IslandDER

To participate in initial California installs, please email [email protected] or reach out to your regional ConnectDER sales rep.

Engineered For Cost Savings & Operational Efficiency On Every Job

Installers are cutting costs and timelines on solar-plus-battery installs thanks to our IslandDER meter collar, which plugs directly into the utility meter socket outside the home. This innovation bypasses the need for main panel upgrades, full service replacements, or circuit relocations—all of which lead to lost revenue and scheduling challenges for installers and increased costs for end customers. By eliminating these hurdles, crews can complete more jobs per week while homeowners save thousands in surprise electrical costs and drywall repairs with less disruption to their daily lives.

“By integrating IslandDER with the battery system, we’re able to deliver a comprehensive whole-home backup solution with 50% less installation time and over 50% cost saving.” — Michael Ward, Vice President | Pacific Solar

IslandDER Benefits:

• 15 minute install at the meter—stay outside the home
• No MPUs, service upsizing, or circuit relocations—tackle meter main combos with ease
• Replaces the battery gateway component—less electrical work
• Standardized MID solution—repeatable designs, predictable installs
• Use with new installs or retrofits—with or without solar

IslandDER Features

• Built-in Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID) for automatic grid disconnect, Current Transformers (CTs), voltage sensing, and data transmission
• Reversible connection module
• LED status indicator lights
• MID override switch
• Passive cooling (no fan)
• Compatible with multiple leading battery systems
• Backed by a 12.5-year warranty

Boost Your Crew’s Capacity, Complete More Installs

IslandDER makes solar-plus-storage a repeatable operation every time, not a custom project.

Enabling California’a Storage-First Future

IslandDER will play a critical role in amplifying California’s nation-leading Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs, which offer incentives to residents who install energy storage systems at home while helping stabilize the grid for increased resilience.

California’s grid is rapidly transitioning to a storage-first model, driven by 2023’s updated Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0) which fundamentally shifted incentives toward battery storage. This resulted in the battery attachment rate on new residential solar installs reaching an estimated 79%. Further compounding this growth, many of the 2 million residents with existing rooftop solar are now retrofitting their systems to participate in incentive programs. Additional programs, such as the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) offerings from SCE, PG&E, and SDGE, enable “incentive stacking.” Residents can now receive an upfront rebate, participate in a VPP program to sell energy back to the utility, and reduce their electric bill during peak hours by leveraging Time-of-Use (TOU) rates with their stored power.

With IslandDER, installers can more rapidly deploy residential battery systems, lowering the cost barrier for homeowners and increasing VPP adoption.

The post Solar-Plus-Storage Installs Underway In California With ConnectDER’s IslandDER™ Meter Socket Adapter: PG&E, SDGE, and SCE Territories appeared first on ConnectDER.

In his new role, Saucier is tasked with designing and implementing the scalable systems, processes, and culture necessary to support ConnectDER’s next stage of growth. He will continue to partner closely with CEO Ivo Steklac to translate the company’s vision into day-to-day execution, ensuring operational excellence across product development, engineering, PMO, and supply chain.

Saucier’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for ConnectDER. As the company rolls out its newest-generation IslandDER Meter Socket Adapter—enabling faster, easier home battery backup installations by bypassing costly electrical work—Saucier’s background in complex hardware engineering and manufacturing continues to be a critical asset.

His career is defined by a rare ability to bridge the gap between technical problem-solving and large-scale organizational management:

Deep Electrical Expertise: With over two decades of experience, including a tenure as Director of Hardware Engineering at Aclara and extensive leadership at Electronics for Imaging (EFI), Saucier has a proven track record of managing all phases of electrical, electronics, and firmware development. This technical depth is vital for ConnectDER’s mission to simplify the connection between the utility meter and the home’s distributed energy resource (DER) assets.

A Legacy of Efficiency: At EFI, Saucier established a world-class “idea-to-launch” system that significantly increased commercialization rates, moving from three product launches in 2011 to seven in 2012. He also restructured engineering budgets to save over $600,000 in a single quarter, demonstrating the fiscal discipline required of a modern COO.

Strategic Innovation: During his time at Hubbell Incorporated, a giant in electrical systems, Saucier served on the Senior Leadership Team where he managed the technology radar and resourcing efficiency for the entire segment. This experience in the broader electrical industry provides him with the insight needed to navigate the complex utility and regulatory landscapes ConnectDER operates in.

