Can you get a home battery in Texas with no upfront cost?
When the grid goes down, your lights don’t have to.
Yes, if you own a house with no solar in the Houston or Dallas-Fort Worth area. Here’s what you get for $0, the catch, what it really costs each month, and how to sign up.
ENDS OCT 31The $99 reservation fee is waived on battery sign-upsNEWA 1-year rate: 4.2–4.4¢ per kWh for energy
Yes, if your home qualifies. Energywell, offered through Think+, installs a home backup battery with no upfront cost for the battery or a standard install. In return, you buy your power from Energywell at a fixed rate for 1 or 5 years, plus $19 a month and delivery. The battery agreement runs 15 years. It’s for single-family homes without solar in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. A refundable $99 reservation fee applies, but Think+ is waiving it for sign-ups through Oct 31, 2026; it comes back after your first bill.
Deadline: sign up by Oct 31 to skip the $99 fee
Think+ is waiving the refundable $99 reservation fee for battery sign-ups through October 31, 2026. From November 1, it applies again and comes back after your first bill.
Paid partner page. The Day Company is an independent Think+ Energy Advisor. If you sign up through a Paid link here, Think+ pays us. You don’t pay more. These aren’t our products. Offers, prices and claims belong to Think+, Energywell and Think Energy, can change at any time, and the contract you sign is what counts. We never score companies that pay us. How we make money
Built on public data from the companies’ own offer pages, fact labels and contracts, ERCOT, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the FDA, the EPA and the University of Houston. We name each document in the sources.
01 · What you get
What do you get for $0?
A backup battery system, installed and looked after, plus a rate locked for 1 or 5 years. Think+ says buying a home battery system yourself usually runs $15,000 to $30,000.
Your $0 packageUpfront cost
EcoFlow OCEAN Pro battery system10 kWh batteries, up to four, for up to 40 kWh in all$0
Standard install, design and permitsEnergywell handles it. The install itself typically takes a few hours.$0
24 kW inverter and 8-circuit smart panelPlus a hookup for a generator$0
Care for the full 15 yearsEnergywell owns it, runs it and maintains it$0
Battery service feeWaived while Energywell supplies your power$0
What you do pay
Your power, at a fixed rate4.2–4.4¢/kWh for 1 year, or 7.8¢ for 5 years, plus delivery
Base charge$19 a month
Home insuranceYour policy must cover the battery. Ask your insurer if your price changes.
Reservation fee$99, refundable · waived through Oct 31
From Think+’s offer page, the sign-up cart, the fact labels and the battery agreement, checked Oct 14, 2026. Not our product or our price, and it can change at any time.
<10 msTypical switch to backup when the grid goes down, Think+ says
4.2¢Energy charge per kWh on the 1-year rate in Dallas-Fort Worth (4.4¢ in Houston)
TIMEEcoFlow says TIME named this battery one of the Best Inventions of 2025
$0To pass the agreement to a qualified buyer if you sell, Think+ says
Why people pick this through Think+
One sign-up, the right companyThink+ connects you with the company that serves you: Energywell for the battery, Think Energy for power only. That company becomes your provider.
Power now, battery laterA Think Energy plan can start as soon as the next business day. Think+ says it cancels on its own, with no fees, once your battery is in.
4 short screens, in English or SpanishYou see your offers with just a ZIP code. The sign-up has an Español button.
Real people to callThink+ promises “a real person in your corner” and lists a weekday help line on its sign-up pages.
A rate check at every renewalAt renewal, if you find a lower comparable fixed rate and Energywell can’t match or beat it, you can leave. The battery is removed at no cost.
These are Think+’s and Energywell’s own claims, from their pages and the sign-up screens, checked Oct 14, 2026. Think+ is affiliated with Energywell.
Why use our link?
You pay the same as going straight to Think+. Here’s what you get by starting here:
The catch, up front, before you click
The 15-year agreement, read and put in plain words
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
02 · The catch
What’s the catch with a $0 home battery?
It isn’t a giveaway. It’s a trade: they put a battery on your home, and you buy your power from them. Here’s the whole trade, before you click anything.
You get
A home battery system for $0 upfront. Think+ says most cost $15,000 to $30,000 to buy and install
Backup that switches on by itself in an outage
Your rate, locked for 1 or 5 years
A Lowest Rate Guarantee at each renewal
An agreement your buyer can take over if you sell
You give
15 years in their battery program
Your power business: Energywell is your electricity company
Control of the battery: they run it and may charge it from the grid
A credit check, AutoPay and paperless bills
Solar panels, unless they OK it in writing
The 6 catches, in plain words
1
It’s 15 years
The battery agreement runs 15 years. Your power plan runs 1 or 5 years, then renews.
2
You stay with their power
Switch to another electricity company, and a $99 monthly battery fee can start, or they can take the battery back.
3
Leaving early costs $500
That’s the fee to take the battery back. A $15,000 fee applies only if they can’t recover it because of something you did.
