Understanding Smart Battery

David Energy is designed to offer a different kind of energy to customers in Texas: Smart electricity.

Smart electricity is the answer to updating our power grid for the 21st century. It means that homes and businesses, already enabled by smart energy devices like EVs, batteries, thermostats and more, can work with the grid to lower their electricity costs and make our power more reliable.

The standard operating model of electricity today is one where consumption of electricity is unpredictable, making the grid difficult and expensive to manage. Smart electricity allows two-way communication between your home energy system, the grid, and your power company, enabling homes to more efficiently use power without impacting individual comfort or function. This also enables better data about energy use to flow to the grid, helping to lower costs and increase reliability.

Homes are becoming smart-enabled and producing more and more of their own power every day. David Energy’s smart electricity model – enabled by software designed to complement and enhance your system – makes the most of these capabilities to make bills lower and homes run smoother every day.

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Accessing your account

Adjusting your backup reserve

Logging in

To log in to your account:

Visit the login page.
Click “Send a login code” to receive a secure login link, or enter your password and click “Sign in with password”.

Setting a password

If you’ve never set a password before, you can choose the option to “Set a password” after entering your email address. (The “Set a password” option is under the “Send a login code” option.)

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If you forgot your password

Enter your email address and choose the “Reset your password” option. You’ll receive an email with instructions on how to reset your password.

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You can adjust your battery reserve level directly in your battery manufacturer’s app. We’ll never deplete your battery below the reserve level that you set.

Your David Energy app will also show the reserve level that you have set for your battery if you want to confirm your settings.

Adjust your reserve level at any time you need. Increasing your reserve level will decrease your credit amount; decreasing your reserve level will increase your credit amount.

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Adjusting your settings

Battery Optimization credits

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Once you’ve connected your vehicle, you can adjust most of your settings in the David Energy app, or from your portal. However, you’ll need to set your maximum charge level directly from your vehicle’s app.

Settings

Finish charge by time: The time you need your vehicle charged to the minimum charge level. For example, the time you need to leave for work in the morning and would like your car ready.

Minimum charge level: The percentage you need your vehicle’s battery to be charged to by the finish charge by time. You can select a lower minimum charge level to increase your opportunity for charging savings, as this gives Smart Charging more flexibility to find low prices.

On/Off: Click the toggle to turn Smart Charging on or off. When you turn Smart Charging off, you’ll also be given the option to pause for 12 hours instead.

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Where to find your credits

You can find your Battery Optimization credits on your bill under “Other Charges or Credit Adjustments”.

Find your latest bills by visiting your David Energy portal.

How to earn a larger credit

You can earn a larger bill credit by lowering your backup reserve level. This allows Battery Optimization to manage more of your power and can give you additional earnings.

You can adjust your backup reserve level in your battery manufacturer’s app at any time and Battery Optimization will adapt to your desired level.

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Connecting a BMW

You can connect your BMW via the David Energy app. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

To connect your BMW via the David Energy app:

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Click the “Connect Device” button at the bottom of the page.

Choose the “Electric Vehicle” option and click “Connect”.

Select your vehicle brand from the list.

Click “Continue”.

Click “Continue to BMW”.

When prompted, log into your BMW account. Once you sign in and grant permissions, you’ll be redirected back to the app to complete the connection.

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Connecting a Tesla

Elements of an electricity plan

You can connect your Tesla via the David Energy app. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

To complete the connection, you’ll need to be in your vehicle with your Tesla key card.

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To connect your Tesla via the David Energy app:

Click the “Connect Device” button at the bottom of the page.

Choose the “Electric Vehicle” option and click “Connect”.

Select your vehicle brand from the list.

Make sure you are in your vehicle and you have your Tesla key card and click “Continue”.

Review the data that will be shared and click “Continue”.

When prompted, log into your Tesla account and connect your vehicle via Bluetooth. Then, you’ll be redirected back to the app to complete the connection.

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Electricity plans include a variety of elements that impact your total bill each month. Consider the following elements when shopping for an electricity plan:

Import rates

How much you pay for the electricity your home uses from the grid, typically in cents per kWh. These rates can be fixed (you always pay the same per kWh) or variable (the rate you pay may change).

