Installing solar isn’t the only big financial decision to make about controlling home power
A customer inspects a Tesla Motors Inc. Powerwall unit inside a home.
Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist | Bloomberg | Getty Images
After a summer of extreme weather and wildfires and now during the peak of hurricane season, the power going out again is becoming familiar to more Americans. That means it may be a good time to consider a home backup power storage system.
The pervasiveness of extreme weather and climate change, local utility reliability and cost may all factor into this financial decision.
“Backup power may be warranted depending on regional factors and geography as well as the state of the infrastructure there,” said Benjamin R. Dierker, executive director of the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, a research and educational organization, in an email.
In coastal areas, for instance, considerations include the resilience of storm or sea walls, the quality and capacity of drainage infrastructure and the electrical grid’s hardiness, he said. In other areas, extreme weather conditions like high winds, tornados and ice may cause falling trees or downed lines — a risk that’s significantly mitigated if there are buried utility lines rather than overhead lines, Dierker said. Pre-emptive shutdowns, due to extreme weather or other factors, can also be a consideration.
As of Sept. 11, there have been 23 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect United States, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, which has a graphic that shows the locations of these disasters. These events included two flooding events, 18 severe storm events, one tropical cyclone event, one wildfire event, and one winter storm event.
Here’s what consumers need to consider about home back-up power options:
Appliance needs during power outages
A good first step is to think about the most important appliances you are running on electricity and how long you might realistically need them to run in the event of an outage, said Vikram Aggarwal, chief executive and founder of EnergySage, which helps consumers compare clean home energy solutions.
If you have minimal backup needs, a small portable fossil-fuel generator or battery could suffice, which can cost a few hundred dollars. But if you want your home to operate as normal, you’ll want to consider whole home options.
Location can be a factor since in some areas, the power goes out infrequently or for only short periods of time. In some states like California, Texas and Louisiana, however, it can be a whole different ball game. California consumers, for example, can get an up-to-date sense of outages in their area to get a sense of what their risk may be.
Fossil fuel vs. battery power
If you’re not opposed to fossil fuel-powered options, there are several categories to consider based on your power needs. For lower power needs, a portable generator, which often runs on gasoline or diesel can cost a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. There are also higher-priced portable versions that are usually quieter and more fuel-efficient and may be able to power multiple large appliances—and for longer. How long depends in part on the appliances you’re powering.
A whole home standby generator, meanwhile, is permanently installed and automatically kicks on when the power goes out. This generator type is often fueled by propane or natural gas and costs vary based on size, brand and fuel type. There are options in the $3,000 to $5,000 range, but with installation the total can be considerably higher. This could be a good option if you’re expecting outages for multiple days; theoretically, the generator can run for as long as fuel is supplied, but it can be advisable to shut it down for engine-cooling purposes.
For the environmentally-inclined, battery-powered backups can be a good option for their more environmentally friendly and quieter nature. For a few hundred dollars, give or take, there are lower-priced smaller to mid-size battery options that people can purchase and that will last for several hours.
There are also battery-powered options to back up the whole home that offer many of the same functions as conventional generators, but without the need for refueling, according to EnergySage. Consumers might expect to pay $10,000 to $20,000 to install a home battery backup system, EnergySage said. This can often last for eight to 12 hours, or even longer if you aren’t using it to power items such as air conditioning or electric heat.
Incentives that lower the cost of purchase and installation
When thinking about what type of backup to choose, incentives can factor into the equation. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, households can receive a 30% tax credit for a battery storage installation, even if it’s not paired with a solar system, Aggarwal said.
Other state and local incentives may also be available. For instance, in some markets like California, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York, utilities pay consumers to tap into their batteries during peak periods like the summer, Aggarwal said. Consumers with larger batteries—10kWh or more—may be able to earn hundreds of dollars a year, he said.
EVs as a backup power option for the home
Some electrical vehicles can be used to back up essential items, or, in some cases, a whole home.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning, for example, can power a home for three days, or up to 10 days under certain circumstances, according to the company. With the required system installed, and the truck plugged in, stored power is transferred seamlessly to the home in the case of a power outage. For its part, GM recently said it would expand its vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging technology to its entire lineup of Ultium-based electric vehicles by model year 2026.
In the past, Jim Farley, Ford CEO has spoken about how the F-150 Lightning’s abilities as a source of backup power for homes and job sites have been a real “eye-opener” for the automaker.
“If you’re contemplating spending $10,000 on a whole home gas generator system, why not think about an EV with this capability instead?” said Stephen Pantano, head of market transformation at Rewiring America, a nonprofit focused on electrifying homes, businesses and communities.
