A Texas-sized home battery
that automatically powers your home
when the lights go out
, for a fraction of a generator’s cost
, while supporting Austin Energy’s grid
.
Base designs, builds, installs, and maintains each Base Core Battery.
Now available to Austin Energy customers.
Better backup starts with Core:
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One of the largest home batteries
39.2 kWh in every Base Core, making it one of the largest home batteries available.
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Backup that lasts
Up to 36 hours of whole-home backup with reduced energy consumption. Extend duration with the built-in generator recharge port or connected solar (not required).
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From hot summer days to cold winter nights
Tested for -22 to 122°F, flash flooding, and submersion-rated to 3 feet.
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Affordable pricing
Automatic, whole-home backup without the five-figure cost of a generator or solar.
Backup for your home. Support for the grid.
Austin Energy uses these home batteries to add capacity during peak demand. When the grid is down, your battery keeps your home powered.
When the grid is up and running.
Austin Energy can draw on the battery to add capacity during high demand hours, which helps reduce outage risk.
Check eligibility in minutesCheck eligibility in minutes
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Snap a few pictures
Send a few photos of your home. Our engineers will determine which Base Core configuration is best for you.
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Sit back and relax
From permits to installation, we take care of all the details. Our expert crew has decades of electrical experience.
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Stay protected automatically
Track your expected backup time and energy use in the Base app. Our Texas-based support team is just a chat or call away.
Base Core specs
Power
- Energy Capacity
- Reduced usage duration
- Up to 36 hours
- AC Voltage (nominal)
- 120/240 V
- Grid frequency
- 60 Hz
Features
- Size
- 35.9" H x 30.68" W x 22"
- Operating temperature
- -22 to 122 °F
- Noise
- 55 dBA (at 1 meter)
- Auto-switch
- Seamless (50 milliseconds)
Other details
- Lifetime
- 12 years
- Core maintenance
- Base handles all service and maintenance for the lifetime of the battery.
- Certifications
- UL 1973, UL 9540, UL 991, UL 1998, UL 1741, IEEE 1547-2003
We’ve got answers
What is Base Core?
Base Core is our next generation home battery, designed from the ground up to support the grid and now in production at Base Factory 1 in Austin. It backs up your whole home and switches over seamlessly when the grid drops.
Who is my energy provider?
If you receive your monthly energy bill and service from Austin Energy, you will continue to do so with the installation of a Base Core.
Will I see an impact on my monthly energy bill from Austin Energy?
No. You will only be billed for energy that your home consumes, just like you were before your Base Core was installed. Energy consumed by your property is still measured in full by your meter, and your monthly bill is calculated the same way as before. Your battery sits in front of your electric meter, rather than behind it like most residential storage systems. Therefore, any battery activity will not impact your home since it does not pass through the utility billing meter. Base advises members to reach out to Austin Energy Customer Service directly at 512-494-9400 with specific questions related to energy bills.
How long will it back me up?
Base Core holds 39.2 kWh of energy, which is ~3x the size of typical batteries. How long it lasts depends on how much power you use. A battery stores a fixed amount of energy, so running high-usage devices like A/C drains it faster, just like a bigger hose empties a bucket more quickly.
At reduced usage, a Base Core can back you up for up to 36 hours. For context, 97% of outages in Texas are less than 2.5 hours long.
In the case of an extended outage, Core has a built-in generator port that lets you recharge it from a standard portable generator, so you stay powered as long as you have fuel. The Base app shows a real-time estimate of your remaining backup time, at both your current usage and reduced usage.
What happens if I do not want to pay for recharging the battery after an event?
Members are not responsible for any battery activity that their home did not use. Batteries must recharge in order to stay operational. The battery can only backup your home if it continuously recharges from the electric grid.
Is there a way for members to see exactly how many kWh I am paying each month to recharge the batteries?
If the battery energy ends up being consumed by your home, then you will be responsible for paying for it just like you would if you consumed energy from the grid. In your Base member app, you can navigate to the Home energy or Daily overview page to see your home consumption, including a breakout by source of power (i.e., grid, battery, solar).
How does grid-balancing work during an outage?
During an outage, the batteries automatically detect the loss of grid voltage and immediately disconnect your house from the grid. At that point, the battery supplies energy exclusively to your home — you are legally entitled to this energy, and our batteries will never discharge to the grid during an outage. Once the outage is over, your battery seamlessly reconnects your house to the grid and resumes normal operation.
What testing certifications does it have?
Core is certified under UL 1973, UL 9540, UL 991, UL 1998, UL 1741, IEEE 1547-2003. UL certification is the gold standard for electrical system safety in home appliances, including rigorous fire safety standards.
Core uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, one of the safest battery types available. It’s more stable under high temperatures and far less likely to overheat than standard EV battery chemistries.
Beyond certifications, Core went through extensive test programs: IP67 submersion testing (rated to 3 feet), IPX9K high-pressure water testing, and internal flash-flood testing. It operates from -22 to 122 °F. Every installation is performed by certified, bonded, insured, and licensed electricians under Base’s Texas master electrician (license #476697), or licensed by local regulatory agencies.