In 2025, Lunar System owners gained hundreds of dollars of additional value from Lunar’s optimization software. Any solar and battery solution can reduce electricity bills and avoid power outages — Lunar’s focus on going beyond standard operation has proven it can generate even more savings and earnings.

Here’s a look at some of our top savers (and earners) from the year.

“Lunar AI filled my battery before the expensive hours hit and even sent energy back when credits were highest. It saved me $333 this summer compared to if I was just in another battery’s standard ‘solar self consumption’ mode. I’d call that a win,” said Jennifer, a Lunar customer in San Jose, Calif. More than just the additional savings, Jennifer also earned $473 by participating in a Lunar Virtual Power Plant program.

“The app ‘plays the day’ for me. Sometimes it’s cheaper to pull electricity now and save battery to export or avoid pricey evening power later. I don’t micromanage it. I just see the savings and VPP credits add up,” said Kyle in Fremont, Calif. Kyle added $873 in additional value by using Lunar AI, and tacked an additional $463 in VPP earnings to his 2025. 

These outcomes aren’t unique. Across the entirety of the Lunar fleet, customers added an additional $338 in 2025 by using Lunar AI instead of a standard battery “self-consumption” mode. In addition, Lunar customers earned $464 on average by participating in Lunar’s VPP.

Lunar AI, an energy nerd in your pocket

In California, solar and battery customers are subject to hundreds of different energy rates throughout the year. Sometimes it’s more expensive to use grid energy than others. And every hour there’s a different rate for what a customer gets credited for sending energy back to the grid — sometimes that credit is $0.00 per kilowatt-hour. Sometimes it’s more than $1.00. 

A standard battery “self-consumption” mode optimizes the system for taking as little energy from the grid as possible, and sending as little back as it can. This mode of operation leaves hundreds of dollars of value unclaimed throughout the year. 

Lunar AI is different. It makes a custom plan for every home, every day. It learns and adapts to rate changes, personal energy use, and even the weather. Take an example: If Lunar AI knows tomorrow will be cloudy, it knows a home won’t make enough energy to fully charge the battery and power the home for the day. Not having a full battery that evening would mean a customer doesn’t have enough saved energy to avoid evening peak prices, or capture lucrative export credits. So, Lunar AI will prioritize charging the battery from all available solar power, and uses grid energy to power the home during the cheaper times of the day — discharging the battery when it adds the most value for the home. 

As Kyle in Fremont said, “It’s counterintuitive sometimes. The Sun’s out and I’m pulling from the grid? But then I see the savings and it clicks.”

Cash for extra energy

A large part of the savings story has to do with capturing export credits to offset electricity bills throughout the year, but Lunar customers also turned their extra energy into cash in 2025 by participating in the Lunar VPP, which ran from May 2025 to October 2025.

Lunar customers see available VPPs directly in the Lunar App, and can choose to enroll based on the program offer. This year, the Lunar Systems participated in VPP events six times, all fully operated by Lunar. 

Lunar customers were paid monthly for their extra energy — either as a direct bank deposit or a deposit into an Amazon account.

Jennifer in San Jose said, “Those earnings contribute to our medical insurance. Even those small spot payments make a difference.”

In 2025, Lunar customers gained an additional $802 on average — not just what any solar and battery system would offer, but beyond. And as more VPP programs come to market, and rates continue to change, Lunar is ready because of its focus on developing leading optimization software to get the most value for customers.