4
It’s their battery
Energywell decides when it charges and discharges, and uses it to help the grid. It aims to keep at least 20% for outages.
5
Backup isn’t guaranteed
How long it runs depends on the charge and what you use. Don’t count on it for medical needs.
6
It takes time
Installs can take up to 12 weeks. If your home needs extra work, like a panel upgrade, they quote it after the survey, and you get 5 business days to cancel.
What’s in it for them?
Energywell
You buy your power from them for years. And your battery joins their “Connected Energy Community,” which helps the grid when power is tight. Think+ says that’s what makes the no-upfront-cost model possible.
Think+ and us
Think+ may be paid by the companies it works with, and it pays us a commission if you sign up through our link. You don’t pay more.
Skip it if
You rent, or own a condo, townhome or mobile home
You have solar, or plan to add it
You want to own your battery, or switch power companies often
Someone at home relies on medical equipment that needs power
It’s a great fit if
You own a house in the Houston or Dallas-Fort Worth area, with no solar
You want backup but would never spend $15,000 on a battery
You use a lot of power, like a big home, a pool or an electric car
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
03 · Check my home
Is the battery offered at your home?
Four quick taps. You’ll get the offer that fits your home, the reasons why, and your monthly cost. If the battery isn’t a fit, you’ll see what is.
Check my homeAbout 20 seconds
Step 1 of 4
We don’t ask for your name or address. Estimates only, not a quote or an offer, using fact-label prices checked Oct 14, 2026. Your exact address and Think+’s checks decide.
Orange: where Energywell installs. Gray dots: Austin, San Antonio and El Paso, where most homes can’t pick an electricity company. From Think+’s install ZIP lists, Oct 14, 2026.
503Texas ZIP codes on the install list, in 218 cities across the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.
Not on the list: Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Waco, Killeen, Tyler and Midland, as of Oct 14, 2026. Most homes in Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Beaumont and Amarillo can’t pick an electricity company right now. Lists and service areas change, so check your exact address on Think+.
See the top cities and all 218 on the list
Top 16 Texas cities on the battery install list, by number of ZIP codes
City
ZIPs on the list
Battery
HoustonHouston area
97
On the list
DallasDallas-Fort Worth area
51
On the list
Fort WorthDallas-Fort Worth area
32
On the list
ArlingtonDallas-Fort Worth area
13
On the list
SpringHouston area
8
On the list
PlanoDallas-Fort Worth area
7
On the list
DentonDallas-Fort Worth areaMany homes here are on Denton Municipal Electric and can’t switch companies. Check your address.
6
Check utility
IrvingDallas-Fort Worth area
6
On the list
PasadenaHouston area
6
On the list
ConroeHouston areaMany homes here are on Entergy Texas and can’t switch companies. Check your address.
5
Check utility
GarlandDallas-Fort Worth areaMany homes here are on Garland Power & Light and can’t switch companies. Check your address.
5
Check utility
FriscoDallas-Fort Worth area
4
On the list
GalvestonHouston area
4
On the list
Grand PrairieDallas-Fort Worth area
4
On the list
KatyHouston area
4
On the list
McKinneyDallas-Fort Worth area
4
On the list
From Think+’s Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth install ZIP lists, Oct 14, 2026. Your exact address decides. Some homes in these ZIPs use a city utility or co-op that can’t switch companies right now.
See all 218 Texas cities on the list
Abbott, Addison, Aledo, Allen, Alvarado, Alvin, Alvord, Angleton, Argyle, Arlington, Avalon, Azle, Bacliff, Balch Springs, Bardwell, Barry, Baytown, Beasley, Bedford, Bellaire, Bellville, Blooming Grove, Boling, Boyd, Brandon, Brazoria, Bridgeport, Brookshire, Burleson, Bynum, Caddo Mills, Campbell, Canton, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Celina, Channelview, Cleburne, Clute, Colleyville, Collinsville, Conroe, Coppell, Corsicana, Crandall, Cresson, Crosby, Crowley, Cypress, Dallas, Damon, Danbury, Dayton, DeSoto, Decatur, Deer Park, Denison, Denton, Dickinson, Duncanville, East Bernard, Egypt, Ennis, Euless, Fate, Ferris, Flower Mound, Forney, Forreston, Fort Worth, Freeport, Fresno, Friendswood, Frisco, Frost, Fulshear, Galena Park, Galveston, Garland, Godley, Granbury, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Greenville, Gunter, Guy, Haltom City, Haslet, Hempstead, Highlands, Hillsboro, Hitchcock, Hockley, Houston, Howe, Huffman, Humble, Hungerford, Hurst, Hutchins, Irene, Irving, Italy, Josephine, Joshua, Justin, Katy, Kaufman, Keene, Keller, Kemah, Kemp, Kendleton, Kennedale, Kerens, Kingwood, Krum, La Marque, La Porte, Lake Dallas, Lake Jackson, Lancaster, Lane City, Lavon, League City, Lissie, Little Elm, Liverpool, Mabank, Magnolia, Malone, Mansfield, Manvel, Maypearl, McKinney, Melissa, Mertens, Mesquite, Midlothian, Milford, Mineral Wells, Missouri City, Mont Belvieu, Montgomery, Naval Air Station Jrb, Needville, Nevada, Newark, North Richland Hills, Orchard, Palmer, Paradise, Pasadena, Pattison, Pearland, Pinehurst, Plano, Pledger, Ponder, Poolville, Porter, Pottsboro, Powell, Prairie View, Prosper, Quinlan, Red Oak, Rhome, Rice, Richardson, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockwall, Rosenberg, Rosharon, Rosser, Rowlett, Royse City, Sachse, San Felipe, Santa Fe, Scurry, Seabrook, Seagoville, Sealy, Sherman, Shiro, Simonton, Slidell, South Houston, Southlake, Southmayd, Spring, Springtown, Stafford, Sugar Land, Sunnyvale, Sweeny, Terrell, Texas City, The Colony, Thompsons, Tomball, Trinidad, Valley View, Van Alstyne, Venus, Waller, Wallis, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Webster, West Columbia, Wharton, Willis, Wills Point, Wilmer, Wylie.
