SUNation Hits 800th Battery Milestone Amidst Long Island Energy Woes

RONKONKOMA, NY – August 18, 2026 – While the hum of a newly installed battery system might go unnoticed, its impact resonates deeply across Long Island. SUNation Energy, a prominent regional installer, today announced the installation of its 800th residential battery backup system, a significant milestone that signals a broader shift in how residents are managing their power in one of the nation's most expensive and challenging energy markets.

The installation, completed at a Long Island home, represents more than just a number for the Ronkonkoma-based company. It serves as a tangible marker in a region grappling with soaring utility costs and persistent concerns over grid reliability. For a growing number of homeowners, the solution is no longer just about solar panels on the roof; it’s about the stored energy in the garage, ready to be deployed when it’s needed most.

A New Era of Energy Resilience

Long Island has long been a poster child for high energy costs, with residents of Nassau and Suffolk Counties facing some of the steepest utility rates in the United States. PSEG Long Island's Time-of-Day (TOD) rate structure, which charges more for electricity during peak afternoon and evening hours, incentivizes consumers to shift their usage. This, combined with volatile power supply charges that saw a 13% spike in a single month earlier this year, has left many homeowners feeling powerless against their monthly bills.

Compounding the financial strain are persistent questions about grid reliability. In 2025, PSEG Long Island failed to meet key reliability targets, resulting in financial penalties and highlighting a five-year trend of increasing power outages. With equipment failures and storm-related tree damage being primary culprits, the promise of uninterrupted power feels increasingly fragile. It is within this environment that residential battery storage has transitioned from a luxury good to a practical necessity.

A residential battery system allows homeowners to engage in “energy time-shifting”—storing solar energy or cheap off-peak grid power during the day and deploying it during expensive peak hours. This directly counters the financial impact of TOD rates. More critically, when configured for backup operation, these systems provide a seamless source of power during an outage, keeping lights on, refrigerators cold, and home offices running. Customer reviews for local installers frequently praise this newfound sense of security and independence from an unpredictable grid.

A Local Leader Charges Ahead

Navigating this complex landscape is where local expertise becomes paramount. SUNation Energy has positioned itself as a leader by leveraging its deep roots in the community. The company’s 800th battery installation solidifies its standing as a major force in the regional market.

“Installing our 800th residential battery is an exciting milestone for the entire SUNation Energy team,” said Scott Maskin, SUNation Energy Founder and CEO, in a statement. “Every installation represents a homeowner taking a meaningful step toward greater energy control and resilience. We are proud of the trust our customers place in us.”

This trust appears well-founded. According to interconnection data from June 2026, SUNation ranked as the third-largest installer of batteries in PSEG-LI territory overall and claimed the top spot among locally-owned and operated regional installers. This achievement is built on an end-to-end service model that guides homeowners through consultation, system design, permitting, and activation. With over two decades of experience on Long Island, the company’s strategy focuses on delivering technical expertise with a strong customer-centric approach, a combination that helps it compete against larger national brands.

Powering the Broader Energy Transition

The trend unfolding on Long Island is a microcosm of a massive global shift. The residential energy storage market is experiencing explosive growth, driven by falling battery costs, supportive government policies, and a growing consumer appetite for resilience. Globally, the market was valued at nearly $7 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed $32 billion by 2034.

In the United States, the momentum is even more palpable. The U.S. energy storage industry set a record in the first quarter of 2026, with residential storage deployments surging 86% year-over-year. A key catalyst has been the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides a 30% tax credit for battery storage systems, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for many families. Consequently, the rate of solar installations paired with battery storage has climbed dramatically, reaching a record 45% in early 2026.

This move towards distributed energy resources—where thousands of individual homes act as small power plants—has profound implications for the future of the electric grid. Each of the 800 batteries installed by SUNation contributes to a more decentralized, flexible, and robust energy infrastructure. By storing excess solar power locally, these systems reduce strain on the central grid during peak demand and help integrate more renewable energy smoothly.

For companies like SUNation, the mission extends beyond individual installations to participating in this fundamental re-architecting of energy. As Maskin noted, the milestone is about the families behind the number.

“This achievement is about much more than a number,” he added. “It represents 800 families who have chosen to take a more active role in their energy future. We look forward to helping many more homeowners make that transition.”