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Base Power reviews 2026: 63/100, and what the battery really costs

We scored Base Power on public records alone: state complaints, fines, its contract, its prices, its license and its BBB grade. Then we priced its home battery from Base’s own papers. No company can pay for a score here.

Published 19 min readBy The Day Company review team · How we score
2 of 5PUCT complaint rating
B+ at the BBBBBB accredited
Short answer

By the public record, Base Power is middle of the pack. It scores 63 out of 100 (Fair), tied for 12th of the 25 Texas companies we’ve rated. The state rates it 2 of 5 for complaints. The catch is the battery: $695 up front plus $19 a month, on a separate 10-year contract with binding arbitration. You never own it.

Base Power at a glance63/100 · Fair
What we like
  • No state penalties found since its 2024 license
  • No arbitration clause in the electricity contract
  • A 30-day free-cancel window on the electricity plan
  • 14.6¢ in Houston at 1,000 kWh, under the 15.88¢ Texas average
  • A 39.2 kWh battery for $695 up front; Base maintains it and pays to charge it
What to watch
  • 2 of 5 from the state for complaints, and 8 complaints in September 2026
  • No 12-month plan: every Base plan runs 36 months
  • The battery is a second, 10-year contract with binding arbitration
  • $19 a month for one battery, which you never own
  • Selling your home takes 90 days’ notice and a buyer who takes over the deal

Best for homeowners in Houston or Dallas–Fort Worth who want whole-home backup and plan to stay put. Skip it if you may sell soon, or if someone at home relies on medical equipment. Base says its battery can’t be counted on for that.

Signing up for the battery?

Ask three questions first, and get the answers in writing.

  1. Which battery am I getting? Base picks the model, and its free-install deal is for a first-generation 25 kWh unit.
  2. Which agreement is this? The posted one runs 10 years and renews. Base’s help center says 12.
  3. Is that promise in writing? Base’s promotion terms say a sales rep’s spoken promises aren’t binding.
Price my battery →
What do you need right now?
Compare Base with plans in my ZIP

A partner runs the plan finder and may pay us if you sign up through it. Scores can’t be bought, and Base isn’t our partner.

Built on public data from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Power to Choose plan export of Oct 15, 2026, Base’s fact labels, terms of service and battery agreement, Base’s help center, Texas license records, the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the BBB. All 22 sources are listed at the end.

01 · The score

How does Base Power score?

Base Power earns 63 out of 100, which we rate “fair.” It gets full marks for fines and 19 of 20 for price. It drops the most points on state complaints, its contract terms and its short time in business.

Complaints to the state
10 / 25
BBB rating
3 / 5
Fines and penalties
20 / 20
Contract fairness
9 / 20
Price
19 / 20
Time in business
2 / 10
Score history
  • October 16, 2026: 63 at launch.

The state’s next complaint scorecard will take in September 2026, when Base drew 8 complaints, its most in any month. A drop to 1 of 5 would cost 5 points and put Base at 58, in our Poor band. Base reaches five years licensed on March 8, 2029, worth 2 more points if nothing else changes.

90–100 Excellent80–89 Very good70–79 Good60–69 FairUnder 60 Poor

That makes Base tied for 12th of the 25 Texas companies we’ve scored, one point behind Chariot Energy, level with Veteran Energy and one ahead of Frontier Utilities and Reliant Energy.

How Base Power compares with the other Texas companies we’ve scored
Base Power
63

All 25 companies we’ve scored, each with one public-records formula. Ties are listed A to Z, and bars start at zero. See the full Texas ranking.

Why you can trust this score. Base can’t buy a better score, and no one else can either. Each point traces to a public record, and every company faces the same formula. See how we score.
See the evidence behind every point
Base Power score evidence
CategoryPointsEvidence
Complaints to the state10 / 252 of 5 on the PUCT’s September 2026 complaint scorecard, covering March 1 to August 31, 2026. The state labels that group “Higher than Average Rate of Complaints.” Texans filed 11 complaints about Base in that window.
BBB rating3 / 5B+ and BBB accredited, per the BBB’s search listing (BBB Heart of Texas) on Oct 15, 2026. A B+ earns 3 of 5 points.
Fines and penalties20 / 20No PUCT penalty case under any Base name, and nothing found on the Texas Attorney General’s site.
Contract fairness9 / 20Cancel fee of $20 for each whole month left on 36 months, up to about $700 (0 of 5); no arbitration or class-action waiver in the electricity contract (4 of 4); two extra fees, $25 for a disconnection and $25 for each disconnection notice (2 of 4); no simple 12-month plan (0 of 4); a 30-day free-cancel window (3 of 3)
Price19 / 20No 12-month plan exists, so we scored Base Energy 36, its energy-only plan. Power to Choose lists no Base plan for Dallas, so we used Houston alone: 14.6¢ at 1,000 kWh on the Sept 7, 2026 label, 92% of EIA’s 15.88¢ Texas average for July 2026.
Time in business2 / 10Licensed March 8, 2024, under five years (0); a bill payment help program named in its customer-rights sheet (2); no published audited financial statements (0)

Two close calls, shown in the open. Averaging in Base’s own Dallas label (15¢) would cut price to 18 points and the total to 62. Skipping the bill-help line, which sits in Base’s customer-rights sheet instead of its main terms, would make it 61. With both, Base would score 60, still Fair.