Consumers in the market for a new stove might also consider an induction model with an integrated battery to power it or other items such a fridge on an as-needed basis, Pantano said. “This opens up new possibilities for power backups that weren’t there before.”
Solar-plus-storage can lead to long-term savings
Home solar panels are becoming more popular, but most are connected to the grid, and you need some kind of battery storage in order to have backup power, said Sarah Delisle, vice president of government affairs and communications for Swell Energy, a home energy solutions provider.
That’s where a solar-plus-storage system can come in handy. It allows people to use electricity generated from their solar panels during the day at a later point, which can be particularly useful for people who live in areas where there are frequent power outages, said Ted Tiffany, senior technical lead at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, a group that promotes moving buildings off fossil fuels.
A solar-plus-storage system costs about $25,000 to $35,000, depending on the size of the battery and other factors, according to the U.S. Dept of Energy. It’s easier and more cost-effective to install panels and the battery at the same time, but it’s not required. Homeowners who have already installed solar panels and want to add storage, might expect to pay between $12,000 to $22,000 for a battery, according to the Energy Department. Consumers who purchase a battery on its own or with backup are eligible for federal tax credits. Some states provide additional solar battery incentives.
Also consider the long-term savings potential, Tiffany said. He has a family member who, with electrical upgrades, spent around $8,000 on a fossil fuel-powered whole home generator. Putting that money into solar instead might have been more economical because of the energy savings over time and tax incentives, he said.
Consumers can visit EnergySage to find contractors and get information about solar and incentives. They can also visit, Switch is On, which helps consumers find information on electrification and efficiency measures for home appliances that supports the renewable energy integration.
The electric Chevy Equinox is America’s best-selling EV outside of Tesla. Cadillac is now leading the luxury segment, but GM said its aggressive EV expansion is over as it shifts back to ICE vehicles.
Chevy, Cadillac drive GM EV sales growth in Q3
GM’s electric vehicle sales are growing faster than those of any major OEM in the US. In the third quarter, Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC sold nearly 67,000 EVs, more than doubling from Q3 2024.
Combined, GM accounted for 16.5% of all EV sales in the US in Q3. Although it’s outpacing the industry, GM is pulling back EV plans and will continue to offer several internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles for a bit longer than expected.
After achieving its highest third-quarter market share since 2017, GM’s CEO Mary Barra said, “With the evolving regulatory framework and the end of federal consumer incentives, it is now clear that near-term EV adoption will be lower than planned.
Due to the changes, GM is “reassessing” EV capacity and manufacturing in the US. Barra said the company “aggressively expanded our electric vehicle capacity” over the past few years to meet the regulatory requirements.
With the recent policy changes, including the $7,500 federal tax credit expiring at the end of September, GM is shifting back to ICE vehicles.
“It’s clear that ICE volumes will remain higher for longer,” Barra explained, adding that GM will continue to produce gas-powered vehicles for the foreseeable future.
GM is onshoring production of the Chevy Blazer. It’s also developing a next-gen Cadillac CT5 and plans to extend the Cadillac XT5. In early 2027, GM will begin building the Cadillac Escalade and a new full-size, light-duty pickup at its Orion Assembly plant.
Although Barra still claims that “electric vehicles remain our North Star,” GM announced last week that its shifting EV plans would cost about $1.6 billion.
GM beat top and bottom lines in the third quarter, posting $45.59 billion in revenue with an adjusted EPS of $2.80. Share prices are trading up over 13% after GM raised its full-year guidance. The company now expects an adjusted EBIT of $12 to $13 billion, up from the previous $10 to $12.5 billion it previously forecasted.
It is also expected to take less of a tariff hit than expected. GM updated its full-year gross tariff impact to $3.5 to $4.5 billion, down from $4 to $5 billion.
Meanwhile, GM’s net income plunged 57% to $1.3 billion in Q3, down from about $3.1 billion in the same period last year.
GM’s CFO Paul Jacobson said during an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box Tuesday morning that about 40% of the company’s EVs were profitable on a production basis. He explained that GM expects EVs to take longer than anticipated to reach profitability.
“We continue to believe that there is a strong future for electric vehicles, and we’ve got a great portfolio to be competitive, but we do have some structural changes that we need to do to make sure that we lower the cost of producing those vehicles,” Jacobson said.
Looking ahead, GM is focused on restoring profit margins in North America (8 to 10% adjusted EBIT margins), while also “driving EV profitability, maintaining production and pricing discipline, managing fixed costs, and further reducing tariff exposure.”
GM said it will continue to invest in new battery chemistries, form factors, and architectural improvements to boost EV profits in the future.