“Brian has been a cornerstone of our leadership team since he arrived,” said Ivo Steklac, CEO of ConnectDER. “His unique ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams through complex challenges while maintaining a laser focus on scalable and efficient operations is exactly what ConnectDER needs as we move toward nationwide availability. His leadership will ensure that our operations are as innovative as our technology.”

Beyond his technical accolades, Saucier is recognized for a leadership philosophy based on trust, empowerment, and mentorship. Whether leading a staff of 15+ engineers or serving as a AAA hockey coach for the New Hampshire Avalanche—producing numerous NCAA and pro hockey talents—Saucier has consistently demonstrated an ability to foster high-performance cultures.

“It’s been an incredible experience overseeing the engineering and manufacturing of ConnectDER’s meter socket adapters the last nearly three years, and I’m honored to step into the COO role at such a transformative time for our company and the residential clean energy industry,” said Brian Saucier. “We aren’t just building hardware; we’re leading the shift in how distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, battery storage, and EV chargers connect to homes and the grid. By removing the barriers of complex electrical work and high costs for both installers and homeowners, we’re making renewable energy solutions more accessible and affordable to millions of households. As COO, my focus will be on building an operational backbone that can meet the massive demand for our adapters, ensuring our product technology remains the most reliable, scalable, and elegant solution on the market.”

About ConnectDER

ConnectDER has been a pioneer in designing and developing meter socket adapters (MSAs) since 2011, simplifying the connection of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging equipment. ConnectDER’s products help accelerate installations, avoid complex electrical work, and reduce costs for both installers and homeowners—making renewable energy solutions more accessible and affordable for all. ConnectDER’s MSAs are UL-listed and NEC-compliant, approved by utilities across the U.S., and used by top local, regional, and national solar installers. Installers can purchase ConnectDER’s MSAs through their preferred distributor. Email [email protected] to talk to a ConnectDER sales representative. For more information, visit www.connectder.com.

Media Contact:
Dave Armenti
Sr. Marketing Director
[email protected]

The post ConnectDER Appoints Brian Saucier to Chief Operating Officer As Company Scales Development and Operations To Meet Expanding Market Demand appeared first on ConnectDER.

IslandDER

ConnectDER’s plug-and-play meter socket adapters, or meter collars, simplify residential DER connections by plugging directly into the meter socket outside the home. This innovation bypasses the need for laborious main panel upgrades, full service replacements, or circuit relocations—all of which lead to lost revenue and scheduling challenges for installers and increased costs for end customers. By eliminating these hurdles, crews can complete more jobs per week while homeowners save thousands in surprise electrical costs and drywall repairs with less disruption to their daily lives.

“Arizona has always been a solar leader, and the next frontier is storage,” said Ivo Steklac, ConnectDER President and CEO. “We commend the state, APS, SRP, and TEP for their foresight in implementing battery-first rewards programs that maintain clean energy momentum even as the federal subsidy landscape shifts. Approval of our IslandDER adapter clears a path for residents to more easily access these incentives and secure energy independence. For our installer partners in the Southwest, IslandDER enables operational efficiency; we’re helping crews overcome hardware, labor, and cost hurdles so they can focus on what they do best—deploying a resilient, storage-backed grid at scale.”

“Meter socket adapters are paving the way for the future of Virtual Power Plants (VPP) and energy storage,” said Jake Bastien, CEO of Icon Power in Arizona. “By helping to reduce costs, we’re excited to see more of these innovative solutions like IslandDER becoming available in the market.”

​​As the third-ranked state for residential solar capacity, Arizona is now leveraging its solar abundance to prioritize grid resilience, with recent battery attachment rates reaching an estimated 47%. This shift is driven in part by homeowners seeking financial stability against rising electricity rates, to optimize Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plans by pulling from their stored energy, and to participate in utility VPPs—such as APS’ Storage Rewards and TEP’s Energy Storage Rewards—which offer hundreds of dollars in annual electricity buy-backs.

For installers, however, Arizona homes present a distinct technical challenge: meter-main combination sockets that lack the space for essential system components required for storage and home backup power. ConnectDER’s IslandDER solves this by integrating a Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID), Current Transformers (CTs), voltage sensing, and communication protocols for real-time grid disconnect (“islanding”)—into one singular, compact device. IslandDER handles complex meter-main combos in just 15 to 30 minutes without additional electrical work. It works with leading storage systems including FranklinWH, Lunar Energy, SolarEdge, and EcoFlow, providing flexible choice to both installers and homeowners.