04 · Your monthly cost
What would you pay each month?
The 4.2¢ to 7.8¢ rates are energy only. This adds the $19 base charge and your utility’s delivery charges, and compares it with what you pay now.
Your monthly costFrom their fact labels
Your utility area
Find it on your bill. The average Texas home used 1,096 kWh a month in 2024, the EIA says.
¢ per kWh
Divide your last bill, before taxes, by its kWh. Or use the “average price” on your bill.
What you drive
About $132 a month on the 1-year battery planThe 5-year plan: about $166 a month. Energy, base charge and delivery, before taxes.
At the 14.9¢ Texas average from 2024, the same 1,000 kWh costs about $149. That’s about $17 less a month on the 1-year battery plan.
On the 1-year battery plan, each extra kWh costs 10.8¢ all-in: 4.4¢ energy + 6.4¢ delivery. Texas homes averaged 14.9¢ in 2024.
See every plan at your usage
Estimate only. Not a quote, an offer or a promise of savings. It uses the fact-label prices shown on Think+’s site, checked Oct 14, 2026, with delivery and each plan’s credits, before taxes. Prices can change, so check the fact label before you sign.
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
1 year or 5 years?
Same battery. Same 15-year battery agreement. Only your power rate changes. Neither one is better. It depends on what you want.
1-year rate4.4¢per kWh energy in the Houston area. 4.2¢ in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Average at 1,000 kWh
13.2–13.4¢
A month at 1,000 kWh
About $132–$134
Rate locked for
1 year
After that
New rate + Lowest Rate Guarantee
Pick it if you want the smaller bill right now and don’t mind a new rate next year.
5-year rate7.8¢per kWh energy in both the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.
Average at 1,000 kWh
16.6–17.0¢
A month at 1,000 kWh
About $166–$170
Rate locked for
5 years
After that
New rate + Lowest Rate Guarantee
Pick it if you want a price that won’t change for 5 years.
Monthly cost at 1,000 kWh, Houston area
1-year rate$132
5-year rate$166
The 1-year rate costs about $34 less a month, or about $400 over the first year. After that year, your rate changes. At renewal, you get 10 days to show a lower comparable fixed rate. If Energywell can’t match it, you can leave with no fees.
A fixed rate isn’t a fixed bill. Your utility’s delivery charges can change, and your bill goes up and down with how much power you use.
Why big homes and electric cars get the most out of it
The energy charge is just 4.2¢ per kWh in Dallas-Fort Worth. Add delivery, and each extra kWh costs about 11¢. The $19 base charge and the utility’s $4.06 monthly charge stay the same, so the more power you use, the less each kWh costs.
Average price per kWh on the 1-year battery plan, Dallas-Fort Worth (Oncor)
500 kWh15.7¢
1,000 kWh13.4¢
2,000 kWh12.2¢
3,000 kWh11.8¢
1-year battery planTexas average, 2024: 14.9¢
500 to 2,000 kWh from Think+’s sign-up cart, Oct 14, 2026. 3,000 kWh figured from the same fact label. Houston-area prices run 0.1¢ to 0.2¢ less at each level. Texas average: all Texas homes in 2024, from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The 1-year rate may not last. Think+ calls it a limited-time offer and hasn’t said when it ends. The rate you see when you sign up is the one you lock in.
05 · Battery or no battery?
What happens to your home in an outage?
Texas outages aren’t rare. In Winter Storm Uri, 69% of Texans lost power, for 42 hours on average. In 2024, Hurricane Beryl left 2.6 million Texas customers in the dark.