Export rates

Specific to solar or solar + battery homes, this is how much your electricity company will pay you for any power your home produces and sends back to the grid.

TDU delivery charges

Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) charges are how much you pay for your utility (Oncor or Centerpoint) to deliver the electricity to your home. These are different from how much you pay for the power you use from your electricity provider.

TDU charges are set based on your geographic location, and will be the same across plans from different providers. They are typically made up of a charge per kWh you consume, as well as a base fee.

Additional fees

Some plans come with base fees or other fees on top of the charges for how much electricity you consume. Consider this when you look at overall costs.

Additional credits offered

Some plans offer additional credits or bonuses for certain behaviors, or may have benefits for specific devices or types of homes.

Special terms and conditions

Read the fine print to make sure you understand any terms and conditions that come with your plan. Some plans will have special structures like weekends free, or have eligibility requirements like being a net importer (you can’t sell back more power than you consume) on a solar buyback plan.

Contract Length

Electricity contracts come in various lengths. This is the time period in which the rates and terms of the contract are locked. Terms can range from multiple years to several months, or be month-to-month, which often means that the prices will change each month that you are on the plan.

Early Termination Fee

The cost for ending the contract before its term is over.

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How Smart Charging works

Your Smart Charging preferences

To use Smart Charging, you’ll first connect your car to the David Energy platform. Here, you’ll choose your preferred configuration: Your desired maximum charge level, your desired minimum charge level, and your “finish charge by” time – when you’d like your charging to complete each day. Smart Charging will optimize your charging within these preferences.

Grid monitoring

Smart Charging works by monitoring grid conditions in real time to determine the best time to charge your car. EV charging consumes a large amount of power in a short period of time relative to the rest of your home, so it provides a lot of opportunity to align that consumption with grid conditions to charge with cheaper and cleaner energy.

Smart Charging signals to your EV to start, stop, or pause charging throughout the day based on when you can charge for the lowest energy cost.

Charge time optimization

When you plug in your car, Smart Charging calculates how much time it will take to reach your preferred charge level. It then looks at your “finish charge by” time, and determines how much extra time you have to pause or shift your charging windows, and still reach your desired charge level.

This means that if you plug in without enough time to reach your desired charge level, Smart Charging will prioritize charging your car immediately instead of waiting for low prices – so your car is first and foremost charged when you need it to be.

Charging in this way is safe for your EV and complies with manufacturer recommendations on battery health.

Bill credits & charging insights

Each month, you’ll receive a bill credit for the money you saved on charging.

Weekly, you’ll receive an email that details how much you charged, your average cost to charge, and how much you saved on charging.

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How it works

How long has David Energy been in business?

Battery Optimization monitors multiple inputs to determine how to most effectively utilize your battery’s power in your home at any given time. From variations in your home’s consumption and the production of your solar panels to what’s happening with the grid in your area, each day is different when it comes to electricity. That means that your home energy system needs to adapt in order to perform at its best.

If a battery is kept in the same mode every day, you miss opportunities to use power effectively and save money on electricity. Battery Optimization is designed to monitor the most important factors that affect your home’s energy and determine the best way for you to use power that day.

Grid conditions

Battery power is extremely valuable to the grid at varying times throughout the day. Battery optimization monitors grid conditions minute by minute and signals battery exporting when power is needed the most.

Whole home optimization

To ensure you’re using battery power most effectively in your home, Battery Optimization monitors multiple factors, including your plan’s import and export price, TDU fees, your home’s energy usage, and grid conditions. These factors determine the mode your battery is placed in.

Bonus program participation

As a retail electricity provider, David Energy can access ERCOT programs that offer additional incentives for providing power to the grid. Battery Optimization allows you to participate in these programs to earn additional credits.

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How to connect your battery: Enphase

David Energy was founded in 2019. Since then, we’ve served commercial customers in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Texas. We expanded our business to include residential customers in Texas in 2023, and have served thousands of homes across the state since.

How to connect your battery: Powerwall

Connecting your battery only takes a few minutes.

To connect your Enphase battery

Log into your portal via the David Energy website or app.

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On the website, select “Connect Battery” from the “My Devices” panel on the left side. On the app, select “Connect Device” on the main page, and select your device type.