Base Power quick facts

Base Power quick facts
Legal nameBase Texas REP, LLC, doing business as Base and Base Power, PUCT certificate 10338
Battery companyBase Power Development, LLC, a separate company
Licensed in TexasSince March 8, 2024
FoundedSummer 2023, in Austin
Homes served“More than 20,000” in June 2026, Base said; its site now says “30,000+”
Electricity plans36-month fixed plans only
Battery price39.2 kWh Base Core: $695 plus $19 a month; two for $995 plus $29
Where it sellsElectricity in 5 utility areas; battery plans in CenterPoint and Oncor areas

Next: what the battery costs at your usage →

02 · The real cost

What does Base Power really cost?

In Houston, 1,000 kWh a month costs about $146 on Base’s fact label. One battery adds $19 a month, plus $695 paid in full on install day. Over the posted 10-year battery deal, those fees add up to $2,975.

What Base Power really costsFrom Base’s own prices
How many batteries?
Your area
Moving or selling before then?

Before taxes. Power prices come from Base’s Base Energy 36 fact labels (Houston, Sept 7, 2026; Dallas–Fort Worth, Oct 7, 2026), delivery included. They’re fixed for 36 months; after that, we assume the same price, which can change. Battery fees are from Base’s price pages on Oct 15, 2026. The posted battery agreement runs 10 years and 1 month; Base’s help center says 12 years. We don’t save what you enter.

See plans that fit my usage

Partner toolWe may earn a fee if you sign up. It never changes our scores.

The 36-month math

Base’s power plan runs 36 months, so start there. Base charges the same price per kWh with or without a battery. So the gap in this chart is simply the price of backup.

What 36 months of Base costs in Houston at 1,000 kWh a month
Base energy only
$5,257
Texas average price
$5,717
Base + 1 battery
$6,636
Base + 2 batteries
$7,296

Our math from Base’s Houston fact label of Sept 7, 2026, its battery prices and EIA’s 15.88¢ Texas average for July 2026. Before taxes. Bars start at zero.

Over those 36 months, one battery adds $1,379, or about $38 a month. Two batteries add $2,039, about $57 a month. Without a battery, Base came in about $13 a month under the Texas average at 1,000 kWh.

Why Base’s quoted rate is lower than what you pay

Base’s website quotes its all-in rates at 2,000 kWh a month. Its help center says that’s “simply the standard usage level” for Texas ads. But the average Texas home used 1,096 kWh a month in 2024, the EIA says. The state makes every fact label show prices at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh, so you can check your own level. Our page on the average Texas electric bill has more.

On Base’s label, usage hardly moves the price, since there’s no base charge: 14.4¢ at 2,000 kWh vs. 14.6¢ at 1,000 in Houston. The bigger gap is the membership. It isn’t part of the per-kWh price at all.

What 1 kWh really costs in Houston at 1,000 kWh a month
Base’s label price
14.6¢
Texas average
15.88¢
With the $19 fee
16.5¢
Plus $695 over 36 months
18.4¢

Our math from the Sept 7, 2026 Battery Plan label, which shows the same 14.6¢ as the energy-only plan. Before taxes. Bars start at zero.

Is the battery deal 10 years or 12?

Base’s own papers don’t agree. The posted agreement ends one month after its 10-year mark, then renews for another 10 years if you do nothing. Base’s help center says the deal for its 39.2 kWh batteries “is for 12 years.” And an older agreement, still linked from the help center, ran until the battery fell to 60% health. Ask which version you’re signing.

Battery fees by how long the deal runs
1 Base Core2 Base Cores
3 yearsWhen the power plan ends
$1,379
$2,039
10 yearsThe posted agreement
$2,975
$4,475
12 yearsThe help-center term
$3,431
$5,171

The install fee plus the monthly membership, at Base’s Oct 15, 2026 prices. No early-end charge. Bars start at zero.

Next: the two contracts behind those numbers →

03 · Two contracts

What are you signing when you get a Base battery?

Two contracts, with two companies. Your power deal is with Base Texas REP, LLC. Your battery deal is with Base Power Development, LLC. The battery agreement calls them “two distinct entities,” and the two deals give you very different rights.