How long things last when the power is out
A closed fridge keeps food cold
About 4 hours (FDA)
Average Winter Storm Uri outage
42 hours (University of Houston)
A full freezer holds its cold
About 48 hours (FDA)
A full 20 kWh battery, running the basics
About 20 hours (our estimate)
Estimate only. Backup isn’t guaranteed. The battery line assumes about 1 kW of basic loads, like a fridge, lights, Wi-Fi and fans, on a full 20 kWh battery. It may not be full when an outage starts. Energywell aims to keep at least 20% for outages.
How long could it run your home?Rough estimate
Battery size
What you run
Charge when the power goes out
About 20 hoursRunning the basics on a full 20 kWh battery
Your battery20 h
Winter Storm Uri42 h
Illustrative only. Backup power is not guaranteed and can’t be relied on for medical or other critical needs. Real time depends on your battery’s charge and your home’s use. Uri bar: the average outage for Texans who lost power in February 2021, per a University of Houston survey.
A reserve for outages. Energywell aims to keep at least 20% of the battery charged for backup, though it isn’t guaranteed.
Run the basics, and it lasts much longer. A fridge, lights, Wi-Fi and fans use far less than central air.
Plug in a generator to recharge it if an outage drags on.
Watch the charge. Below half, cut back on big loads.
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
06 · Compare
How does it compare with other Texas battery programs?
Other companies pair a home battery with a power plan, too. Here’s how this one lines up on each company’s own numbers, for Dallas-Fort Worth (Oncor) homes. We don’t rate any of them.
Good fit if: you want $0 upfront and a 4.2¢ energy charge
Energywell battery planThrough Think+ · Paid partner · Not rated
$0upfront install4.2¢energy, 1-year rate$19base charge a month
Battery size
20–40 kWh
Rate locked
1 or 5 years
Avg. at 2,000 kWh
12.2¢
Battery fee
$0 with their power
No install or equipment cost
No battery fee while Energywell supplies your power
Or lock in 7.8¢ for 5 years
Lowest Rate Guarantee at each renewal
The battery agreement runs 15 years
Single-family homes without solar only
Switch power companies, and a $99 monthly battery fee can start
Price range from Think+’s home battery page, read Oct 14, 2026
Energy charges are before delivery. Terms, fees and who qualifies differ, and offers change, so check each company’s current offer before you sign. One more Texas program in the news leases batteries for $122 a month, or $35 after an $87 monthly credit. It requires its own power plan (pv magazine USA, August 13, 2026).
“Think+ operates as an authorized reseller and platform for its product providers. … That provider becomes the party to your service agreement—not Think+.”
Think+, “How the Think+ model works,” read Oct 14, 2026
In plain words: you sign up with the company that serves you, like Energywell or Think Energy. Think+ is the go-between, the way a travel agent books your trip but the airline flies you.
07 · How to sign up
How do you sign up, step by step?
It happens on Think+’s site, in 4 short screens, in about 5 minutes if you have your info ready. Here’s what you’ll see, so nothing surprises you.
From sign-up to switched on
Sign up and reserve
Sign your agreements. Pay the fully refundable $99 reservation fee. The $99 reservation fee is waived through Oct 31, 2026.
Confirm your home
Send a quick Home Snapshot, like photos of your electrical panel, and finish a few short steps.
Install day
Energywell handles design, permits and scheduling. The install itself typically takes a few hours.
Inspection
Your local authority inspects the work. Then the utility gives permission to turn it on.
You’re connected
Your battery is live, and your new rate starts with your next bill. The $99 comes back after your first bill.
Want it in place before winter storm season?
Think+ says installs can take up to 12 weeks in some areas, and timing isn’t guaranteed. Winter Storm Uri hit in mid-February 2021. Twelve weeks before mid-February is late November.
Have these readySaves time
For any plan
Your ZIP code
That’s all you need to see your offers.
Your home address
The form’s “Find my meter” button finds your meter ID for you.
Name, email, phone and date of birth
Your Social Security number
For a soft credit check. The form says it won’t affect your credit score.
A card or bank account
For AutoPay, if your plan needs it.
For the battery, also
You own the home
And your name is on the electric bill.
The $99 reservation fee
Waived for sign-ups through Oct 31, 2026, Think+ says. From Nov 1, it’s paid at sign-up and refundable.
Photos for later
Your electrical panel and the install spot, for the Home Snapshot.
What’s an ESI ID, and where do I find it?
It’s the ID number for your electric meter, 17 to 22 digits long. It’s printed on your electric bill. Look for “ESI ID” or “ESIID.”
No bill handy? You don’t need it. On the sign-up form, tap “Find my meter” and type your address.
What you’ll see on Think+’s site
Step 1Tap a “Paid link” button on this page
Think+ opens in a new tab. Look for “Referred by: The Day Company” at the top right. Then tap the green “Check availability” button.
Step 2Type your ZIP code
A box opens. Type your ZIP and tap “See my offers.” You don’t need an account.
Step 3Check your area and your usage
Make sure the line under the steps shows your ZIP and your utility. Then slide the usage bar to the number closest to your bill.
Step 4Pick your plan
Blue cards are the battery plans, one for 1 year and one for 5 years. Through Oct 31, they show the reservation fee as waived. Green cards are electricity-only plans. Tap “View details” to read the fact label, then “Select & Continue.”