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Review the program terms and click “Next.”

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Select your battery type, and click “Connect.”

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Click “Continue.”

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When prompted, log into your Enphase account.

After being redirected back to the David Energy site, you’ll be asked to enroll in grid services. Click “Enroll.”

Once your battery’s capabilities are verified, you’ll receive an email confirmation letting you know that the connection was successful.

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To connect your Tesla Powerwall battery:

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Log into your portal via the David Energy website or app.

On the website, select “Connect Battery” from the “My Devices” panel on the left side.

Review the program terms and click “Next.”

Select your battery type, and click “Connect.”

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Click “Continue.”

Review the data that will be shared and click “Continue.”

When prompted, log into your Tesla account to connect your Tesla and David Energy accounts.

Contact Tesla to enable Energy Exports. Reach out to them via email or phone 1-877-961-7652 and ask that they enable "Energy Exports" in your app.

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Once Energy Exports are enabled, your battery is ready for Battery Optimization. You’ll receive an email letting you know that the connection was successful.

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How you will be billed

You’ll receive your invoice via email one or two business days after your utility company reads your meter. Your meter read date is determined by the area you live in, however it will be around the same day each month.

Your payment will automatically be charged no sooner than 16 days after you receive your invoice.

If your bill is for a negative amount, those credits will be rolled onto your next invoice.

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Immediate charge

Pausing Smart Charging

To charge your vehicle immediately, you can pause Smart Charging.

To pause Smart Charging:

From the “My Devices” page in your website portal or the David Energy app, select your vehicle.

Click the toggle to turn Smart Charging off.

Choose the option to pause Smart Charging for 12 hours.

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Your car will start charging immediately once plugged in. Smart Charging will resume again in 12 hours.

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Mobile app & web portal

You can manage your battery’s connection and settings through either the David Energy app or the web portal. Download the app for iOS here or Android here, or access the web portal here.

Current battery settings

You can see your battery settings in the David Energy app and in your portal. Select your device to see your current battery charge, your current reserve level, and your battery mode. Learn about battery modes.

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Paying your bill

Your payment will automatically be charged no sooner than 16 days after you receive your invoice.

To change the payment method on your account, log into your portal, and visit the Payment Methods tab to make the update. You can link your bank account, or a credit or debit card.

Reading an EFL

What is an EFL?

An Electricity Facts Label (EFL) shows the details of your plan including your charges, your solar buyback rate, and your contract term.

Every provider will have their own EFL based on their rates and terms, however every EFL will have a similar format.

Your David Energy EFL

You can view your EFL in your portal.

Your average price per kWh is your total energy rate, including what you’ll pay your provider (David Energy) and your TDU charges.

Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) charges are how much you pay for your utility (Oncor or Centerpoint) to deliver the electricity to your home. TDU rates can change a couple of times a year.

Learn more about the elements of an electricity plan.

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Reading your bill

Your invoice is broken down into two main sections: your charges and your credits.

Charges

Fixed Rate: Your rate with David Energy multiplied by your usage amount.

Delivery Charges: Your delivery charges from your utility company (CenterPoint or Oncor). Delivery charge rates may change a couple of times a year, and include a flat fee plus a fee based on your usage amount.

Credits

Export Earnings: Your export amount from your solar and/or battery system, multiplied by your export rate.

EV Earnings: Your credits based on your Smart Charging amount.

Battery Earnings: Your Battery Optimization credits, based on your reserve amount and battery size.

Your Total Current Charges will include your charges minus earnings. This amount will automatically be charged no sooner than 16 days after you receive your invoice.

Sample bill

Find a sample David Energy bill below.

Renewing or cancelling

About three months before your contract end date, you’ll receive an email notifying you of your renewal options. You’ll also receive monthly reminders before your contract ends.

Renewing your contract

Choose the renewal option in the renewal email, or log into your portal and click the renewal option at the top of the page.

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If you don’t renew your contract or switch to a new provider before your contract end date, you’ll be moved onto a month-to-month plan. You can cancel this plan at any time without an early termination fee.

Switching to a new provider

‍You don’t need to cancel service with us. Your new company will automatically cancel your service.