Base’s electricity contract and battery agreement, side by side
WhatElectricity contractBattery agreement
How long36 months, at a fixed price10 years and 1 month. It renews for 10 more unless you opt out in writing within 30 days. The help center says 12 years.
Free cancel30 days after you enroll3 federal business days
Leaving early$20 per whole month left on the energy-only plan; none on the Battery Plan$500 if Base takes the battery back; its fair market value if it isn’t returned
DisputesThe PUCT’s complaint process; no arbitration clauseBinding one-on-one arbitration in Austin; class actions waived; claims expire after 2 years
MovingNo cancel fee if you show proof of the move90 days’ notice, and your buyer must sign Base’s transfer form
Other rulesAutopay required; unused credits are lost when you leave, but solar credits come back by checkBase must stay your power company; you keep the internet on at your cost; Base keeps all tax credits and rebates

From Base’s Energy Terms of Service (v20260601), its fact labels and the battery agreement on its site (dated Dec 2, 2025). Your signed copies govern.

Four lines in the battery deal to read twice

  1. 1
    Disputes skip the courtroom

    They go to binding arbitration, one customer at a time, through JAMS or the AAA, with hearings in Austin. Class actions are waived.

  2. 2
    Two years to make a claim

    A claim runs out two years after you knew, or should have known, about the problem.

  3. 3
    A cap on what Base owes

    Base’s liability is capped at $15,000 or the battery’s fair market value, whichever is greater.

  4. 4
    Base must stay your power company

    The deal holds only while Base Texas REP serves your home. Switching away can count as an early end, which costs $500.

The power contract is kinder to you. It has no arbitration clause and a 30-day free-cancel window. Move and show proof, and there’s no cancel fee. At renewal, if Base can’t match the average market price, you may leave free, “including any cancellation charge under a battery service agreement.” The default renewal is month to month, and you can cancel it any time with no fee.

Your battery deal on a timeline

  1. Day 1You sign the power plan and the battery agreement, and pay a $50 deposit.
  2. First 3 federal business daysYour only window to cancel the battery deal for free.
  3. First 30 daysYou can still cancel the power plan with no fee. That doesn’t end the battery deal.
  4. Before installBase applies for a permit, and your deposit stops being refundable.
  5. Install day, usually within a few weeksYou pay the $695 install fee in full. Base offers no payment plans.
  6. Month 36Your fixed power price ends. If Base can’t match the average market price then, you can leave free.
  7. 10 years and 1 monthThe posted battery agreement ends. Do nothing, and it renews for 10 more years. You get a 30-day window to opt out in writing.

Near month 36, see what to do when an electricity contract ends.

04 · Backup

How long will a Base battery keep your power on?

Base says one 39.2 kWh Base Core runs an average home for 12 to 18 hours, and up to 36 hours if you cut back. Heavy use can drain it in 2 to 6 hours. Its contract says backup “cannot be guaranteed.”

Hours of backup from one Base Core, by how much power your home draws
Low useAbout 750 watts
22–36 hrs
Average useAbout 1.5 kW
12–18 hrs
High useAbout 4 kW
4–6 hrs
Very high useAbout 8 kW
2–3 hrs

Base’s help-center estimates. The scale runs from 0 to 36 hours, and the dark part of each bar is Base’s range. A home must draw under 20 kW for a Core to turn on.

Base Core vs. the first-generation battery

Base Core and Gen 1 battery specs, from Base’s spec pages
SpecBase CoreGen 1 (ground-mounted)
Stored energy39.2 kWh25 kWh
Typical backup12 to 18 hours8 to 12 hours
With reduced useUp to 36 hoursUp to 24 hours
Switch-over“Within seconds”Under half a second
Works from−22°F to 122°F14°F to 122°F
Noise55 dBA40 dB
Biggest home loadUnder 20 kW11 kW or less
Battery typeLFP (lithium iron phosphate), with a 12-year listed lifetimeNot listed

You may not get to choose. Base’s promotion terms say “Base assigns the battery model installed at your home.” Its free-install offer, listed from Sept 30, 2026 while supply lasts, covers the 25 kWh Gen 1 in CenterPoint and Oncor areas and for Farmers EC members. It waives the regular $695 install fee.

Base’s pages disagree on the minimum backup

“at least 5 hours” of backup with one battery, or “10 hours” with two, “at low energy usage”
Base help center
“minimum guaranteed charge covers 4 hours at low usage”
Base generator page
Base will “endeavor to maintain a minimum State of Charge… of at least 20 percent,” and backup “cannot be guaranteed”
Battery agreement

Base also gives two outage facts. One page says “97% of Texas outages last 4 hours or less.” Another says “97% of outages in Texas are less than 2.5 hours long.” Neither names a source. Those are claims about typical outages. In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl cut power to more than 2.1 million of CenterPoint’s 2.8 million customers, CenterPoint’s annual report says.

Need power for medical equipment? Base’s agreement says the battery “cannot be relied on to provide Energy or backup power” for health-related reasons or other critical needs. Plan for that need on its own. Our guide on what to do when the power goes out can help.