This efficiency extends to Arizona’s burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) sector, where registrations have tripled in recent years to more than 90,000, creating massive demand for fast at-home charging. For Arizonans with older 100- or 125-amp service, a standard EV charger install can trigger a main panel upgrade (MPU) costing $2,000 on average in the state, but can get as high as $25,000 and add 1-3 days of install time depending on the home’s existing wiring and electrical setup. ConnectDER’s EV Meter Socket Adapter bypasses this bottleneck, eliminating the need for an MPU in most cases and allowing installers to reclaim lost time and revenue while making at-home charger installations more affordable for all.

About ConnectDER

ConnectDER has been a pioneer in designing and developing meter socket adapters (MSAs) since 2011, simplifying the connection of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging equipment. ConnectDER’s products help accelerate installations, avoid complex electrical work, and reduce costs for both installers and homeowners—making renewable energy solutions more accessible and affordable for all. ConnectDER’s MSAs are UL-listed and NEC-compliant, approved by utilities across the U.S., and used by top local, regional, and national solar installers. Installers can purchase ConnectDER’s MSAs through their preferred distributor. Email [email protected] to talk to a ConnectDER sales representative. For more information, visit www.connectder.com.

Media Contact:
Dave Armenti
Sr. Marketing Director
[email protected]

The post ConnectDER Secures Major Arizona Utility Approvals, Enabling Faster Installation of At-Home Solar, Battery Backup, and EV Charging appeared first on ConnectDER.

ConnectDER’s meter socket adapters (MSAs), or meter collars, simplify the connection of residential DERs by plugging directly into the utility meter socket. The company makes models for rooftop solar, whole-house battery backup, and Level 2 EV charging. This plug-and-play innovation minimizes the need for complex, costly electrical work like main panel replacements, full service upgrades, or circuit relocations—all of which lead to lost revenue and scheduling challenges for installers. Using a ConnectDER MSA eliminates these costly hurdles, allowing installation crews to complete more jobs per week, increasing profits. For homeowners, it means avoiding hundreds or thousands of dollars in surprise labor costs, parts, and drywall repairs, making clean energy solutions accessible and affordable to a much broader market.

“Achieving approval from major utilities like ComEd and Ameren is a big win for our Midwest installer partners and their customers, the great residents of The Prairie State,” said Ivo Steklac, ConnectDER President and CEO. “Our meter socket adapters increase affordability and reliability by reducing the cost and complexity of distributed energy resources. Cutting install times and costs allows installers to scale their business in Illinois’ rapidly growing clean energy market, while offering more accessible prices to residents looking to embrace solar, storage, and electric vehicles.”

“Sunrun is proud to work with innovative companies like ConnectDER to bring solutions that help us delight our customers,” said Brad Ingram, Director of Hardware Engineering at Sunrun. “The IslandDER by ConnectDER allows us quicker and cleaner installations, and we are excited to continue expanding its use in many of our markets.”

“ConnectDER’s EV MSA has become a go-to for many of our EV charging station installs,” said A.J. Biango, owner of Sparc Solar & EV Solutions in Illinois. “By avoiding main panel upgrades, we save hours per job and significant labor costs, which lets us quote the homeowner a lower price. These days, consumers really shop around for quotes from multiple installers, and the EV MSA is like our secret weapon for winning more jobs.”

ConnectDER’s approval in the two largest Illinois utility territories is crucial due to the state’s housing stock; the median age of owner-occupied homes is between 41-50 years old. Many homes built before the 1980s have inadequate 100-amp or 125-amp electrical service, which is a major barrier to modern electrification. A straightforward main panel upgrade costs around $2,000 on average in Illinois, but can get as high as $25,000 depending on your home’s existing wiring and electrical setup, and add 1-3 days of work to a solar, storage, or EV charger installation. Even when an upgrade is not required, older homes often come with other risk factors like structural challenges, tight spaces, and outdated wiring that make any extra electrical work unpredictable and laborious for installers.