Moving

If you’re moving and need to transfer your contract or cancel your service, please contact support. If you’re moving out of our service area, your early termination fee will be waived.

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Seeing your savings

EV earnings on your invoice

You can find your Smart Charging savings in your monthly invoice under “EV Earnings”. You’ll see the amount charged and the amount credited.

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EV charging insights

You’ll receive weekly updates on how your car is charging, including your charging stats, so you’ll know what you can expect in your monthly invoice.

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Supported batteries

Battery Optimization is currently compatible with the following models. If your battery brand or model is not supported, you can request it here.

Tesla

Powerwall series

Enphase

Enphase IQ series

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Supported vehicles

Smart Charging works with Tesla and BMW EVs.

Vehicles from Ford, Audi, MINI, VW, Mercedes, and more are eligible to participate in our Smart Charging beta program. Please email texas@davidenergy.com to request to join the beta.

If your vehicle is not supported, please request it here.

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The clean energy grid

The David Energy mission is to run the grid 100% on clean energy. This happens by empowering homes and businesses everywhere to power themselves as effectively as possible – leading to lower costs, more reliable power, and a completely clean energy system.

The clean energy challenge

Today, renewables are the cheapest source of power we can create. When they are producing electricity the generation costs are effectively zero, because there are no fuel costs.

However, renewables like solar and wind are intermittent – meaning that there is no way to control when they produce electricity (i.e. when the sun shines and the wind blows). Currently, when renewables are not producing enough low-cost electricity to meet the demand of the grid, those gaps are filled by generating electricity from expensive fossil fuels like gas.

Most of the current grid infrastructure is outdated and not designed to work with these intermittencies, causing outages and expensive challenges. This is why electricity costs to consumers are not decreasing as quickly as low-cost renewable energy generation is increasing.

The distributed grid

Utilizing the low-cost electricity of renewables as effectively as possible and removing the need for these fossil fuels can be accomplished through something called the distributed grid. This means that instead of many homes consuming electricity from a few large power plants, much more power is generated on-site at those homes from things like rooftop solar. This is already happening today, but it’s still not able to completely eliminate the need for fossil fuels.

That’s where smart electricity comes in. By connecting the smart devices that produce and consume energy in thousands of homes, the grid becomes much more flexible – adapting in real time to what’s happening across the network. Power, particularly renewables, is used more efficiently and effectively, reducing costs for homeowners and decreasing the frequency of outages. The more homes that join the network, the more effective it becomes: Continuing to reduce the need for fossil fuels and make electricity more and more affordable over time.

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The smart business model

Understanding Power Pioneer

David Energy operates differently than traditional power companies, with plans specifically designed for smart device owners due to the unique benefits they can provide.

Traditional power companies operate by trading for power in the wholesale electricity market. Based on the purchases they make in these wholesale markets, they then offer consumers different plan structures that allow them to lock in fixed rates and not have to be subject to volatile variations in wholesale market pricing.

Part of the cost of a traditional fixed rate plan comes from the strategies electricity companies employ to protect themselves from volatility, much like buying insurance.

David Energy’s model works differently. By integrating with smart devices and helping homes use power more effectively and flexibly, we don’t have to use as many of these insurance strategies. This means our operating costs are lower than other power companies, and we pass those savings on to our customers in the form of credits and lower rates.

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Understanding Smart Battery

What is Power Pioneer

Power Pioneer is an electricity plan for homes that do not have rooftop solar panels. This means that it offers rates for the electricity you use in your home, and doesn’t offer solar buyback for any excess power solar panels send to the grid.

Terms and details

Power Pioneer is available in Oncor and Centerpoint service areas. Currently, it is offered in a 12-month term. For the most up-to-date rates and information for your area, get a quote here.

Connected device options

With Power Pioneer, you can connect an electric vehicle to your account and earn bill credits through EV Smart Charging. Learn more about Smart Charging.

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Understanding Smart Battery

Connected battery plans

Fixed or variable battery credits: Most plans offer credits for your battery. These credits may be a fixed amount, or vary based on your battery’s exports or program performance.

Specifics on how your battery will be used: Connected battery plans will detail what will happen with your battery, including power exporting or other activities to earn credits.