What install looks like

  1. 1
    A $50 deposit

    You pay it up front. It’s refundable until Base applies for your permit.

  2. 2
    Visit 1

    Your power goes off for 1 to 3 hours in the middle of the visit.

  3. 3
    Visit 2

    The 39.2 kWh battery takes a second visit, within three weeks of the first.

  4. 4
    Inspection

    The city usually inspects within a couple of weeks.

Base says installs typically happen within a few weeks of signing up, done by its own electricians. State records show Base Power, Inc. holds electrical contractor license 39054, good through April 15, 2027.

Who pays to charge it, and who else uses it?

Base pays. Its terms credit the power used to charge your battery at your energy rate plus delivery. Base owns the battery and keeps “any and all tax credits, rebates, incentives.” Base also says it takes part in ERCOT’s pilot program for pooled home batteries and other small power sources, called ADER. And its agreement has you keep your home internet on, at your cost.

Want a portable generator to recharge it? Base’s plan cards list a generator recharge port as “Included.” Its help center calls it an optional $1,000 add-on picked at checkout. Whole-home standby generators won’t work with it. Ask before you sign.

05 · Plans and prices

What does Base charge for electricity in 2026?

Base sells only 36-month fixed plans. On its fall 2026 fact labels, 1,000 kWh cost 14.6¢ per kWh in Houston and 15¢ in Dallas–Fort Worth, delivery included. The energy part is 7.7¢ on every label.

Words to knowkWh: a kilowatt-hour, the unit your bill counts.Fact label: the price sheet every Texas plan must post.Delivery: your utility’s charge for bringing power to your home.Membership: Base’s monthly battery fee, billed on top.
Base plans for Houston (CenterPoint), from Base’s fact labels and Power to Choose, October 2026
Plan500 kWh1,000 kWh2,000 kWhCancel fee
Base Energy 36Power onlyThe plan we score · label dated Sept 7, 202615.1¢14.6¢about $146/mo14.4¢$20 per whole month left
Base Battery PlanBattery requiredPlus $19 a month and $695 for one battery15.1¢14.6¢about $165/mo with the fee14.4¢None on the power; the battery deal has its own
“Base Plan Energia 36”Power to Choose, in SpanishThe state site’s listing; the label it links to says 14.6¢13.7¢13.2¢12.9¢“20/mes restante”

Prices per kWh from Base’s fact labels, delivery included, before taxes. Every plan runs 36 months, with a 7.7¢ energy charge and no base charge. In the AEP Texas and TNMP areas, Base sells power only. Base’s live price tool showed 14.7¢ for Houston on Oct 15, 2026, using a delivery charge of 6.54¢ instead of the label’s 6.413¢.

The state’s site shows a lower price than Base’s label. Base’s only listing on Power to Choose, in Spanish, shows 13.2¢ at 1,000 kWh on Oct 15, 2026. The fact label it links to says 14.6¢. That gap is about $14 a month at 1,000 kWh, or about $504 over 36 months. Base listed no plan in English, and none for Dallas–Fort Worth. Our Spanish guide to compañías de luz en Houston notes the Spanish-only listing too.

Where a $165 Houston bill goes with one Base battery
  • Base’s energy charge, 7.7¢ per kWh$77.00
  • CenterPoint delivery, passed through at cost$69.03
  • Base’s battery membership$19.00

Our math from the Sept 7, 2026 Battery Plan label at 1,000 kWh, before taxes. The $695 install fee is on top.

Delivery costs the same whatever company you pick, and it changes when your utility’s rates change. For details, see CenterPoint’s delivery charges or Oncor’s. New to these sheets? Here’s how to read a fact label.

06 · Where it’s sold

Where can you get Base, and what does it cost there?

It depends a lot on your utility. In Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth, one battery costs $695 plus $19 a month. Some co-op members pay far less, and El Paso Electric customers get paid.

Base’s Texas offers by utility, from Base’s utility pages, October 15, 2026
UtilityWhat Base offersBattery cost
CenterPoint (Houston)Power plus battery, or power only$695 + $19/mo for one; $995 + $29/mo for two
Oncor (Dallas–Fort Worth)Power plus battery, or power onlySame as CenterPoint
AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North, TNMPPower onlyNo battery plan
Austin EnergyBattery only; Austin Energy stays your utility$695 + $19/mo
Farmers ECBattery only; the co-op stays your provider$695, $0/mo
CoServBattery only; the co-op stays your provider$345, $0/mo
GVECBattery only; the co-op stays your provider$295, $0/mo
El Paso ElectricBattery only, on a 10-year hosting term$0, and Base says you’re paid $250 per battery; early removal costs $250 per battery
Bandera Electric Co-opCovered in Base’s help centerNot listed
What one battery costs up front, by utility
CenterPoint, Oncor or Austin Energy
$695
Farmers EC
$695
CoServ
$345
GVEC
$295
El Paso Electric
$0

From Base’s utility pages, Oct 15, 2026. The top bar also carries a $19 monthly fee. Farmers EC, CoServ and GVEC list $0 a month. Bars start at zero.

