Stop Demand Charges From Breaking Your Budget
DemandGuard intelligently manages your Powerwall and grid usage during peak hours, keeping your demand charges predictable and controlled. Set your budget—we handle the rest.
Why Demand Charges Are Expensive
Understanding the hidden costs in your utility bill.
Powerwall Systems Are Expensive
A Tesla Powerwall costs $15,000-$20,000+ installed. Most homes need multiple units to provide meaningful protection during peak hours. That's a significant upfront investment.
Demand Charges Are the Hidden Killer
Utilities bill you based on your highest power draw during peak hours—not total usage. A single appliance spike (AC startup, electric water heater, car charging) can inflate your entire month's bill by $100-$500+.
Solar Can't Always Save You
Solar helps reduce grid consumption, but production often doesn't align with utility peak windows, late afternoon/evening or early morning, and variability (clouds, shading, export limits) can leave you exposed. Without substantial onsite storage or an oversized PV array (rarely cost-effective), solar alone can't reliably prevent demand charge spikes.
The DemandGuard Solution
Stop trying to eliminate demand charges. Control them instead.
Set Your Demand Target
Choose the maximum grid power (kW) you're comfortable drawing during peak hours. This becomes your demand budget—simple as that.
Smart Battery Coordination
DemandGuard alternates power from your Powerwall and the grid across each peak interval, keeping your actual demand within your target limit while distributing battery use evenly.
Predictable Bills
No more surprises. By enforcing your demand limit, your peak-hour charges stay consistent month-to-month, making it easier to budget and plan.
Extends Battery Life
Spreading power draws across peak intervals instead of rapid discharge cycles helps preserve your Powerwall's health and longevity.
Automatic & Seamless
Set it once. DemandGuard runs continuously during peak hours, intelligently managing your energy without any manual input from you.
Works With Your Setup
DemandGuard integrates directly with your Tesla Powerwall and your utility's billing intervals (typically 30–60 minutes). No additional hardware needed.
How DemandGuard Works
Three simple steps to demand-charge control
Set Your Demand Limit
In your Grid Getter settings, choose your target demand (in kW). For example: "I want to keep my peak demand at 8 kW or below."
DemandGuard Monitors Live
During peak hours, DemandGuard continuously watches your real-time power usage. It knows exactly when your utility's billing interval starts and ends.
Intelligent Battery Switching
When grid usage approaches your limit, DemandGuard automatically coordinates with your Powerwall. Power is alternated between battery and grid to keep demand steady and predictable, resetting at each interval boundary.
Real Results, Real Savings
What DemandGuard delivers
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my demand still exceeds my limit?
DemandGuard enforces your limit within the constraints of your battery's available charge. If your home's actual power demand exceeds your limit and your battery is depleted, demand charges will reflect the overage. The key is working with a realistic target that matches your Powerwall capacity and home usage patterns.
How do I choose the right demand target?
Review your last 3–6 months of utility bills to see your peak demand history. Start with a target 10–20% below your current peak. You can adjust over time as you see what works best for your home.
Does DemandGuard work with partial solar + battery?
Yes. DemandGuard works with any Powerwall setup. It intelligently uses available battery storage to smooth demand spikes during peak hours, regardless of solar production.
Can I disable DemandGuard during emergencies?
Yes. You always have full manual control. Override or disable DemandGuard anytime through the Grid Getter app if you need to prioritize comfort or other needs.
What utilities support demand charges?
Demand charges are common on commercial plans and residential plans in many states (especially California, Texas, and the Southwest). Check your utility bill for a "demand charge" or "peak demand" line item. If you see it, DemandGuard is for you.
Is DemandGuard included in Grid Getter's free plan?
DemandGuard is part of the DemandGuard tier at $10/month. The free tier includes live monitoring and one custom automation. Upgrade to Premium + DemandGuard to unlock this flagship feature.
Deep Dive: Understanding Demand Charges
Want to learn more about how demand charges work and how to optimize your energy?
Ready to Control Your Demand Charges?
Start with Grid Getter's free tier to monitor your energy. Upgrade to Premium + DemandGuard when you're ready to enforce your demand limit and stop surprise utility bills.
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