How Energy Storage Can Help Protect Your Business from Rising Energy Costs

Is your organization tired of rising electricity bills? If so, you’re not alone.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), commercial power prices have risen sharply, with some regions recording double-digit gains over the past two years.

But imagine a future where you’re not just watching rates climb, you’re taking control of your energy future, stabilizing costs and reducing exposure to utility market fluctuations.

Energy storage, whether paired with commercial solar or standalone, does just that. It provides a strategic advantage, especially as policy shifts redefine the energy landscape.

Because energy storage isn’t just a sustainability strategy, it’s a tactical advantage.

Recent policy changes have reshaped the commercial solar landscape, most notably California’s Net Energy Metering 3.0 (NEM 3.0) and updates to the Investment Tax Credit (ITC).

Under NEM 3.0, compensation for exporting excess solar energy back to the grid has dropped significantly, reducing the financial benefit of traditional solar-only systems.

 At the same time, ITC updates have expanded eligibility for energy storage, shifting incentives toward more comprehensive energy solutions.

These shifts increasingly favor solar‑plus‑storage or standalone storage solutions in many commercial use cases. By storing surplus energy on-site, businesses can reduce reliance on the grid during high‑cost periods and mitigate peak demand charges.

And it’s not just about savings — it’s about control. Energy storage lets you use power when it’s most valuable, shielding your operations from unpredictable rate increases.

That makes pairing solar with storage more than simply an upgrade.

For many organizations, it’s a pathway to greater energy independence and long‑term financial stability—and one of the most impactful long‑term energy strategies available today.

When financed through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), your solar-plus-storage system powers your operations year after year at a predictable rate. This fixed rate acts as a powerful price hedge, insulating your business from the volatility of traditional utility rates.

While energy costs continue their unpredictable upward trajectory, organizations with energy storage benefit from more stable energy expenses.

And that financial certainty allows you to accurately forecast and manage your operational budget for decades, transforming volatile energy costs into a more manageable asset—and supporting stronger financial planning over decades.

Utility companies often use dynamic pricing, which means electricity costs can spike during peak hours. For businesses, this can lead to substantial and unpredictable energy bills.

Battery storage changes that equation.

Here’s how it works:

Generate & Store: Your solar panels produce clean electricity all day. Any excess power generated during low-demand periods is stored in your batteries.

Deploy & Save: When grid prices climb during peak hours, your facility switches to stored, low-cost solar power from your batteries rather than buying expensive utility electricity.

This process, known as “peak shaving,” allows you to bypass the highest grid rates, shielding your operations from volatile pricing. By strategically managing your energy consumption, you can dramatically reduce your exposure to costly demand charges and gain greater control over your budget. This lowers your organization’s overall costs while ensuring your business stays ahead of potential price spikes.

Gone are the days of passively hoping utility rates will level out. Policies like NEM 3.0 and ITC updates highlight how quickly the energy landscape can shift.

With commercial solar and storage, you’re poised to win for the long term. But to truly call the shots in your energy story, choosing the right partner is key.

REC Solar brings decades of industry expertise, helping organizations nationwide navigate policy changes, maximize energy savings, and achieve long-term energy strategies.

Connect with our energy experts and discover how much confidence you can build in your business’s energy future.

After all, the best way to face rising rates is to rise above them.