Step 5Battery only: confirm your home is a fit
A short box asks if you own the home, if it’s a single-family home and if it has solar panels. Answer, then tap “Continue.”
Step 6Fill in your details, agree and pay
Screen 2 asks for your contact info, birth date, address and Social Security number. Screen 3 shows your agreements, so read them. Screen 4 is payment.
Simplified drawings of Think+’s screens, made by us. The real screens may look a little different.
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
Two ways to power your Texas home
Think+ works with two companies in Texas: Think Energy for electricity and Energywell for home battery backup. You can use one or both.
Electricity onlyThink Energy
Starts as soon as the next business day. A good fit if your contract ends soon or you’re moving.
Battery backup + electricityEnergywell
Starts after your battery is installed, which typically takes several weeks.
Want both? You don’t have to choose.
Enroll in a Think Energy plan to cover your home now.
Apply for the battery with Energywell.
Once it’s installed, Think+ says your Think Energy plan “cancels automatically — no fees, no gap.”
From the note on Think+’s plan page, checked Oct 14, 2026. The Terms of Service we read don’t spell this out, so take a screenshot of the note when you sign up.
Don’t qualify for the battery? Here’s what you can still get
Renters, condo owners and homes with solar can’t get the battery. They can still lock in a fixed rate, and a smart thermostat can earn $10 off every bill.
Paid partner · Not rated
Fixed rate + $10 a month for your thermostatFrom Think Energy, offered through Think+
$120a year in bill credits12 or 24months, fixed rate$100gift card, if you qualify
Works with Ecobee, Honeywell and Resideo Wi-Fi thermostats
100% renewable power, backed by renewable energy credits
Small, short thermostat changes on peak days. You can opt out.
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
Good to know: the $10 credit is already counted in the plan’s posted price. A $200 fee applies if you cancel early.
Electricity is offered by EE REP 2, LLC d/b/a Think Energy, PUCT Certificate No. 10315. Prices and full terms are in the fact label and Terms of Service. Offers can change at any time.
From the plan cards and fact labels, checked Oct 14, 2026. See prices by area
Paid partner · Not rated
Fixed-rate plans for 12 or 24 monthsFrom Think Energy, offered through Think+
12 or 24months, rate locked100%renewable power$100gift card, if you qualify
Paid linkWe get a fee if you sign up. We never score companies that pay us.
Good to know: a $200 fee applies if you cancel early. The 3-month plan needs AutoPay and a soft credit check or a $300 deposit, and it has no gift card.
Electricity is offered by EE REP 2, LLC d/b/a Think Energy, PUCT Certificate No. 10315. Prices and full terms are in the fact label and Terms of Service. Offers can change at any time.
Average price per kWh at 1,000 kWh a month, by utility area
Plan
CenterPoint
Oncor
AEP Texas Central
AEP Texas North
TNMP
Lubbock
Energywell battery plan, 1 year
13.2¢
13.4¢*
—
—
—
—
Energywell battery plan, 5 years
16.6¢
17.0¢*
—
—
18.2¢*
—
Think Clean + Smart Thermostat, 12 months
13.1¢
13.4¢
12.0¢
11.9¢
15.2¢
12.7¢
Think Clean + Smart Thermostat, 24 months
13.8¢
14.1¢
12.7¢
12.7¢
15.8¢
13.4¢
Think Clean, 12 months
14.1¢
14.4¢
13.0¢
12.9¢
16.2¢
13.7¢
Think Clean, 24 months
14.8¢
15.1¢
13.7¢
13.7¢
16.8¢
14.4¢
Think Basic, 3 months
10.5¢
10.5¢
—
—
—
—
Average price at 1,000 kWh a month, including delivery and each plan’s own credits. CenterPoint, Oncor and AEP prices come from fact labels, and TNMP and Lubbock prices from Think+’s plan cards, all checked Oct 14, 2026. Thermostat plans include the $10 monthly credit. *Battery plans: Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth install areas only. TNMP homes near Houston see the 5-year plan only, and Oncor homes outside Dallas-Fort Worth don’t see the battery right now.
Why lock in a rate now? Nobody can promise where prices go. But ERCOT’s April 2026 forecast shows Texas power demand could climb far past today’s record as data centers and other big users plug in. ERCOT itself says the forecast is probably high. A fixed rate locks your energy price for your whole term.
Record peak, 202385,508 MW
Forecast, 2032367,790 MW
How the $10 thermostat credit works
Connect an Ecobee, Honeywell or Resideo Wi-Fi thermostat in your online account.
On a few high-demand days, it nudges your temperature for a few hours to ease the grid.
You get $10 off each bill. That’s up to $120 a year.
You can change the setting anytime, but 2 or more opt-outs in a month cost you that month’s credit.
One or the other: if you join the battery program, your power moves to Energywell and the thermostat credit stops. The two don’t run together.
