Walmart is making a strategic investment in Base Power, a Texas energy company that installs, owns and maintains residential battery systems. Under a separate commercial arrangement, Base Power’s home energy offerings will become available to customers and Sam’s Club members through participating stores and clubs, beginning in November.
The arrangement gives the battery provider a national retail channel while keeping the initial rollout in Texas, Base Power’s primary market. Walmart said it expects the offering to reach additional locations and markets over time. In eligible areas of Texas, Base Power also provides electricity plans alongside its battery service.
A company-owned battery model
Base Power’s model differs from a conventional customer-owned whole-home backup installation. The company supplies, installs and maintains the battery equipment, while the customer pays an upfront installation fee. Walmart described that charge as a fraction of the cost of traditional whole-home backup solutions, but the announcement did not provide a standard dollar amount.
Customers who enroll in an eligible Base Power home battery offering at participating Walmart or Sam’s Club locations will receive 20% off Base Power’s standard upfront battery installation fee. The discount applies beginning in November, with pricing, availability and installation requirements determined by the customer’s location and utility service area.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Base Power |
| Initial market | Texas |
| Service structure | Base Power installs, owns and maintains the battery system |
| Customer offer | 20% off the standard upfront battery installation fee for eligible enrollments |
| Enrollment channel | Participating Walmart and Sam’s Club locations |
More than 35,000 Texas members
Base Power said it serves more than 35,000 members in Texas. More than 20,000 of those households have a Base battery installed, while the remaining members receive electricity service from the company. The figures indicate that Base Power’s business already combines distributed storage with retail electricity service rather than relying solely on equipment sales.
Customers can meet with Base Power representatives at participating stores and clubs to review available services and enroll. The company’s batteries are positioned to provide backup power during outages and to help reduce energy costs while the grid is operating. The announcement did not identify the battery models, storage capacities, inverter equipment or installation requirements for the service.
“Customers and members count on Walmart and Sam’s Club to help them make the most of their budgets. Base Power gives them a practical way to help lower energy costs, have backup power during outages and support a more reliable grid.”
That statement came from Shayne Wahlmeier, SVP of Walmart Energy. Base Power’s retail expansion places customer acquisition, service enrollment and the initial commercial relationship in Walmart and Sam’s Club locations, while the energy company remains responsible for the battery assets and their maintenance. The companies did not disclose the value or terms of Walmart’s investment.
- Texas is the first market for the Walmart and Base Power offering.
- Base Power reports more than 20,000 installed home batteries among its Texas members.
- Expansion beyond Texas is planned, but no additional markets or dates were identified.