Base also sells in Illinois, in ComEd’s area, through a separate company. This review covers Texas only. Not sure which utility serves you? See who your electric utility is. Our Houston, Dallas and McAllen lists show every company selling there, with its state rating.

07 · Before you sign

Before you sign up

Checked Oct 15, 2026: Base listed just one plan on Power to Choose, for Houston, in Spanish. Each Base plan runs 36 months, and its battery plan adds a 10-year battery deal.

Base’s 36-month price makes a handy yardstick. Before you lock in for three years, see what else your address can get.

Compare electricity plansPartner tool

Type your ZIP to see the plans at your address, and sign up here if one fits.

Partner toolPlans and sign-up in this tool are provided by our partner, Blitz Ventures Inc., a broker registered with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (BR200046). If you sign up, it pays us. You don’t pay more, and it never changes our scores.

08 · Complaints

How many complaints does Base Power get?

More than average for its size, the state says. Texans filed 11 complaints about Base with the PUCT from March through August 2026, the window behind its 2-of-5 rating. Then came 8 in September 2026 alone, its most in any month.

Complaints about Base to the PUCT, by month

Shaded: March to August 2026, the six months behind the state’s September scorecard. Red: September 2026. From the PUCT’s complaint statistics, read Oct 15, 2026. Base had no complaints from March to September 2024. A complaint is a customer’s claim, not a ruling against Base.

What the 23 were about12 months to Sept 30, 2026

8 were about billing, 7 about starting service, 4 about being switched without permission, 3 about shutoffs and 1 about an added charge, the PUCT’s records show.

Growing fastBase’s own customer counts

Base said it powered more than 20,000 homes in June 2026, and its site now says 30,000+. The state’s rating already adjusts for size. It compares complaints per 1,000 customers.

What the complaints were about, October 2025 to September 2026
Billing
8
Starting service
7
Switched without OK
4
Shutoffs
3
Added charges
1

The PUCT calls these billing, provision of service, slamming, discontinuance and cramming. The state counts complaints whether or not the company was at fault. Bars start at zero.

Why September matters. The PUCT posts a new scorecard each month, based on six months of complaints per 1,000 customers. The next one will count September’s 8. In our formula, each step down the state’s 5-point scale costs 5 points.

See how Base stacks up on our page of complaints for every Texas electricity company. Switched by any company without saying yes? That page shows how to file with the PUCT.

09 · Regulatory record

Has Base Power been fined?

No. We searched the PUCT’s case files under every Base name and found no penalty cases, only license, report and rule-making files. The Texas Attorney General’s site search found nothing for Base.

  1. Summer 2023Base is founded in Austin.
  2. March 8, 2024The PUCT grants retail electric provider certificate 10338 to Base Texas REP, LLC.
  3. September 11, 2024Base Power, Inc. asks the PUCT to drop its separate broker registration.
  4. June 5, 2025A PUCT judge approves Base’s request to start collecting deposits.
  5. October 2, 2025Base opens a case to update its financial qualifications with the PUCT.
  6. September 2026Texans file 8 complaints about Base with the PUCT, its most in a month.
  7. March 8, 2029Base reaches five years licensed, worth 2 more points on our scorecard.

A license date that doesn’t match. The PUCT’s September 2026 scorecard lists Base’s license date as October 8, 2008. The PUCT’s own certificate and license record say March 8, 2024. We use the certificate. Using the 2008 date would add 4 points to Base’s score. The same 2008 date appears on three other companies’ rows.

How we checked: we searched the PUCT’s case files by case title and by filing party, under Base Texas REP, Base Power, Base Power Company, Base Power Development and Base Power, Inc. None of the matches was a notice of violation, a penalty order or a settlement. The Attorney General’s site search returned nothing for “Base Power” or “Base Texas REP,” while a test search worked fine.

10 · Solar

Does Base Power work with solar panels?

Yes, with limits. Base buys your extra solar power at 4¢ per kWh, but only on its battery plan. Its energy-only plan pays nothing for it.

Base for solar homes: Battery Plan vs. Base Energy 36
For solar homesBase Battery PlanBase Energy 36
Solar buyback4¢ per kWh, as bill credits that roll over with no capNone: “No, not under this plan”
Power cancel feeNone$20 per whole month left
BatteryA Base battery, under the 10-year agreementNot needed
What your home needsFrom Base’s help center
  • Solar that’s AC-coupled, meaning the panels have their own inverter
  • A 200-amp electrical panel
  • No home battery already in place
What to knowFrom Base’s terms and help center
  • Base can end your buyback “for any reason and at any time”
  • It isn’t built to store solar for nighttime use, Base says
  • Leave Base, and solar credits come back by check; other credits are lost

Already own a Tesla, Franklin or Enphase battery? Base won’t install its own battery at your home. But its help center says you can still sign up for its energy-plus-battery plan “and get that rate.” That plan’s label shows no power cancel fee.