These approvals are also timely for Illinois. With the 30% federal tax credit for rooftop solar expiring at the end of 2025, the state just passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act, which strategically incentivizes residential battery adoption through a new Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program. The initial VPP plan offers rebates to customers who install a battery paired with solar and agree to let the battery be leveraged during periods of peak summer demand. Looking ahead, ComEd and Ameren have been tasked with proposing more robust VPP program structures by 2027, following the lead of other investor-owned utilities (IOUs) like in California, that provide significant financial incentives for homeowners to sell stored energy back to the grid.

ConnectDER’s newest-generation adapter, IslandDER, was engineered specifically for home battery backup. IslandDER integrates key functionality—like a Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID) and Current Transformers (CTs)—into a singular, battery-agnostic device. Given the state’s proposed VPP program and its growing 25% battery attachment rate (6th highest in the country), ConnectDER’s devices will play a pivotal role in streamlining solar-plus-battery storage installations.

About ConnectDER

ConnectDER has been a pioneer in designing and developing meter socket adapters (MSAs) since 2011, simplifying the connection of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging equipment. ConnectDER’s products help accelerate installations, avoid complex electrical work, and reduce costs for both installers and homeowners—making renewable energy solutions more accessible and affordable for all. ConnectDER’s MSAs are UL-listed and NEC-compliant, approved by utilities across the U.S., and used by top local, regional, and national solar installers. Installers can purchase ConnectDER’s MSAs through their preferred distributor. Email [email protected] to talk to a ConnectDER sales representative. For more information, visit www.connectder.com.

Media Contact:
Dave Armenti
Sr. Marketing Director
[email protected]

The post ConnectDER Secures Illinois Approvals From ComEd and Ameren, Enabling Lower-Cost Solar, Battery, and EV Charger Installations appeared first on ConnectDER.

IslandDER brings whole-home isolation directly to the meter socket for easier installations, reduced labor costs, and faster Permission To Operate (PTO) approval—integrated with systems from SolarEdge, FranklinWH, Lunar Energy, and EcoFlow.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 18, 2025 – ConnectDER, the leading developer of plug-and-play meter socket adapters (MSAs), today announced the launch of its next-generation product, IslandDER, designed to accelerate residential solar and storage installs as a standardized backup solution. Its strategic approach gives installers optionality to choose the battery system that fits their customers needs, while de-risking their business from supply chain issues and accelerating timelines to PTO.

Unlike other meter collar manufacturers in the market that lock installers into using their entire product suite, IslandDER is compatible with multiple leading batteries including the SolarEdge Nexis Solution, FranklinWH’s aPower 2 and aPower S, Lunar Energy’s Lunar System, and EcoFlow’s OCEAN Pro—with an additional 22 partnership agreements in place.

Installed in 15-30 minutes, IslandDER streamlines partial- and whole-home backup by integrating “islanding” functionality—the ability to safely disconnect from the grid and keep the power on during an outage—directly into the meter socket via its built-in Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID) and Consumption Current Transformers (CTs), effectively eliminating the need for complex electrical work. IslandDER can save installers hours to days on battery energy storage system (BESS) installs while homeowners avoid surprise costs that can suddenly put electrification out of budget—and out of reach.

“The residential energy storage market is at a critical inflection point, but its full potential has been constrained as installers must choose between labor-intensive battery installations or locking their customers into a closed ecosystem,” said Ivo Steklac, ConnectDER’s President and CEO. “IslandDER is the breakthrough that unlocks this growth, saving installers countless hours on the job site and giving them the flexibility to deliver the best possible battery backup solution for their customers—whether that’s for a new install or adding backup to an existing solar setup. By launching with four of the industry’s most innovative battery partners and with more in the pipeline, we are giving installers a universal solution that accelerates the industry as a whole.”

Nearly half of all U.S. owner-occupied homes are more than 40 years old, built during or before the 1980s and with electrical service that is inadequate for installing distributed energy resources (DER) like solar panels, energy storage, or EV chargers. A main panel upgrade alone can cost a homeowner anywhere between $5,000-$25,000. Even when an upgrade is not required, older homes often come with other risk factors like structural challenges, tight spaces, and outdated wiring that make any extra electrical work unpredictable and laborious for installers—slowing down their install speed and delaying how long it takes to achieve PTO, which is when they get paid.

Other common methods used to enable whole-home backup, like circuit relocation, can still add hours or even days to the project duration—and thousands of dollars to the homeowner’s quoted price. This is particularly relevant in the Western U.S., where meter-main combination service panels are prevalent, but do not provide the necessary space for an installer to install a MID device. IslandDER solves this with ease by incorporating the voltage sensing, CTs, and isolation switch (the MID) all in one, right at the meter socket.

