Duke Energy Florida Launches Residential Battery Storage Pilot in Orlando

More than 75 homeowners in the Hunter's Creek neighborhood are participating in the 10-year program to evaluate how home battery systems can support the electric grid.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Duke Energy Florida has launched a residential battery storage pilot project in the Hunter's Creek neighborhood of Orlando. As part of the initiative, battery energy storage systems (BESS) have been installed in more than 75 participating single-family homes to help manage energy use and support the electric grid during high-demand periods. The 10-year pilot will evaluate how home battery systems can be used for demand response by supplying stored energy during times of peak demand, and also return excess stored energy to the power grid.

Why it matters

This pilot program aims to help Duke Energy Florida better understand how residential battery systems can support both customers and the electric grid, especially during periods of high energy demand. The data collected will inform strategies for improving energy efficiency and reducing overall consumption across the utility's service area.

The details

The Generac battery systems installed in participating homes serve as both backup power sources and energy management tools. Under normal conditions, the systems remain idle or charge during off-peak hours, but during high-demand periods, Duke Energy can dispatch the batteries to discharge power simultaneously for one to three hours, easing strain on the grid. Participants do not need to change their energy usage habits, and the pilot project does not impact their utility billing.

  • The pilot program was launched in February 2026 and will remain in place for 10 years.

The players

Duke Energy Florida

A subsidiary of Duke Energy that owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity and supplies electricity to 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Melissa Seixas

President of Duke Energy Florida.

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What they’re saying

“This pilot helps us better understand how home battery systems can support both our customers and the electric system during times of high demand. By learning from this project, we can explore practical ways to use energy more efficiently while continuing to provide reliable service to the communities we serve.”

— Melissa Seixas, President, Duke Energy Florida (Duke Energy)

What’s next

The 10-year evaluation of the pilot program will support ongoing research into strategies for improving energy efficiency and reducing overall consumption.

The takeaway

This residential battery storage pilot program in Orlando's Hunter's Creek neighborhood is an innovative effort by Duke Energy Florida to explore how home battery systems can be leveraged to manage energy use and support the electric grid, ultimately leading to more efficient and reliable energy services for customers.