The shift comes despite Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC’s strong growth, largely thanks to EVs. Chevy is the fastest-growing electric vehicle brand, with the low-cost Equinox EV proving to be a hit. Cadillac is the best-selling luxury EV brand in the US this year (excluding Tesla) with three of the top ten models, including the Lyriq, Optiq, and Vistiq.
Looking to try GM’s electric vehicles for yourself? From the Chevy Equinox EV to the Cadillac Escalade IQ, you can use our links below to find available models near you.
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Tesla has slashed lease prices across most of its electric vehicle lineup in the US to create more demand after the tax credit went away.
With demand in the US pulling forward into Q3 due to the end of the federal tax credit, Tesla had a surge in deliveries, but demand is expected to fall in Q4.
The automaker is now adjusting its prices, starting with leases, to try to drum up demand.
With an overnight update to its online configurator, Tesla slashed lease prices:
- Model 3 (RWD): Dropped by $100 to $329/month (from $429).
- Model Y (Long Range): Dropped by $80 to $449/month (from $529).
- Cybertruck (AWD): Dropped by $50 to $699/month (from $749).
However, the automaker also warns that prices are going to go back up on November 1st:
While Tesla often offers temporary discounts, they often tend to happen toward the end of quarters.
In this case, it appears that Tesla is seeking an earlier boost in demand.
Without the tax credit, most of Tesla’s vehicles have virtually become $7,500 more expensive overnight in the US, which has remained its only healthy large market since a decline in demand in 2024.
Electrek’s Take
$330 per month for a Model 3 RWD is not a bad deal, but there are many good deals in the EV leasing world right now, and I would expect to see even more attractive deals toward the end of the year.
I’m on the market to upgrade my Model 3, but I’m on the lookout for some fire deals, from Tesla or others, toward the end of the year.
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![Enter the 'Spooky Swamp,' Rivian's costume theme for Halloween 2025 [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Rivian-Halloween-2025.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
BOO! It’s Halloween 2025 and Rivian is helping its owners get in the spirit.
Did I scare you?
We are now ten days away from Halloween 2025 and Rivian is rolling out a fun little software update that converts your R1S or R1T into a unique theme it calls “vehicle costumes.”
While most of the year is dedicated to more robust updates that fix bugs and introduce new features (which we also cover), Halloween offers the Rivian team an opportunity to be creative, enabling its EV owners to get a little spooky and festive with a unique theme.
Last year’s “costume” was themed after both Knight Rider and Back to the Future options, transforming the dash displays while delivering unique light and sound displays on the exterior.
As I reported last week, Rivian began teasing its 2025 Halloween theme on social media with a brief video, saying something was “bubbling.” I surmised by the moss on the vehicles front end and its proximity to water, that this year’s vehicle costume would have something to do with the swamp.
That was correct.
In fact, I was fortunate enough to get access to Rivian’s 2025 Halloween theme a little early and I filmed all the sights and sounds for you in a video below. Behold, Spooky Swamp!
Rivian’s Halloween 2025 theme emerges from the swamp
Per Rivian, this year’s vehicle costume for Halloween 2025 was inspired by “Bayou Country” — the newest chapter in the American automaker’s “Real Adventures” campaign.
As you’ll see in the video, Rivian’s 2025 Halloween update delivers a number of selectable options, altering the colors and sounds both inside and out of the vehicle. Everything is activated from the Rivian app while your R1S or R1T is in park.
Here are the four exterior displays to choose from:
- Swamp Gas
- Player Piano
- Bayou Blast
- Scary Spirit
Furthermore, you can choose to activate these exterior displays manually, or via motion sensor in front of the vehicle.
Another creepy option this year is “spooky overhead lights” which, occasionally flashes your EV’s interior lights like you’re in a horror film. Very creepy.
Inside the Rivian cabin, you’ll find even more immersive Halloween ambiance for 2025, including four unique background tracks, providing a soundtrack to pumpkin-filled bayou animations across both display screens. Here are the four tracks, which I play for you in my video below.
- Bayou Blues
- Swampy Ambiance
- Cajun Crawl
- Ghostly Gloom
Last but not least, you can activate a slew of creepy sound effects while creepin’ out in the cabin. All with a simple tap. Here are those effects (these are not official names, just what I call them):
- Alligator growl
- Snake
- Skeleton Laugh
- Creaky Haunted House
- Frog
- Thunderstorm
Last but not least, as promised, is my video, shot for you to experience Rivian’s 2025 Halloween theme, regardless of whether you own or lease one. Note that I did deploy my own fog machine (yes I have a fog machine lying around the house, why don’t you?) So not all of the visual effects you see come with the Rivian update.
Happy Halloween!
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