IslandDER joins ConnectDER’s lineup of installer-backed, field-proven MSAs including their Solar MSA and EV MSA. ConnectDER’s MSAs are currently approved in 44 utilities across 24 states with strong residential renewable energy adoption—reaching 50 million serviceable households nationwide. IslandDER has already been approved in multiple markets including an active pilot phase in California, which saw battery attachment rates skyrocket to 60% in recent years thanks to NEM 3.0, the state’s updated net billing tariff implemented in 2023. Sunrun, the largest residential solar installer in the U.S. and an early adopter of ConnectDER’s MSAs, is seeing 70% battery attachment this year nationwide, up from 54% a year ago, heavily influenced by California’s storage demand.

IslandDER is expected to be available to purchase through distribution in Q4, 2025. Contact [email protected] to talk to a ConnectDER regional sales representative.

“ConnectDER’s IslandDER unlocks a powerful new level of simplicity for residential storage,” said Alex Dinh, Director of Residential Product Management at SolarEdge. “By incorporating it into our portfolio as the SolarEdge Nexis IslandDER, we’ve dramatically simplified whole-home backup. Installations that once required costly upgrades and electrical work can now be completed quickly at the meter socket, freeing up installers to deliver more projects, faster, and helping more families achieve energy independence.”

“We are excited to partner with ConnectDER to introduce a meter adapter solution to the residential energy storage market,” said Ke Bi, COO of FranklinWH. “This milestone strengthens FranklinWH’s management of the home energy management ecosystem. The FranklinWH System is already recognized for fast installation and commissioning, and the integration with IslandDER will further simplify the process by eliminating the need for costly meter panel upgrades. Combining IslandDER with FranklinWH’s aPower 2 and aPower S batteries will deliver homeowners a complete, flexible whole-home energy storage solution—while significantly reducing installation time and cost.”

“At Lunar, our work is focused on delivering great experiences for installers and homeowners alike. Our partnership with ConnectDER serves both,” said Ed Gunn, Lunar Energy Vice President. “Together, we offer our customers more design flexibility and faster installations to electrify even more homes.”

About ConnectDER:
ConnectDER has been a pioneer in designing and developing meter socket adapters (MSAs) since 2011, simplifying the connection of distributed energy resources (DER) such as solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging equipment. ConnectDER’s products help accelerate installations, avoid complex electrical work, and reduce costs for both installers and homeowners—making renewable energy solutions more accessible and affordable for all. ConnectDER’s MSAs are UL-listed and NEC-compliant, approved by utilities across the U.S., and used by top local, regional, and national solar installers. For more information, visit www.connectder.com.

About SolarEdge:
SolarEdge is a global leader in smart energy technology. By leveraging world-class engineering capabilities and with a relentless focus on innovation, SolarEdge creates smart energy solutions that power our lives and drive future progress. SolarEdge developed an intelligent inverter solution that changed the way power is harvested and managed in photovoltaic (PV) systems. The SolarEdge DC optimized inverter seeks to maximize power generation while lowering the cost of energy produced by the PV system. Continuing to advance smart energy, SolarEdge addresses a broad range of energy market segments through its PV, storage, EV charging, batteries, and grid services solutions. SolarEdge is online at www.solaredge.com.

About FranklinWH:
FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH system. FranklinWH is a market-oriented, research-driven company focused on next-generation residential energy management and storage solutions. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team has decades of experience in energy systems, from design, through manufacturing, to sales and installation. FranklinWH is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions. Learn more about how homeowners can achieve energy freedom at www.franklinwh.com.

About Lunar Energy:
Lunar Energy powers homes around the world with endless clean energy. Founded in 2020, Lunar engineers the world’s best clean energy products to electrify homes and connect communities to form clean, resilient virtual power plants. The fast-growing, global company is delivering an ecosystem of all-electric products to make electricity greener, air cleaner, and energy more secure and reliable for everyone. Learn more at www.lunarenergy.com.

About EcoFlow:
EcoFlow is a leading provider of eco-friendly energy solutions, committed to powering a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has aimed to be the FIRST in power solutions—Flexible, Innovative, Reliable, Simple, and Thorough—for individuals and families, whether at home, outdoors or on the go. With a smart manufacturing center in China, and headquarters in the USA, Germany and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered over 5 million users in 140 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.ecoflow.com/us.