What is Smart Battery

Battery connection & credits

Import and export rates

Smart Battery offers a fixed rate for imports, and an export rate for any excess solar you sell back to the grid. To see the most up to date rates for your area, get a quote here.

Terms, fees and cancellation

Smart Battery does not have a base fee. Early cancellation is subject to an early termination fee. To see the most up to date terms for your area, get a quote here.

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Connected battery plans

Fixed or variable battery credits: Most plans offer credits for your battery. These credits may be a fixed amount, or vary based on your battery’s exports or program performance.

Specifics on how your battery will be used: Connected battery plans will detail what will happen with your battery, including power exporting or other activities to earn credits.

What is Smart Battery

Battery connection & credits

Import and export rates

Smart Battery offers a fixed rate for imports, and an export rate for any excess solar you sell back to the grid. To see the most up to date rates for your area, get a quote here.

Terms, fees and cancellation

Smart Battery does not have a base fee. Early cancellation is subject to an early termination fee. To see the most up to date terms for your area, get a quote here.

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What is a REP

What to expect from Smart Charging

In Texas, Retail Electricity Providers (REPs) are companies that sell electricity to consumers in the State’s deregulated areas, which represent about 85% of Texans. REPs purchase power from generation companies who produce the electricity, and develop different types of electricity plans, allowing customers to benefit from competitive pricing and diverse service offerings. REPs are licensed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to ensure fair practices.

REPs often offer different options like fixed rates, solar buyback, and different contract term lengths, as well as providing billing and customer service. REPs can also offer additional tools to customers, including ways to understand and reduce their electricity usage and manage their smart devices to get better results.

What to expect from your battery

When your vehicle is Smart Charging, it’s normal for your vehicle to delay charging when first plugged in, or pause and resume charging multiple times during a charging session.

This allows you to charge in real-time alignment with grid conditions in order to charge at the lowest cost and on cleaner electricity. Because grid conditions change day to day, your charging may look different from one day to the next.

You can view your vehicle’s connection status in the David Energy app or web portal. If you need to immediately charge and want to skip your Smart Charging adjustments for that day, you can also do so in the app or web portal. Learn more about immediate charge.

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Where is David Energy available?

Battery Optimization places your battery in the mode that provides the most benefit to your home throughout the day. This gives you the ability to lower your electricity bills by using your power most effectively.

Battery Optimization signals your battery to utilize one of the four modes below depending on what is best at any given time, while taking into account your chosen backup reserve level. In the David Energy app, you can see which mode your battery is currently in.

Grid Exporting mode

Your battery will export power to the grid to earn credits. Battery Optimization signals your battery to export when 1) power is valuable to the grid and 2) you would earn more by selling your power now than if you saved it to use in your home later on.

This also considers replacement costs for power your home will need from the grid after your battery has exported. This ensures that exporting is done only at times that you can see a net benefit from selling your power.

Self Consumption / Self Powered mode

Your battery will power your home. Battery Optimization places your battery in Self Consumption mode when it is most effective to use battery power yourself.

Storm Protection mode

Your battery will charge to full to maximize the protection available to your home in the case of an outage.

You may see your battery’s mode listed as “Storm Guard” or “Storm Watch” depending on your battery’s manufacturer.

Grid Charging mode

Your battery will charge from the grid. This happens at times when it is forecasted that there will be high grid value for power later in the day, so your battery can charge now in order to have more power to export later and earn additional credits.

Backup reserve level

Regardless of the mode your battery is in, it will never deplete below the reserve level that you set in your manufacturer’s app. For example, if you have set your backup reserve to 20% and your battery is in Grid Exporting mode, it will dispatch your power down to the 20% level and pause there.

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In Texas, we serve residential customers in Oncor and Centerpoint service areas. To see if we’re available in your zip code, click here.

Why Battery Optimization

Battery Optimization is a home energy management software that helps your battery power be used more effectively in your home so that you can save on electricity.

That means a system that works together with your home and electricity plan to lower your bill – without having to give up control of your backup power. Battery Optimization is designed to be paired with David Energy electricity plans like Smart Battery.

Save more on electricity

Battery Optimization allows you to earn credits to lower your electricity bill each month.

