FranklinWH Systems to Launch First U.S. City-Owned Residential Solar + Battery Pilot Program

Last Updated: May 2026 • Source: PR Newswire / FranklinWH Energy Storage

A landmark moment for municipal clean energy has arrived. FranklinWH, one of the fastest-growing residential battery storage manufacturers in the United States, has been selected to power the first city-owned residential solar and battery pilot program in US history. This groundbreaking initiative demonstrates that city governments — not just utilities or private developers — can directly own and operate distributed solar-plus-storage assets deployed across residential properties.

For solar installers, EPCs, municipal energy planners, and facility managers, this pilot represents a critical inflection point in how distributed energy resources are financed, owned, and managed at the community level. It also marks a major validation milestone for FranklinWH's intelligent energy management platform — the same technology now available through Portlandia Electric Supply.

Program Overview and Significance

The announcement marks a pivotal shift in how local governments approach the clean energy transition. For decades, residential solar and battery deployments have been financed and owned by either the homeowner directly, through third-party lease and power purchase agreements (PPAs) from private companies, or as utility-side infrastructure. This new pilot breaks that mold entirely — placing the city government in the role of asset owner and energy manager at the household level.

The model creates a city-managed Virtual Power Plant (VPP) composed of individual residential battery systems. By aggregating the storage capacity of dozens — and eventually hundreds — of FranklinWH battery units installed across qualifying homes, the city can dispatch stored energy during peak demand events, provide grid frequency response services, and strengthen local energy resilience during extreme weather events or grid outages.

How the City-Owned Model Works

The program structure is straightforward but represents a fundamental policy innovation. Qualifying residential homeowners within the city apply to participate. Upon acceptance, the city finances and installs a solar array plus a FranklinWH battery storage system on the home — at no upfront cost to the homeowner. The city retains legal ownership of both the solar panels and the battery system throughout the program term.

In exchange for hosting the equipment, participating homeowners receive a reduced electricity rate — paying the city below-market rates for the solar and battery energy their home consumes. Any excess solar energy is exported to the grid, and the battery systems can be called upon by the city for demand response events when local grid conditions require it.

FranklinWH Technology: aGate + aPower

FranklinWH's selection for this program was driven by the technical capabilities of its aGate intelligent energy management system — a device that functions as the central intelligence hub for the entire solar-plus-storage installation. The aGate coordinates solar input, battery state of charge, home energy consumption, and grid interaction in real time, enabling the sophisticated multi-stakeholder energy management this city-owned program requires.

The FranklinWH aGate X (AGT-R1V3-US) is the flagship model in this product line — an intelligent energy management system that goes beyond conventional hybrid inverters. It provides full home energy management including load control, solar optimization, battery dispatch, and two-way grid communication — all from a single, cloud-connected unit.

System Specifications and Capabilities

Benefits for Homeowners, Cities, and the Grid

The city-owned model creates a three-way value proposition that distinguishes it from conventional residential solar programs:

Why FranklinWH Was Selected

The selection of FranklinWH for this inaugural program was not accidental. The company's technology stack was specifically evaluated against the unique technical demands of a city-owned, multi-site, VPP-capable deployment — requirements that standard residential battery systems do not meet.

• VPP-Ready Architecture: The aGate's built-in two-way grid communication protocol enables the city to dispatch individual or aggregated battery units as a coordinated fleet — essential for the program's grid services revenue model.
• Dual-User Access: The monitoring and control platform supports simultaneous access by both the homeowner (for personal energy management) and the city operator (for fleet-level dispatch and reporting) — without conflict.
• LFP Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries offer a significantly longer cycle life (3,000–6,000 cycles vs. 1,000–2,000 for NMC) — critical for a city asset that will be actively cycled for grid services daily over a 10–15 year program life.
• Scalable Modular Design: The aGate + aPower architecture allows each home's storage capacity to be scaled independently as program funding expands or individual energy needs grow.
• Certification Portfolio: UL 9540, UL 1741, and IEEE 1547 certifications ensure the systems meet all utility interconnection requirements across US jurisdictions.