Before you pick, compare other Texas solar buyback plans.

11 · Moving or selling

Selling or moving out with a Base battery?

Start 90 days ahead. Base’s agreement asks owners for 90 days’ notice, and your buyer has to sign Base’s transfer form. Without that, the sale counts as an early end, and that can get costly.

Find my Base notice dateFrom Base’s battery agreement

We count 90 calendar days back from your date. Base’s agreement sets the rules, and your signed copy governs. We don’t save what you enter.

See plans that fit my usage

Partner toolWe may earn a fee if you sign up. It never changes our scores.

  1. 1
    Give notice early

    Base’s agreement asks for 90 days’ advance notice before you sell.

  2. 2
    Ask your buyer to take over

    The buyer signs Base’s Tenant Assignment and Assumption Agreement, called the TAAA.

  3. 3
    No taker? Expect $500

    Base’s solar page says it removes and recycles the system for $500.

  4. 4
    Return or transfer it

    If the battery isn’t returned, Base’s transfer form warns you may owe “potentially over $10,000 per battery.”

  5. 5
    End your power plan free

    Base’s terms waive the power cancel fee when you move and show proof.

  6. 6
    Tell your agent

    Let your real estate agent know about the battery deal early, so buyers hear about it before an offer.

12 · Who owns it

Who owns Base Power?

Base Power, Inc., an Austin company co-founded in 2023 by Zach Dell, its CEO, and Justin Lopas, its COO. Investors have put in over $2.5 billion, Base says. We found no SEC filings by Base itself, so no audited financial statements are public.

$13BValuation after its August 2026 round
$2.5B+Raised to date, Base says
500+ MWhBattery fleet, August 2026
20,000+Homes powered, June 2026

The four Base companies on its website

Base Power, Inc.The company behind the brand, in Austin. It holds Texas electrical contractor license 39054.
Base Texas REP, LLCSells your electricity. PUCT certificate 10338. This is the company we score.
Base Power Development, LLCThe company on your battery agreement.
Base Retail, LLCHolds Base’s Illinois license, ICC #26-0121.

Base launched its Base Core battery in August 2026, built at “Base Factory 1 in Austin.” The launch came with a $1 billion funding round that valued Base at $13 billion. Ribbit, Addition, Valor Equity Partners and JPMorganChase’s Strategic Investment Group led it. Base also lists Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners as investors. It says it was named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list for 2026.

When the PUCT licensed Base in 2024, Base met the state’s money rules with an unaudited balance sheet, an affidavit and a letter of credit. So there are no audited numbers for the public to check. That’s why Base gets 0 of 2 points for audited financials in our score.

13 · Fees and contract

What fees does Base Power charge?

On the power side, Base lists a 5% late fee, up to $25 for a bounced payment and two $25 shutoff fees. The battery side adds its own, from a $200 late-reschedule charge to $500 to end early.

Base Power fees, from its terms of service, fact labels, help center and battery agreement
FeeAmountWhen it applies
Electricity contract (Base Texas REP)
Leaving early$20 a month leftEnergy-only plan, after the 30-day free window; $0 if you move and show proof
Late payment5%A one-time charge on a late bill
Returned paymentUp to $25Each payment that bounces
Disconnection$25If service is shut off for nonpayment
Disconnection notice$25Each time Base sends one
Battery agreement (Base Power Development)
Install$695 or $995One or two batteries, paid in full on install day
Membership$19 or $29 a monthOne or two batteries, for the life of the deal
Deposit$50Refundable until Base applies for your permit
Late reschedule$200Rescheduling too late, per the agreement
Late payment20%Of the past-due amount
Early end$500When Base takes the battery back
Battery not returnedIts valueBase says “upwards of $10,000 per battery”
Generator plug$1,000An add-on in the help center; plan cards say “Included”
What leaving Base Energy 36 early costs, by month
First 30 days
$0
Rest of month 1
$700
During month 12
$480
During month 24
$240
During month 36
$0

$20 times the whole months left on a 36-month term, from Base’s fact labels. Moving with proof also costs $0. The Battery Plan has no power cancel fee. Bars start at zero.

In your favorFrom Base’s terms and plan cards
  • Billing disputes can go to the PUCT; no arbitration on the power side
  • 30 days to cancel the power plan for free
  • No power cancel fee if you move and show proof
  • A free exit at renewal if Base can’t match the average market price
  • Base’s plan cards say it covers $250 of your old company’s cancel fees
Watch out forFrom Base’s terms and help center
  • Autopay is required for every customer
  • Leave, and unused credits are gone, except solar credits
  • The 30-day window covers the power plan, not the battery deal
  • The battery deal’s free-cancel window is 3 federal business days
  • No payment plans for the install fee

Claiming that $250? Check the deadline. Base’s help center says to claim within 30 days of paying your old company’s fee. Its promotion terms say within 90 days of your Base start date. Save your receipts either way.

