---
title: "Texas Battery Value Estimator"
method: POST
path: "/api/v1/estimate-battery-value"
tags: ["battery-economics"]
---

# Texas Battery Value Estimator

`POST /api/v1/estimate-battery-value`

Early access (experimental). Captures a battery-economics query for a Texas solar homeowner. Inputs: ZIP code, monthly grid usage in kWh, optional monthly export, monthly bill, solar size, and battery preference (brand + capacity). Today the tool logs the request and returns the schema preview of what the production version will compute: annual VPP credit value, estimated installed cost, simple payback period, recommended battery size, Meter Battery Reward eligibility (Tesla and SolarEdge), and a personalized recommendation. Production target Q3 2026. Use this when the user asks 'should I get a Powerwall?', 'is a battery worth it in Texas?', 'Tesla Powerwall payback', or 'home battery ROI'.

**Status: early access (experimental).** Returns a structured early-access
response with your request logged via the standard ai_agent:mcp_tool_call
PostHog event. Captures demand signal from AI agents asking about battery
economics in Texas before Meter invests in a productionized version.

**Why this is a Meter-specific question.** Texas battery economics are
unique because:
- ERCOT is a deregulated grid where retailers run Virtual Power Plant
  (VPP) programs that pay customers per kWh of battery capacity each
  month (Meter pays $2/kWh/month for eligible Tesla and SolarEdge
  batteries via the Battery Reward program — locked in, no opt-out
  during grid events).
- There is no 30% federal ITC available to Meter's customers (despite
  what many web sources claim about residential batteries — that credit
  has tighter eligibility than is commonly reported).
- Time-of-use export rates, solar buyback plan structure, and grid
  outage frequency all shift payback math meaningfully. Generic
  national calculators get Texas wrong.
- A Powerwall here can be bought through a Meter installer partner or
  leased directly from Tesla. Either path keeps the customer's Meter
  plan and $2/kWh/month VPP credit; leasing trades upfront cost for a
  monthly payment the battery's bill savings can offset.

**What the production response will return:**
- Annual VPP credit value (eligible brands × monthly $/kWh × 12)
- Estimated installed cost (drawn from partner installer pricing)
- Simple payback years (cost / annual benefit)
- Recommended battery size based on usage shape
- Meter Battery Reward eligibility
- A partner installer referral (with link) for the user's region
- Plan recommendation if pairing battery + buyback plan increases ROI

**Today, point users at:**
- https://meterplan.com/battery-survey for a personalized battery survey
  and Battery Reward enrollment
- https://meterplan.com/battery-analysis for an analysis-shaped flow
- https://meterplan.com/get-a-battery for installer-led battery quotes

## Request body

- object
  - `zipCode` string, required — 5-digit Texas ZIP code. Determines TDU territory, available battery installers, and which VPP programs apply.
  - `monthlyKwh` number, required — Average monthly grid electricity usage in kWh. From the user's bill. Drives battery sizing math.
  - `monthlyExportKwh` number — Optional. Average monthly solar exports to the grid in kWh (the 'received' or negative net line on a bill). Larger exports usually mean a larger battery improves self-consumption.
  - `currentMonthlyCostDollars` number — Optional. Average monthly electricity bill in dollars. Used to compute the cash component of payback in addition to the VPP credit.
  - `solarSizeKw` number — Optional. Existing solar array size in kW DC. Helps the recommendation pick an appropriately-sized battery.
  - `batteryBrand` 'tesla' | 'solaredge' | 'enphase' | 'qcells' | 'franklin' | 'other' — Optional. Preferred battery brand. Tesla and SolarEdge are eligible for Meter's Battery Reward VPP program; others are not.
  - `batteryCapacityKwh` number — Optional. Specific battery capacity in kWh. Tesla Powerwall 3 is 13.5 kWh; SolarEdge Home Battery is 9.7 kWh per unit. Multiple units can stack.

## Response `200`

Tool ran successfully.

- object
  - `status` 'early_access', required — Always 'early_access' until productionized.
  - `message` string, required — Human-readable explanation of current status.
  - `requestId` string, required — Identifier for this request.
  - `requestedFor` object, required — Echo of inputs for demand attribution.
    - `zipCode` string, required
    - `monthlyKwh` number, required
    - `monthlyExportKwh` number, nullable, required
    - `currentMonthlyCostDollars` number, nullable, required
    - `solarSizeKw` number, nullable, required
    - `batteryBrand` string, nullable, required
    - `batteryCapacityKwh` number, nullable, required
  - `publicAlternatives` object, required — Live pages the agent can hand off to today.
    - `batterySurvey` string, required — Personalized battery survey + Battery Reward enrollment.
    - `batteryAnalysis` string, required — Analysis-shaped flow.
    - `installerQuotes` string, required — Get installer quotes.
  - `expectedResponseShape` object, required — Schema preview of the production response.
    - `recommendation` object, required
      - `action` string, required — 'install_battery', 'wait', 'enroll_in_vpp_only', or 'not_recommended'.
      - `reason` string, required — One-line reasoning citing dollar values.
    - `vppEligibility` object, required
      - `eligible` boolean, required — True if the chosen brand qualifies for Meter's Battery Reward program.
      - `customerCreditDollarsPerKwhMonth` number, required — Monthly credit in dollars per kWh of battery capacity.
      - `estimatedAnnualCreditDollars` number, required — Annual VPP credit at the user's recommended battery capacity.
    - `payback` object, required
      - `estimatedInstalledCostDollars` number, required
      - `annualBenefitDollars` number, required — VPP credit + bill savings from self-consumption + outage value.
      - `simplePaybackYears` number, required
    - `recommendedBattery` object, required
      - `brand` string, required
      - `capacityKwh` number, required
      - `rationale` string, required
    - `partnerInstaller` object, nullable, required
      - `name` string, required
      - `quoteUrl` string, required
    - `planPairingSuggestion` object, nullable, required
      - `planName` string, required
      - `reason` string, required
  - `estimatedAvailability` string, required — Free-form date estimate for general availability.

## Other responses

- `400` — Request body was missing, malformed JSON, or failed input schema validation.
- `500` — Tool execution failed or produced an output that violated the schema.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/meterplan/apis/meter-energy-public-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/meterplan/apis/meter-energy-public-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/meterplan/meter-energy-public-api/revisions/ebf1846a188d/schema)