Industry Significance: FranklinWH's selection validates a critical argument the company has been making to the installer and developer community: that residential battery storage systems can and should be designed from the ground up for fleet-level management and grid services participation — not just as single-home backup power devices. This pilot demonstrates that architecture at full municipal scale.

Broader Impact for the Solar Industry

For solar installers, EPCs, and energy developers, the implications of this pilot extend well beyond FranklinWH or this single city. If the program demonstrates its projected performance and financial returns — and the early indicators suggest it will — it creates a replicable procurement and deployment model that hundreds of US municipalities could adopt over the next 5–10 years.

What This Means for Installers and EPCs

Source FranklinWH Systems Through Portlandia Electric Supply

Portlandia Electric Supply stocks the FranklinWH aGate X Intelligent Energy Management System (AGT-R1V3-US) — the same platform selected for the first US city-owned residential solar and battery pilot. Whether you are building a single residential installation or preparing a bid for a municipal program, our team can support your procurement with fast quoting, in-stock availability, and nationwide delivery.

As the FranklinWH city-owned model expands to additional municipalities, installers and EPCs who establish early familiarity with the aGate platform — its commissioning process, monitoring portal, and VPP configuration — will be best positioned to win those contracts. Portlandia's technical team can support your first FranklinWH deployment with product guidance, wiring documentation, and integration support.

Related Products

SolarEdge Energy Bank 10 kWh Battery - SE-BAT-10K1PS0B-01

View

APsystems, Xinyi Battery, 48V/5.76kWh, UL9540 Certified, IP-65 Outdoor Enclosure,

View

Ready to Deploy FranklinWH on Your Next Project?

The FranklinWH aGate X Intelligent Energy Management System is in stock and available for immediate shipment nationwide. Get a fast quote for single-unit residential orders or bulk procurement for commercial and municipal programs.

Shop FranklinWH aGate X Request a Project Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a city-owned residential solar and battery program?

A city-owned program means the municipal government — not the homeowner or a private company — finances and owns the solar panels and battery storage systems installed on qualifying residential properties. Homeowners pay the city a reduced rate for the energy their home uses. The city manages the battery assets as a fleet, enabling demand response and grid services while generating revenue to offset program costs.

Why was FranklinWH selected for this pilot?

FranklinWH was selected because its aGate intelligent energy management system supports the two-way grid communication and fleet-level dispatch capabilities required for a city-managed Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Its LFP battery chemistry provides the long cycle life needed for daily grid services cycling, and its dual-user monitoring platform allows simultaneous access by both the homeowner and city operator.

What is the FranklinWH aGate X and how does it differ from a standard hybrid inverter?

The FranklinWH aGate X is an Intelligent Energy Management System that goes beyond conventional hybrid inverters. In addition to managing solar input, battery storage, and grid interaction, it includes advanced load management, VPP communication protocols, and smart home energy optimization — all from a single cloud-connected unit. It is designed from the ground up for fleet-level management, not just single-home use.

Can other cities replicate this program model?

Yes — and that is explicitly one of the program's goals. The pilot is designed as a documented, replicable blueprint that other US municipalities can adapt. Cities can use the same program structure, FranklinWH technology, and VPP aggregation model to launch their own city-owned residential clean energy programs without starting from scratch. The success data from this pilot will be available to inform those future programs.

How do homeowners benefit if they don't own the equipment?

Participating homeowners receive below-market electricity rates for the solar and battery energy their home consumes — reducing monthly electricity bills with zero upfront investment and no equipment ownership risk. They also benefit from whole-home backup power capability during grid outages, provided by the FranklinWH battery system. At the end of the program term, the city may offer homeowners the option to purchase the equipment at a reduced cost.

Where can I purchase FranklinWH aGate X for my installation?

The FranklinWH aGate X (AGT-R1V3-US) is available through Portlandia Electric Supply with nationwide delivery. Contact our team for single-unit pricing, bulk project quotes, and technical support for your installation.