Base Power Expands Into Chicagoland, Offering Lower Electricity Costs and Whole-Home Backup Power
Base Power has officially launched its services across the Chicagoland region, introducing a new energy solution designed to help homeowners reduce rising electricity costs while gaining access to reliable whole-home backup power. The company’s expansion marks its first market outside Texas and represents a significant step in its national growth strategy as electricity affordability and grid reliability become increasingly important concerns for households across the United States.
The launch arrives at a time when many residents in northern Illinois are facing higher utility bills and growing uncertainty about the stability of the electric grid. Through its innovative business model, Base Power installs a battery system in participating homes and uses those batteries to support the electric grid during periods of high demand. In return, customers benefit from lower electricity supply costs while also receiving backup power protection during outages.
Under the new offering available to customers within ComEd’s service territory, Base members will receive electricity supply rates that are at least 25% lower than ComEd’s default supply rate. The savings are intended to provide meaningful relief to households that have seen energy bills increase substantially over the past several years.
Unlike traditional backup generators or standalone battery systems, Base Power’s approach combines energy resilience with cost savings. Each installed battery serves a dual purpose. During normal grid operations, the battery helps reduce the company’s cost of serving customers by storing energy and providing support during peak-demand periods when electricity prices are highest. During outages, the battery automatically supplies power to essential household systems and appliances.
This capability is especially valuable in Illinois, where severe weather events have become increasingly disruptive. Recent storms across the region left more than 400,000 customers without power, highlighting the need for reliable backup energy solutions. Base’s battery systems can keep critical household equipment operating during such events, including sump pumps, refrigerators, lighting, communication devices, and other essential electrical loads.
According to Base Power leadership, Illinois was selected as the company’s first expansion market because of the combination of rapidly rising electricity prices and increasing stress on the regional power grid.
“This is our first market outside Texas, and we chose Illinois,” said Zach Dell, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Base Power. “Costs here are climbing fast and the grid is under real strain. Those are the exact conditions where a battery in every home does the most good, for the homeowner and for everyone on the grid.”
The company believes distributed residential batteries can play a critical role in addressing some of the challenges facing modern electricity systems. As energy demand continues to increase, particularly during extreme weather conditions, utilities and grid operators are searching for new ways to maintain reliability without relying solely on expensive infrastructure investments.
By aggregating thousands of residential batteries into a coordinated network, Base can help reduce pressure on the grid during periods of peak demand. This approach not only benefits participating homeowners through lower electricity costs but can also contribute to improved grid stability across the broader region.
The timing of the launch coincides with significant changes in electricity markets affecting Illinois consumers. Since the beginning of last year, ComEd’s supply rates have risen by more than 50%. Several factors have contributed to these increases, including capacity shortages within the PJM Interconnection market and higher fuel costs affecting power generation.
Electricity supply charges now account for more than half of a typical ComEd customer’s monthly bill, making them one of the largest household energy expenses. As a result, many homeowners are looking for alternatives that can provide greater control over energy costs.
Base Power’s entry into the market offers a new option for customers seeking both immediate savings and long-term energy security. The company’s model differs from many traditional retail electricity suppliers because it combines discounted electricity supply with physical energy infrastructure installed directly at the customer’s home.
The expansion into Illinois follows several years of rapid growth in Texas, where Base Power has established itself as one of the leading residential battery providers. Over the past three years, the company has expanded its customer base to more than 20,000 homes and secured over $1 billion in funding to support future growth and nationwide deployment.
The company’s success in Texas has demonstrated the potential of distributed energy resources to lower customer costs while strengthening grid performance. With Illinois serving as its first market beyond Texas, Base is aiming to replicate that model in regions facing similar energy challenges.
To support its operations in the Chicagoland area, Base Power is also investing in local infrastructure and workforce development. The company is opening a warehouse facility in Bloomingdale that will serve as a regional operations hub for battery installations, maintenance, and logistics.
In addition, Base is actively recruiting employees for a variety of positions, including electricians, warehouse personnel, and field operations specialists. Company officials expect to create approximately 50 local jobs over the next year as customer adoption expands throughout the region.
Service is currently available in numerous communities across ComEd’s territory, including Plainfield, Arlington Heights, Rockford, Joliet, Palatine, Evanston, Oswego, and Mundelein. Base plans to gradually expand coverage to additional communities as operations scale and demand grows.
Early customer experiences have highlighted both the financial and reliability benefits of the program. Omar B., a Base member from South Elgin, described the service as an affordable solution that effectively pays for itself through reduced electricity bills.
“Affordable whole-home battery backup that pays for itself and more through lower energy bills,” he said. “I’m so glad I heard about them coming from Texas to Illinois to be among the first to try their service. We recently lost power due to heavy storms and my Base backup battery system continued power with no issue. Very happy with their service and business model.”
Energy and environmental advocates have also expressed support for technologies that improve affordability while enhancing grid resilience. Jennifer Walling, Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Environmental Council, noted that innovative energy solutions will play an important role in helping families manage costs and supporting a more reliable energy future.
“As electricity costs continue to rise, we need solutions that help families lower bills while strengthening the reliability of our energy system,” Walling said. “Products like Base Power can reduce strain on the grid during periods of high demand, improve resilience during outages, and help households better manage their energy costs.”
To encourage early adoption, Base Power is offering a special launch promotion for homeowners in the Chicagoland area. The first 2,000 customers who enroll in the program will receive whole-home backup battery installation for just $95. The promotional rate represents a significant discount from the standard installation fee of $295. Additionally, customers will not be charged ongoing battery fees, further increasing the potential long-term value of participation.
As electricity costs continue to climb and concerns about grid reliability grow, Base Power’s arrival in Illinois introduces a new model that combines energy savings, resilience, and distributed grid support. The company’s expansion into Chicagoland may serve as a blueprint for future growth in other regions seeking innovative solutions to modern energy challenges.
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