These come straight from the companies’ own contracts and pages, in plain words. Most of it is common sense, and reading it now means no surprises later.
The 5 that matter most
Two agreements. A 15-year battery agreement with Energywell Home, and a 1- or 5-year power plan with Energywell.
Leaving early. Energywell comes to take the battery back, and the fee is $500. The $15,000 fee applies only if the battery can’t be recovered because of something you did.
Keep your power with Energywell. Switch to another company, and a $99 monthly battery service fee can start, or they can end the agreement and pick up the battery.
Backup isn’t promised. Energywell aims to keep at least 20% charged for outages. Still, backup power is not guaranteed and can’t be relied on for medical or other critical needs.
Selling your home. Your buyer can take over the agreement at no cost or penalty if they qualify. Give 90 days’ notice and sign the transfer before closing.
From the Battery Services Agreement (version 20260803), the fact labels and Think+’s home battery page.
Read all 13 points from the battery agreement
Two agreements. You sign a 15-year battery agreement with Energywell Home and a 1- or 5-year power plan with Energywell.
The $99 reservation fee. It’s waived for sign-ups through Oct 31, 2026, Think+ says. When it applies, it comes back after your first bill once the battery is on. If you cancel, it’s refunded only before permits are submitted.
Leaving early. Energywell comes to take the battery back, and the fee is $500. The $15,000 fee applies only if the battery can’t be recovered because of something you did, like refusing to let them pick it up. That’s the low end of what Think+ says these batteries cost.
Keep your power with Energywell. The battery comes with their power plan. While Energywell supplies your power, the $99 monthly battery service fee stays waived. Switch to another company, and that fee can start, or they can end the agreement and pick up the battery.
They run the battery. It’s their battery, so they run it. Energywell decides when it charges and discharges, and it may charge from the grid to help the power grid.
Backup isn’t promised. Energywell aims to keep at least 20% charged for outages. Still, backup power is not guaranteed and can’t be relied on for medical or other critical needs.
Adding solar later. It ties into their battery system, so get Energywell’s written OK first. Adding solar without it can cost up to $3,000 plus the cancel fee.
Selling your home. Your buyer can take over the agreement at no cost or penalty if they qualify. Give 90 days’ notice and sign the transfer before closing.
Install price. The $0 install covers a standard install. If your home needs extra work, like a panel upgrade, they quote it after the site survey. You then get 5 business days to cancel with a full refund.
The Lowest Rate Guarantee. It applies at each renewal. In Texas, a lower rate must be fixed, for the same term, not a promo, and listed on PowerToChoose.org. You have 10 days after their renewal offer to show it.
Who qualifies. You own a single-family home with your name on the bill, and it has no solar or battery. You also need AutoPay, paperless bills and a credit score that meets their bar.
Insurance. Keep homeowner’s insurance that covers the battery at its replacement value.
Disputes. Disputes go to one-on-one arbitration, not a class action. You can opt out in writing within 30 days of signing up.
From the Battery Services Agreement (version 20260803), the fact labels and Think+’s home battery page.
Fine print for the electricity and thermostat plans
$200 cancel fee. Every Think Energy plan we checked has one. It’s waived if you move and send proof.
3 days to change your mind. When you switch companies, you can cancel within 3 business days at no cost.
After your term ends. You roll to a month-to-month rate unless you pick a new plan. You get at least 3 notices first.
AutoPay and deposits. The 3-month plan and the 24-month Think Clean plan require AutoPay. The 3-month plan also needs a soft credit check or a $300 deposit.
The thermostat credit. You lose that month’s $10 if you opt out of 2 or more events, or if your thermostat is offline. Events can last a few hours.
The $100 gift card. You need 6 months of service, on-time bills and at least 1,800 kWh used. Then you ask for it within 60 days. Not on the 3-month plan.
Calls and texts. Signing up lets them call and text you, including marketing, until you opt out.
From the Think Energy Texas Terms of Service (April 22, 2026), fact labels, plan cards and gift card rules.
The disclosures, in the companies’ own words
Retail electricity is offered by Elevate Energy, LLC d/b/a Energywell (“Energywell”), PUCT Certificate No. 10353. Energywell is not your local utility and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any utility or government program. Prices and full terms are in the Electricity Facts Label and Terms of Service you will receive. Battery service is a separate 15-year agreement with Energywell’s affiliate, Energywell Home, LLC (“EWH”); eligibility rules apply. The $0 upfront offer, the monthly Battery Service Fee (waived while you take Energywell electricity), and cancellation fees are set out in your Battery Service Agreement. Backup power is not guaranteed and cannot be relied on for medical or other critical needs. Think+ Network, LLC is affiliated with Energywell and EWH. Think+’s Independent Energy Advisors are paid commissions for referrals. Lowest Rate Guarantee, if offered, is provided by EWH under its Terms of Service. EWH and Energywell’s offers are subject to change at any time without notice to you.
