Google Launched Program to Link Home Devices to Grid

The initiative aims to offset rising energy demand from data centers by tapping into residential appliances.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Data Centers

Isometric editorial illustration of a residential heat pump connected to a utility pole, representing energy grid integration software. — Google has launched the SHARE program, connecting household batteries and heat pumps across California to stabilize the electric grid against rising data center power demand. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you allow a utility company to manage your home appliance energy usage during peak demand?

Google has launched the SHARE program to connect household batteries, heat pumps, and thermostats to the California electric grid. The effort seeks to free up 11 megawatts of electricity from 21,000 existing devices to help manage utility strain.

Why it matters

California requires additional capacity to manage surging power demand from the state's 277 operating data centers and ongoing building electrification. This program leverages decentralized storage to address power stability as data center demand is projected to reach 9 percent of peak usage by 2040.

The SHARE program integrates 21,000 existing residential devices to manage grid load, while 500 additional households will receive subsidized equipment to add one megawatt of capacity. This effort operates in a landscape where residential electricity rates have exceeded 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The players

Google

A technology conglomerate funding the SHARE program that manages large-scale data center infrastructure.

PG&E

The primary utility provider working with partners to integrate residential devices into the California grid.

Tesla

An energy and automotive company providing battery storage technology for the grid-connected residential program.

Sunrun

A provider of residential solar and battery storage systems participating in the grid integration effort.

Governor Newsom

The California executive who signed seven data center-related bills in September 2026.

The details

The program uses software to integrate household batteries, thermostats, and heat pumps—electric heating and cooling systems that transfer thermal energy—into the utility network. When grid strain peaks, operators draw power from these connected units to reduce total demand. This approach is designed to supplement traditional infrastructure, such as the 38 transmission projects totaling $6.7 billion approved for the next decade.

August 2020: California experienced rotating blackouts during a heat wave.
September 2022: Grid demand hit record levels during a heat wave.
March 11, 2025: The EPA terminated $20 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants.
January-July 2026: Residential electricity rates averaged over 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.
2027: The SHARE program experiment is scheduled to conclude.

The Tech Race

This effort follows the enactment of seven data center bills signed by Governor Newsom in September 2026 aimed at regulating industry expansion. It marks a shift toward private-utility integration to offset the footprint of 54 planned facilities in the state.

Participating households in California receive free or discounted home batteries and heat pumps in exchange for allowing grid operators to manage their power usage during peak strain. Residents are currently facing residential electricity prices that have consistently exceeded 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The takeaway

The SHARE program serves as a pilot to determine if residential demand-side management can mitigate the power requirements of California's growing data center sector. Observers should track the program's reported total megawatt contribution by its 2027 conclusion to assess the viability of distributed grid control.