Keep readingHow to switch electricity companies without a gap
14 · Contacts

Who do you contact about Base Power, and for what?

Base splits your service into two contracts, so the right door depends on the problem. Bills and the battery go to Base. Outages go to your utility. Disputes go one way for power and another for the battery.

Who handles what for Base Power customers
Your problemWhoHow
Your bill, plan or batteryBaseBase’s help center at help.basepowercompany.com
A disputed electric bill Base won’t fixThe PUCT1-888-782-8477 or customer@puc.texas.gov; Base’s terms say you can contest any disputed part of your bill there
A dispute about the batteryAn arbitratorJAMS or the AAA, with hearings in Austin, under the battery agreement
Power outYour utilitySee the numbers below

Power out? Call the company that owns your lines

CenterPoint (Houston)713-207-2222
Oncor (Dallas–Fort Worth)888-313-4747
AEP Texas and TNMPAEP 866-223-8508 · TNMP 888-866-7456

Base says its battery switches on within seconds when the grid goes down. Still report the outage to your utility, since it owns the lines. Our guide on who to call in a Texas power outage has more numbers.

15 · Compare

Weighing a generator or another company instead?

Base pitches its battery as a cheaper path to whole-home backup than a standby generator. Here’s how they compare, using each company’s own numbers.

Base Core vs. a Generac 24kW standby generator, from each company’s own pages
ItemBase CoreGenerac 24kW Guardian
Up front$695 install in Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth“MSRP Starting At: $6,559.00” for the unit; install not stated
Ongoing$19 a month; Base owns itFuel and upkeep; you own it
Backup12 to 18 hours typical; up to 36 with reduced useAs long as fuel lasts; 2.53 gallons of propane an hour at half load
Size39.2 kWh stored24,000 running watts on propane
WarrantyBase maintains it“5 Year Limited Warranty”
Contract10-year agreement with arbitrationA purchase

Base’s own comparison puts a whole-home generator at $13,000, a figure it calls a “typical market estimate.” Generac’s numbers come from its 24kW product page (model 7209), read Oct 15, 2026.

Keep readingWhat a whole-house generator costs installed in TexasKeep readingChampion Energy scored 96, the highest we’ve given
16 · Questions

Base Power questions, answered

Short answers from state records and Base’s own documents.

How much does Base Power cost per month?

In Houston, 1,000 kWh a month costs about $146 on Base’s Sept 7, 2026 fact label, delivery included. One battery adds $19 a month, for about $165, plus $695 paid on install day. Two batteries cost $29 a month and $995 up front. Taxes are extra.

Is Base Power worth it?

Only if backup power matters a lot to you. Base charges the same per-kWh price with or without its battery, so backup costs whatever the battery fees cost: $1,379 over 36 months, or $2,975 over the 10-year agreement for one battery, at October 2026 prices. You never own it.

Does Base Power lower your electric bill?

Its power price can. Base Energy 36 cost 14.6¢ per kWh in Houston at 1,000 kWh on its September 2026 label, below the 15.88¢ Texas average for July 2026. That’s about $13 less a month. Add one battery’s $19 monthly fee, and that bill comes to about $165, above the $159 average.

How long does Base Power last?

It depends what you mean. In an outage, Base says one 39.2 kWh Core runs a home 12 to 18 hours, or up to 36 hours with reduced use. The power plan runs 36 months. The posted battery agreement runs 10 years and 1 month, and Base lists a 12-year battery lifetime.

Do you own the Base Power battery?

No. Base’s battery agreement says Base owns the battery and keeps any tax credits, rebates and incentives. You pay $695 to install one and $19 a month to use it. If it isn’t returned when the deal ends, you could owe its fair market value, which Base puts at upwards of $10,000.

What does it cost to cancel Base Power?

Canceling Base Energy 36 costs $20 for each whole month left, up to about $700, after a 30-day free window. Moving with proof costs $0. The Battery Plan has no power cancel fee, but ending the battery deal early costs $500 when Base takes the battery back.

Does Base Power have an arbitration clause?

Only in its battery contract. Base’s electricity terms, dated June 2026, have no arbitration clause or class-action waiver, and billing disputes can go to the PUCT. The battery agreement sends disputes to binding one-on-one arbitration in Austin and waives class actions. Claims expire two years after you knew, or should have known, of the problem.

Can you get Base Power without a battery?

Yes. Base Energy 36 is power only, sold in the CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North and TNMP areas. It’s fixed for 36 months: 14.6¢ per kWh in Houston and 15¢ in Dallas–Fort Worth at 1,000 kWh on fall 2026 labels. Leaving early costs $20 per month left.