Think+ home battery disclosure, read Oct 14, 2026
Think Home Solutions, LLC (“the Company”) does business as “Think+” in all states except Ohio. The Company may receive compensation from the Product Partners for the services it provides to you. The Company does not have access to every supplier rate in your area and does not guarantee that the rates available through AutoSave are the lowest available at any given time. See Terms of Service for details.
Think+ sign-up page, read Oct 14, 2026
What that means: Think+ and its advisors, including us, get paid when you sign up, and Think+ doesn’t show every company’s rates. Want to compare more companies? Use our Texas plan calculator.
Contracts change. Always read the copy you get when you sign up, and keep it somewhere safe.
10 · Questions
Questions about home batteries with no upfront cost in Texas
Straight answers to what Texans ask most.
Is the home battery really free?
There’s no upfront cost for the battery or a standard install, but it isn’t free. You buy your power from Energywell at a fixed rate for 1 or 5 years, plus a $19 monthly base charge and delivery. The battery agreement runs 15 years. A refundable $99 reservation fee applies, and Think+ is waiving it for sign-ups through October 31, 2026.
What’s the catch with a $0 home battery?
It’s a trade. The battery agreement runs 15 years, Energywell runs the battery, and you buy your power from them. Switch power companies, and a $99 monthly battery fee can start. Leaving early costs $500. Backup isn’t guaranteed, and homes with solar can’t join.
Why would a company install a battery for $0?
Because it earns from it. Energywell sells you your power for years, and it links batteries like yours to help the grid when power is tight. Think+ says that’s what makes the no-upfront-cost model possible. Think+ and its advisors, including us, get paid when you sign up.
Should I pick the 1-year or the 5-year rate?
Pick 1 year for the smaller bill now. In October 2026, it was 4.2 to 4.4 cents per kWh for energy, and the rate changes after a year. Pick 5 years for a price that stays the same, at 7.8 cents. The battery deal is the same either way.
What will my monthly bill be?
At 1,000 kWh a month, the fact labels show about $132 to $134 on the 1-year plan. The 5-year plan is about $166 to $170. Both include delivery charges but not taxes, as of October 2026. Your bill moves with your usage.
Is the battery plan a good fit if I drive an electric car?
It can be. On the 1-year plan, each extra kWh costs about 11 cents with delivery. Driving 1,000 miles a month in an electric SUV uses about 300 kWh, or roughly $32 to $33. The same miles in a 27-mpg gas car took about $139 in gas at October 2026 Texas prices.
How does it compare with other Texas battery programs?
Other Texas battery programs we checked charge $19 to $45 a month for the battery, and one charges $695 or more to install. This plan has no upfront install cost and no separate battery fee while Energywell supplies your power. Its 1-year energy charge is 4.2 to 4.4 cents, and the battery agreement runs 15 years.
Who owns the battery?
Energywell does, which is why there’s no upfront cost. It installs it, owns it and manages it for the full 15 years. At the end of the term, the agreement lets you buy it at its fair market value.
How long will the battery run my home in an outage?
It depends on how much is stored and what you run. Each battery holds 10 kWh, with up to four in a system, and Energywell aims to keep at least 20% charged for outages. Running only the basics, about 1 kW, a full 20 kWh system lasts about 20 hours, by our estimate. Central air drains it in hours. Backup isn’t guaranteed.
Can I get it if I rent or have solar panels?
No. You must own a single-family home with your name on the electric bill. Homes with solar panels or a battery already can’t join. Condos, townhomes, mobile homes and rentals don’t qualify.
Which Texas ZIP codes can get the battery?
As of October 2026, the install list covers 503 ZIP codes in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. Your exact address decides, because some homes in those ZIPs use a city utility or co-op that can’t switch companies. Lists change, so check your address.
What if I want to leave early?
Before permits are filed, you can cancel and get any $99 reservation fee back. After the install starts, Energywell comes to take the battery back, and the fee is $500. The $15,000 fee applies only if they can’t recover it because of something you did. Keep your power with Energywell, and the $99 monthly battery fee stays waived.
Do I need my ESI ID to sign up?
No. The sign-up form can find your meter from your address. If you want it anyway, it’s the 17- to 22-digit ESI ID number on your electric bill.
How does The Day Company get paid for this page?
We get a commission if you sign up through a Paid link on this page. You don’t pay more. We never score companies that pay us. These aren’t our products, and the offers can change.
Browse every guide on the Texas hub. Or see every state's average price on our price map.
12 · Sources
Sources and updates
Where every number on this page comes from.
Show all 23 sources
Think+, Home Battery, Texas (offer page, read October 14, 2026): $0 install, the fully refundable $99 deposit, who qualifies, install steps, and answers on outages, cancelling and the Lowest Rate Guarantee.
Think+ sign-up pages at signup.gothinkplus.com for 36 Texas ZIP codes (read October 14, 2026): plan cards and prices by utility area, the 1-year and 5-year battery cards with the reservation fee shown as waived, the “Two ways to power your Texas home” note and the company disclosure.
