and buys electricity from Base. Base's example for the Oncor area in Texas is a $695 installation fee, $19 a month and an all-in rate of 13.9 cents per kWh. The battery agreement runs 12 years, and canceling early brings a $500 deinstallation fee.
Texas and Illinois pricing
| Item | Texas (Oncor example) | Illinois (ComEd area) |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | $695 | $95 for the first 2,000 homes (was $695) |
| Membership | $19/month ($19 or $29 depending on plan) | $0 |
| Energy rate | 13.9¢/kWh (7.7¢ plus delivery) | 25–27% below ComEd's Price to Compare |
| Energy term | typically 3 years | 24 months |
There is also a $50 refundable deposit, and a recharge port for a 240 V portable generator costs $1,000 more. Base does not offer payment plans for the installation fee. In Illinois the customer still gets a single bill from ComEd, and Base says installation and service will start by fall 2026. Keeping a Base battery requires staying with Base as the electricity provider.
In normal times Base schedules charging and discharging around grid demand and energy prices, and the homeowner does not pay for the electricity used to do it. Solar is not required. For homes that have it, Base says it buys back 100% of excess production at 4 cents per kWh.
How long the backup lasts
The Base Core holds 39.2 kWh of total energy behind an 11 kW inverter. It switches over in 50 milliseconds, and during an outage all of the stored energy goes to the home. Base's help center gives these estimates for one battery.
| Household use | Load | Backup time |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge, freezer and lights | 750 W | 22–36 hours |
| Typical appliances, some A/C | 1.5 kW | 12–18 hours |
| Heavy appliances, more A/C | 4 kW | 4–6 hours |
The battery will not turn on if the home is drawing more than 11 kW. Base's product page also advertises roughly 36 to 72 hours with one or two batteries, while the specification page says up to 36 hours at reduced usage. The specification page lists a 12-year lifetime, and a help article says 15 years.
Canceling or moving
Canceling during the 12-year agreement costs $500 for removal labor, and damage to the battery can add fees. A seller can transfer the agreement to the buyer. If the buyer declines, the battery comes out and the $500 fee may apply.
Shopping for one? Browse home backup power stations →
Sources
- Base Power — Base Core Specifications
- Base Power — Base Core
- Base Power — Pricing
- Base Power — Illinois (prices as of June 15, 2026)
- Base Power Help — Who owns and operates the battery?
- Base Power Help — Battery cost and ongoing costs
- Base Power Help — Agreement term and cancellation (10283073)
- Base Power Help — Charging and discharging control (10282753)
- Base Power Help — Capacity and inverter (10280513)
- Base Power Help — Backup duration (10195777)
- Base Power Help — 11 kW limit (10627905)
- Base Power Help — Using Base without solar (10281537)
- Base Power Help — Transfer when selling a home (10286785)
We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.