Does Base Power buy back solar power?

Only on its battery plan. Base credits extra solar power at 4¢ per kWh, and the credits roll over with no cap. The power-only plan pays nothing for solar. Your system must be AC-coupled with its own inverter, and Base can end the buyback at any time, its terms say.

What happens to a Base battery when you sell your house?

Base’s agreement asks for 90 days’ notice, and your buyer must sign its transfer form to take over the deal. If the buyer doesn’t want the battery, Base says it removes it for $500. If the battery isn’t returned, you may owe its full cost, potentially over $10,000.

How many complaints does Base Power get?

Texans filed 11 complaints about Base with the PUCT from March through August 2026, which earned it 2 of 5 on the state’s scorecard. Over the 12 months to September 30, 2026, there were 23, including 8 in September alone. Complaints are claims, not findings against Base.

Who owns Base Power?

Base Power, Inc., an Austin company co-founded in 2023 by CEO Zach Dell and COO Justin Lopas. It raised a $1 billion round in August 2026 at a $13 billion valuation, led by Ribbit, Addition, Valor and JPMorganChase’s Strategic Investment Group. Base says it has raised over $2.5 billion.

17 · Where to next

What do you want to do next?

Every Texas guide, by topic

Browse every guide on the Texas hub. Or see every state's average price on our price map.

18 · Sources

Sources and updates

Where every number on this page comes from. Each was read October 15, 2026, unless noted.

Show all 22 sources
  • PUCT Docket 56081, notice of approval (March 8, 2024): certificate 10338, Base’s assumed names and its capital filings.
  • PUCT, retail electric provider record for Base Texas REP, LLC, with Dockets 57842 and 58788 and Project 49779.
  • PUCT, Retail Electric Provider Complaint Scorecard, September 2026 edition (March 1 to August 31, 2026).
  • PUCT, Customer Complaint Statistics for Base Texas REP, by month and type, March 2024 to September 2026.
  • PUCT Interchange case searches by case title and filing party, under every Base name: no penalty cases.
  • Office of the Texas Attorney General, site search for “Base Power” and “Base Texas REP”: no results.
  • Base Texas REP, Base Energy 36 fact label for CenterPoint (Sept 7, 2026), plus its labels for Oncor (Oct 7, 2026), AEP Texas Central and North (Oct 1, 2026) and TNMP (Sept 7, 2026).
  • Base Texas REP, Base Battery Plan fact label for CenterPoint (Sept 7, 2026) and Oncor (Oct 7, 2026).
  • Base Texas REP, Energy Terms of Service, v20260601, and its Your Rights as a Customer sheet, v20240419.
  • Base Power Development, LLC, battery agreement (dated Dec 2, 2025), linked from Base’s battery agreement page.
  • Base Power, CenterPoint and Oncor plan pages, its Core and spec pages, and its utility pages for Austin Energy, CoServ, GVEC, Farmers EC and El Paso Electric.
  • Base Power, promotion terms (updated Sept 30, 2026).
  • Base Power help center articles on deposits and payment, agreement length, backup time, the minimum charge, solar, generators, moving and existing batteries.
  • Base Power, home-sale transfer form (Aug 6, 2026) and its with-solar page.
  • Base Power, Series D announcement (Aug 3, 2026, via Business Wire), its June 24, 2026 Illinois announcement, its about page and The Base American (Fall 2025).
  • Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, license records 39054 and 476697, via the Texas Open Data Portal.
  • Public Utility Commission of Texas, Power to Choose plan export and listings for ZIPs 77002 and 75201, Oct 15, 2026.
  • PUCT rules 16 TAC §25.475 (fact-label prices at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh) and §25.486 (the PUCT’s complaint phone and email).
  • U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (15.88¢ for July 2026), and 2024 average home use (1,096 kWh a month).
  • Better Business Bureau search listing for Base Power, Austin: B+, accredited.
  • Generac, 24kW standby generator page (model 7209).
  • CenterPoint Energy, 2024 Form 10-K (Hurricane Beryl outages); utility outage lines from CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP Texas, TNMP and the PUCT’s storm contact list.
Changelog · last updated October 16, 2026 · 1 update
  • October 16, 2026 (v1.0): Review published with a score of 63/100, a battery cost calculator, a home-sale notice-date finder, both contracts side by side, every Base plan by area, backup hours, complaints, the regulatory record and ownership.

How to cite: The Day Company review team, “Base Power reviews 2026: 63/100, and what the battery really costs,” The Day Company, updated October 16, 2026. https://theday.company/tx/base-power-reviews

Scores, prices and complaint data are as of October 15, 2026, and they change. Check a plan’s current fact label and Base’s battery agreement before you sign. Cost estimates aren’t quotes or offers; see our Terms of Service. This review is general information, not legal or financial advice. Complaints are allegations unless a regulator or court decided them. Company names are trademarks of their owners.