Virtual Power Plant (VPP) events are special grid stress periods when utilities pay premium rates for exported battery energy. GridMind manages your battery automatically during these events — pre-charging to maximum capacity beforehand and exporting at the optimal rate throughout the window — so you can maximize earnings without lifting a finger.
During periods of high grid demand — such as heat waves, severe storms, or peak summer afternoons when air conditioning loads strain the grid — utilities sometimes offer significantly above-market rates for exported energy from distributed home batteries. These demand response events are typically announced 24–48 hours in advance and last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours.
GridMind lets you register these events and then handles everything automatically:
To register a new VPP event:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Date | March 15, 2026 |
| Start time | 4:00 PM |
| End time | 9:00 PM |
| Export rate ($/kWh) | $2.50/kWh |
The export rate is provided by your utility or VPP aggregator and is what GridMind uses to calculate your earnings. It is not automatically pulled from your TOU rate schedule — you must enter the premium rate specified by the event notification.
As soon as you register an upcoming VPP event, GridMind begins preparing your battery. It overrides normal Optimize and self-powered logic to charge your battery to 100% in time for the event window. A VPP Pre-Event banner appears on the dashboard showing the event details and a countdown to the start time.
If your solar production alone can’t fully charge the battery before the event starts, GridMind will draw from the grid during off-peak hours to finish the charge — the economics of buying off-peak and exporting at a $2+ VPP rate make this highly favorable.
VPP events take the highest priority in the GridMind system. When a VPP event is registered, it supersedes Optimize for the relevant time window:
| Scenario | VPP Active? | Optimize Active? |
|---|---|---|
| Normal day (no event) | No | Yes |
| VPP event day, before the window | Yes (pre-charging) | Paused |
| Inside the VPP event window | Yes (active export) | Paused |
| After VPP event ends | No | Resumed |
If a VPP event overlaps with your normal TOU peak window, Optimize yields entirely to VPP for that period. The VPP export rate is almost always many times higher than your standard peak rate, so the financial outcome is better in every case.
During an active VPP event, the dashboard shows a dedicated earnings panel:
The Value page maintains a complete VPP event log. For each completed event you’ll see:
These records are also factored into the Lifetime System Value calculation on the Value page, contributing to your break-even progress tracking.
Participating in VPP events unlocks special achievements that appear on your profile:
VPP events discharge your battery more aggressively than normal operation — typically to near-zero SOC. Ensure your backup reserve minimum is set appropriately if you’re in an area prone to unexpected grid outages, and be aware that your battery will have little remaining backup capacity immediately after an event.
Many utilities with NEM 3.0 or demand response programs offer VPP events through third-party aggregators like Tesla Energy Plan, OhmConnect, or Swell Energy. Check your utility’s website or your solar installer for information about available programs in your area.