The right settings, every time

Battery Optimization works by signaling your battery to change its mode or activity based on grid conditions or home consumption. Depending on conditions throughout the day, you can save more on electricity by enabling your battery to perform different activities instead of leaving it in one mode at all times. Learn more about what to expect with Battery Optimization

Works with your backup power preferences

Battery Optimization works with any backup reserve level you choose, as long as you keep it under 100% and have power to optimize with. You do not have to adhere to a specific battery reserve level to receive battery credits on your bill.

Why Power Pioneer

No hidden or base fees

Power Pioneer is a plan without any hidden or base fees, meaning you only pay for the electricity you use from David Energy, without additional charges.

Straightforward rate structure

With Power Pioneer, you pay one low rate for all of the electricity that you use. The rate does not change based on how much power you use, what time of day you use it, or other stipulations. This allows you to easily manage and understand your electricity bill without the complexity and expense of timing your electricity use correctly or managing a changing rate.

Simple rate for home with device benefits

Plans that offer device benefits, like those for EVs, often come with complex rate structures or higher-than-average prices for home use that offset the device savings.

That’s why Power Pioneer is not an EV-only electricity plan. It offers a low, straightforward rate for home with optional add-on benefits when you use EV Smart Charging – meaning you can get a plan that’s good for your home and good for your EV for more overall electricity savings.

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Why Smart Battery

Designed with smart features for more electricity savings

Smart Battery is designed to work with Battery Optimization, David Energy’s smart feature that helps you use battery power more efficiently. Paired together, they deliver better battery value and lower bills for many homes. To understand how this may perform for your specific system, visit our plan comparison tool.

A connected plan with control

Many connected battery plans stipulate that your battery reserve level must remain at a certain level or disabled in order to earn credits. Smart Battery is designed so that you can earn credits at the battery reserve level that you choose, enabling you to maintain control of your battery while lowering your electricity bills.

Never sacrifice your protection or resilience

Smart Battery is designed to work together with your battery’s built-in Storm Guard or Storm Watch settings that make sure you have maximum protection ahead of forecasted weather events. This is different from other connected battery plans, which may disable storm protections as part of their terms.

Solar buyback and battery credits

Smart Battery includes solar buyback, meaning that you will receive both battery credits as well as export credits for solar you sell back to the grid. To see the most up-to-date buyback rates for Smart Battery in your area, get a quote here.

No hidden or base fees

David Energy plans do not have any hidden or base fees, meaning that you won’t pay any surprise charges. These are often hidden in complex plan structures or specific usage terms. To understand how to interpret the exact details of our and other plans, learn how to read an electricity facts label here.

If you are switching to Smart Battery and connect an eligible battery to the David Energy platform, you can be reimbursed for your early termination fee from your previous provider up to $150.

Risk-free trial

Smart Battery offers a 60-day free trial, meaning that if you cancel within 60 days of your contract start date, you will not have to pay an early termination fee.

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Why Smart Battery

Smart features for more electricity savings

A connected plan with control

Never sacrifice your protection or resilience

Solar buyback and battery credits

No hidden or base fees

If you are switching to Smart Battery and connect an eligible battery to the David Energy platform, you can be reimbursed for your early termination fee from your previous provider up to $150.

Risk-free trial

Smart Battery offers a 60-day free trial, meaning that if you cancel within 60 days of your contract start date, you will not have to pay an early termination fee.

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Why Smart Charging

Lower charging costs

Receive bill credits every month for charging your EV with Smart Charging, reducing your cost to charge and lowering your overall electricity bill.

Simple rates for home

Smart Charging works with any of the electricity plans offered by David Energy. This means that you can choose the plan that works best for your home, while also getting the benefits of reduced charging costs for your EV.

Charge on cleaner energy

Smart Charging works by helping your EV charge at times when electricity is cleaner and cheaper, while also ensuring that you get the charge you need. When your car intelligently chooses the best times to charge, you are able to power it with more energy from renewable sources than fossil fuels and contribute to driving a sustainable, low-emissions vehicle.

Support grid reliability

Because Smart Charging aligns your charging to times when electricity is cheaper and cleaner, your car will consume energy during times when the grid is under less strain. By shifting non-essential charging to these hours, you contribute to grid health and reliability.

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