Think+ Energy Advisor notice (read October 14, 2026): the Texas battery reservation fee is waived for sign-ups through October 31, 2026, and charged again from November 1.
Think+ Texas home battery customer pages (read October 14, 2026): the “backup included at no cost to install” offer, the EcoFlow OCEAN Pro description and the Energywell disclosure quoted on this page.
Think+, Houston-area and Dallas-Fort Worth-area home battery install ZIP code lists (503 Texas ZIP codes, read October 14, 2026).
Energywell Home, Battery Services Agreement, Texas (version 20260803): the 15-year term, the fee schedule and when each fee applies, control of the battery, the 20% backup reserve, solar rules, transfer, renewal, upkeep and repairs, the insurance rule, and the option to buy the battery at the end of the term.
Elevate Energy, LLC d/b/a Energywell (PUCT Certificate 10353), Energywell Battery Plan Electricity Facts Labels, 1-year and 5-year, for CenterPoint and Oncor, as shown in the sign-up cart on October 14, 2026, and Terms of Service (version 20260805).
EE REP 2, LLC d/b/a Think Energy (PUCT Certificate 10315), Electricity Facts Labels for CenterPoint and Oncor (September 1 and October 5, 2026) and AEP Texas Central and North (September 29, 2026), and Texas Terms of Service (April 22, 2026).
ERCOT, news release on its preliminary long-term load forecast (April 15, 2026): about 367,790 MW of demand forecast by 2032, an all-time peak of 85,508 MW (August 10, 2023), and ERCOT’s view that the forecast is likely higher than actual growth.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods (content current as of March 5, 2024): an unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours.
Think+ post on new Texas rates (read October 14, 2026): the new 1-year battery rate, described as a limited-time offer with no end date announced.
University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, The Winter Storm of 2021 (survey fielded March 2021): 69% of Texans lost power, for 42 hours on average.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024 Average Monthly Bill, Residential (released October 7, 2025): Texas homes paid 14.94 cents per kWh on average and used 1,096 kWh a month in 2024.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas weekly retail gasoline prices (released October 14, 2026): regular gas averaged $3.779 a gallon in the week of October 12, 2026.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Automotive Trends Report highlights: new model year 2024 vehicles averaged a record 27.2 mpg in real-world driving.
Program A: the company’s own Oncor pricing page (read October 14, 2026): $695 or $995 to install, with a $50 refundable deposit applied, a $19 or $29 monthly membership, an 8.5-cent standard energy rate, 13.8 cents per kWh at 2,000 kWh, 36-month plans and 25 or 50 kWh of storage.
Program B: pv magazine USA, a solar industry news outlet, report on a $0-down battery plan in Texas (April 24, 2026), and Utility Dive, a utility industry news outlet, report on the same plan (April 29, 2026): $45 a month, 8 cents per kWh plus delivery, fixed for 3 years, and a 30 kWh battery.
pv magazine USA, report on a Texas battery lease (August 13, 2026): $122 a month, or $35 after an $87 monthly bill credit, with the company’s power plan required.
Changelog · last updated October 16, 2026 · 5 updates
October 16, 2026 (v2.1): Added our new EcoFlow OCEAN Pro and whole-house generator cost guides as other backup options under Where to next. No figures changed.
October 15, 2026 (v2.0): Rebuilt as a step-by-step guide: what you get for $0, the catch, who should skip it, a 20-second home check, your cost next to what you pay now, and an outage comparison. Dropped the live day counter; the Oct 31 date stays. Plainer legal notes. Added FDA food-safety times and EcoFlow’s TIME award notice to the sources.
October 14, 2026 (v1.2): Added the $99 fee waiver deadline, a side-by-side look at other Texas battery programs, an electric car charging estimate, the Texas average price and prices for TNMP and Lubbock. Clearer notes on areas that can’t switch, and the fine print in plainer words.
October 14, 2026 (v1.1): Added the new 1-year battery rate, a ZIP checker built from the install list, a city table, a 1-year vs. 5-year guide, the two ways to sign up, drawings of every sign-up screen, a simpler checklist, a thermostat video and the companies’ own disclosures. Prices rechecked.
October 14, 2026: Page published: a 6-question finder, partner offers, a monthly cost calculator, an outage backup estimator, prices by area, the fine print and sign-up steps.
How to cite:The Day Company review team, “Can you get a home battery in Texas with no upfront cost?,” The Day Company, updated October 16, 2026. https://theday.company/tx/home-battery-no-upfront-cost
Offer details, prices and terms come from Think+’s, Energywell’s and Think Energy’s own pages and documents as of October 14, 2026, and are shown for illustration. They aren’t our products or our promises, and they can change at any time. Our tools give estimates only, not quotes, offers or promises of savings or backup; see our Terms of Service. This page is general information, not legal, financial or tax advice. The Day Company is an independent Think+ Energy Advisor and is paid a commission when you sign up through a Paid link. Think+, Think Energy, Energywell and EcoFlow are trademarks of their owners.