A Solution for a Brighter Energy Future
A New and Innovative Opportunity for Customers
As the system operator, LUMA is responsible for helping to implement Puerto Rico’s public energy policy, including demand-reduction programs such as the “Customer Battery Energy Sharing” (CBES). The CBES is a next-generation program designed to leverage customer battery storage systems to increase the supply of energy available to the electricity grid during peak demand periods, to improve day-to-day service reliability and minimize the impacts of potential load shedding.
The CBES program will be implemented by LUMA in collaboration with companies known as Aggregators, who will enable participating customers to export energy from the customer’s battery storage systems during times with generation shortage.
CBES was recently approved by the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) to progress from a pilot to a program through fiscal years 2026 – 2028, including an expansion of participation and total energy required to meet grid needs in both immediate and ongoing scenarios.
In particular, PREB has approved an expansion of the program during Summer of 2025 to help alleviate impacts from potential generation shortfall, which both the Department of Energy (DOE) and Puerto Rico’s government have announced an energy emergency which requires swift action to deliver immediate energy solutions.
This opportunity is available to residential and commercial customers that have a battery storage system connected to a photovoltaic system (PV) and are enrolled in LUMA’s Net Energy Metering Program. Customers cannot be enrolled with more than one aggregator at a time.
Participants in this program are asked to supply some of the stored energy from their batteries to their home or to the grid during peak load conditions. All customers who participate will be compensated by their aggregator.
Additionally, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) has approved changes to LUMA’s recently expanded CBES program in preparation for anticipated grid events this summer which will also allow Aggregators with existing contractual terms established with their customers to be able to leverage “Auto-Enrollment” in addition to current Manual Enrollment pathways.
If LUMA forecasts that the following days, or day of, power needs will exceed the either available generation supply or minimum peak reserve level needs, a “CBES event” may be scheduled to make use of some of the renewable energy produced and stored by enrolled solar PV customers with storage. CBES event occurs when all available generation resources are in use and the system is unable to meet forecasted energy requirements, as determined by LUMA in its responsibility as system operator.
Third-party aggregators, independent from LUMA, enroll customers and manage their participation. If an event must be initiated, aggregators are notified by LUMA. The aggregators then notify customers.
Customers do not have to do anything; the aggregator or Distributed Energy Resource Management system will trigger the export of specified power from each enrolled battery system. Those systems send power from the customer’s batteries into their home or to the energy grid to increase overall supply. Only a portion of each customer’s stored energy will be exported during an event, to ensure the customer maintains a backup reserve, as specified by the customer. Customers may opt out of any event at any time with no penalty.
Participating customers will be compensated for the energy they provide from their battery during CBES events. Customers receive payment from their aggregator, which is dependent on the contract between the customer and the aggregator. Total payment may depend on the amount of energy provided by the customer’s battery during each event. This next-generation VPP solution will contribute to better system reliability reducing the impacts of potential generation shortfalls for all customers while incorporating clean, renewable energy into Puerto Rico’s electric grid.
To enroll in CBES, all eligible customers may either manually sign up with an approved aggregator or be auto enrolled by their aggregator, if eligible. The aggregators listed below have been approved by LUMA for participation in the CBES. Please contact one of our approved aggregators to enroll in the pilot program.
Phone: (787) 991-7007
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sunnova.com
Phone: (833) 324-5886
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sunrun.com
Phone: (818) 824-6363
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sonnenconnectusa.com
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://enphase.com/installers/grid-services/luma-customer-battery-energy-sharing-program
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.tesla.com/support/energy/virtual-power-plant/puerto-rico
Phoner: +1 (888) 354-7528
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://flip.energy
Phoner: +1 (877) 497-6937
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.fortresspower.com/
When CBES Events occur and how long they may last?
Events may occur any day of the year, excluding holidays, though primarily during the months of April – November. These events can last an average two to four hours.
How will I know when there is an Event?
LUMA will notify aggregators in advance of an event. Your aggregator will notify you and automatically dispatch customer specified stored energy from your battery back to your home or to the grid.
Can I opt-out of an Event?
You may opt-out of any Event by notifying your aggregator or through your aggregator’s platform, but you will not receive payment for that event.
How much power do I need to provide?
Your aggregator will provide the requirements for participation and can enroll you in the program, if you are eligible. The amount of power you will be able to supply will depend on the size of your PV system and the storage capacity of your batteries and your personal preferences.
How much will I get paid?
Payment terms are defined by the aggregator with whom you are enrolled.
Will I notice any change in my electric service during an Event?
Your batteries automatically supply stored energy to the energy grid. You shouldn’t notice any difference in your home’s power supply during an Event.
Will all of the energy in my battery get used in a DR Event?
No, only a portion of the energy in your battery will get used during a DR Event. The amount of your battery capacity used during a DR Event is up to you and should be discussed or determined with your Aggregator when you are enrolled in the program.
Can I participate if I don’t have battery storage as part of my system?
No. Your system needs to have battery storage and be registered in LUMA’s Net Energy Metering Program.
For Aggregators
Companies interested in becoming an approved Aggregator must have the necessary capabilities and resources to:
If your company is interested, please email [email protected] for more information