Massachusetts Just Launched a Vehicle-to-Grid Pilot With Eversource. Connecticut Already Has One Too

Eversource and National Grid this week began testing a small vehicle-to-grid program in Massachusetts, letting a handful of EV owners sell stored battery power back to the utility. Connecticut homeowners may not realize the state already runs a similar program of its own, with a licensed electrician doing the install and real money on the table for the right EV.

What just launched in Massachusetts, and why it matters here

This week, Eversource and National Grid began a small-scale vehicle-to-grid test in Massachusetts run through the utilities' Connected Solutions demand-response program. The pilot enrolled about 45 electric vehicles, and the concept is straightforward: instead of a home battery sitting idle, the car's much larger battery pack can discharge stored energy back through a two-way charger during hours when the grid is under the most strain, with the owner compensated for the power supplied.

Only five consumer EV models sold in the U.S. currently have the hardware to participate in a program like this: the Nissan Leaf, Kia EV9, Polestar 3, Volvo EX90, and Ford F-150 Lightning. The car, the two-way charger, and the utility's software all have to be compatible, which is why these pilots start small rather than opening to every EV owner at once.

Eversource serves customers in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, which is exactly why this news is worth a Connecticut homeowner's attention even though the Massachusetts pilot itself doesn't include Connecticut participants.

Connecticut already has a version of this, and it's easy to miss

Connecticut's own program, the Grid-Supportive Residential Bidirectional EV Chargers Project, has been running since late 2025 through the state's Innovative Energy Solutions initiative, administered in partnership with Eversource, United Illuminating, and a company called Bidirectional Energy. Right now it's built around a single vehicle, the Kia EV9, the only EV currently qualified for the program, though the sponsors have said more vehicles are under evaluation.

The financial terms are worth knowing: the program covers up to 75 percent of equipment and installation cost, capped at $10,800 per home, and a participant who completes a full year of demand-response events can expect roughly $1,350 in that first year. The pilot is intentionally small, with room for only 63 participants total, and Wallbox supplies the charging hardware while a company called COIL handles the one-day installation.

Why this is an electrical job, not a plug-and-play upgrade

A bidirectional charger is a meaningfully bigger electrical installation than a standard Level 2 EV charger. It has to safely manage power flowing in both directions, coordinate with your home's main panel during an intentional islanding event if it's also being used for backup power, and meet the utility's interconnection requirements so it doesn't back-feed the grid unsafely during an outage, which is the same core safety concern behind requiring a transfer switch on a standby generator.

That's why Connecticut's own pilot builds a licensed electrician's install directly into the program rather than treating it as an optional add-on. If you're considering an EV purchase with resale value and future-proofing in mind, it's worth asking whether the model you're eyeing supports bidirectional charging, and if you already own a qualifying EV, it's worth a conversation with a licensed electrician about whether your panel and service size can support the equipment before you apply.

What a Connecticut homeowner should do next

If you drive a Kia EV9, checking your eligibility for Connecticut's existing pilot is a reasonable next step, particularly since it's capped at 63 total participants and won't stay open indefinitely. If you don't own a qualifying vehicle yet but are shopping for one, treat V2G or V2H capability as one more spec worth comparing alongside range and charging speed, especially if backup power during a Connecticut storm outage is part of what you're trying to solve for.

Either way, don't assume any bidirectional charger is a simple retrofit. Have a licensed electrician evaluate your panel, your existing generator or transfer switch setup if you have one, and your utility's interconnection requirements before you sign up for hardware you can't yet safely install.

6 Things to Know Before You Look Into a Bidirectional EV Charger

Vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home charging are real, but the hardware and eligibility are still narrow.

1. Check vehicle compatibility first: Only a handful of models, including the Kia EV9, Ford F-150 Lightning, Nissan Leaf, Polestar 3, and Volvo EX90, currently support bidirectional charging.
2. Look up Connecticut's existing pilot: The Grid-Supportive Residential Bidirectional EV Chargers Project through Eversource, UI, and Bidirectional Energy is already open to eligible Kia EV9 owners.
3. Understand the participant cap: Connecticut's pilot is capped at 63 households, so eligibility and enrollment windows matter more than with a standard rebate program.
4. Budget for a licensed electrician's install: A bidirectional charger install involves panel evaluation, interconnection compliance, and often a transfer arrangement similar to a standby generator.
5. Ask how it interacts with any generator you already own: Homes with both a standby generator and a bidirectional EV charger need a clear plan for which system serves as backup power during an outage.
6. Don't expect it to replace a whole-home generator yet: Even a large EV battery has finite capacity; a multi-day outage may still call for a dedicated standby generator alongside a bidirectional charger.

Frequently asked questions

Is Connecticut part of the new Massachusetts vehicle-to-grid pilot?

No. The Massachusetts pilot launched this week is specific to Eversource and National Grid customers in Massachusetts. Connecticut has a separate, similarly structured pilot of its own through Eversource, United Illuminating, and Bidirectional Energy.

What vehicle qualifies for Connecticut's bidirectional charger program?

As of now, only the Kia EV9 is approved for Connecticut's Grid-Supportive Residential Bidirectional EV Chargers Project, though program administrators have said additional vehicles are under evaluation.

How much can a Connecticut homeowner get through the program?

The program can cover up to 75 percent of hardware and installation cost, capped at $10,800 per home, with a participant able to earn roughly $1,350 in the first year for full participation in demand-response events.

Can a bidirectional charger power my home during an outage like a generator does?

It can supply backup power, but its capacity is tied to the vehicle's battery size and how much charge is available when the outage starts. It's best thought of as a complement to, not necessarily a replacement for, a dedicated standby generator, and a licensed electrician can help you plan how the two would work together.