Media Contact:
Dave Armenti
Sr. Marketing Director
[email protected]

The post ConnectDER Unlocks Residential Solar + Battery Growth With Launch Of IslandDER™ Meter Socket Adapter, Simplifying Home Backup Installations appeared first on ConnectDER.

PHILADELPHIA, PA—February 18, 2025—ConnectDER, the leading provider of innovative electrical solutions for the solar industry, is excited to announce the appointment of Lisa Diamantis as its new Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In this role, Diamantis will lead ConnectDER’s Sales and Marketing functions, focusing on expanding the company’s reach in existing and new markets while strengthening relationships with channel partners and customers.

Diamantis brings a wealth of experience in channel sales, business development, and marketing, having held leadership roles at leading renewable energy companies, including Sunnova Energy International and Sunrun. She is known for her ability to build high-performing teams, optimize sales organizations, and develop innovative growth strategies. Diamantis’ leadership and strategic vision will play a pivotal role as ConnectDER continues to scale its operations and drive transformative growth in the solar industry.

“We are excited to welcome Lisa to the ConnectDER team,” said Derek Noble, CRO of ConnectDER. “Her exceptional ability to lead and execute strategic Sales and Marketing initiatives, combined with her extensive experience in fostering strong partnerships, will be crucial in helping us reach new heights in the solar and EV sectors. Lisa’s leadership will be instrumental as we continue to drive innovation and strengthen our position in the market.”

Before joining ConnectDER, Diamantis served as Senior General Manager at Sunnova, where she successfully grew a national sales organization and onboarded hundreds of dealers. She also held senior roles at Sunrun, managing sales teams and strategic channel partnerships across multiple regions. Diamantis’ efforts led to substantial revenue growth and enhanced market share for both companies.

“I am excited to join ConnectDER at such a pivotal time in the company’s growth,” said Lisa Diamantis. “The company’s innovative solutions and commitment to simplifying solar energy installations align with my passion for driving growth and creating impactful partnerships. I look forward to contributing to ConnectDER’s continued success.”

About ConnectDER
ConnectDER accelerates the electrification of North American homes by transforming the electricity meter socket into a cost-effective, time-efficient, and safe plug-in point for Solar power, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, and other distributed energy resources (DERs). By eliminating the need for complex and costly in-home electrical upgrades, our innovative solutions simplify interconnections, enhance safety, and drive widespread adoption of clean energy.

For more information, visit www.ConnectDER.com.

Media Contact:
Megan Fleming
Director of Marketing and Communication
[email protected]

The post ConnectDER Appoints Lisa Diamantis as Vice President of Sales and Marketing to Drive Solar and EV Industry Growth and Strengthen Market Position appeared first on ConnectDER.

PHILADELPHIA, PA—February 11, 2025 — ConnectDER, the leading provider of innovative electrical solutions and Meter Socket Adapters for the Clean Energy industry, is pleased to announce seasoned Sales executive, Derek Noble as its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In his new role, Derek will oversee the company’s Sales, Marketing, and Business Development strategies, helping to accelerate growth and expand ConnectDER’s footprint in the Solar, EV, and Energy Storage markets.

Derek Noble brings over fifteen years of experience in executive Sales Leadership and Business Development in the renewable energy space. Before joining ConnectDER, he served as Senior Vice President of Channel at Sunrun, leading growth strategies for the company’s channel partnerships. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Residential Dealer Sales at Sunnova Energy International, managing the company’s residential dealer sales operations. Prior to that, he was the Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Tigo Energy, a global leader in Solar module-level power electronics, where he played a key role in driving growth.

“We are thrilled to welcome Derek to the ConnectDER team,” said Ivo Steklac, CEO of ConnectDER. “His deep expertise in scaling revenue operations and his passion for advancing clean energy align perfectly with our mission to make Solar energy more accessible and efficient. Derek will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow our market presence and drive value for our customers.”

Derek Noble’s experience includes driving revenue across multiple channels, including partnerships, distribution, and direct sales, and optimizing go-to-market strategies for high-growth companies. He is known for his ability to lead diverse teams, foster strategic relationships, and deliver results in dynamic and competitive markets.

“I’m excited to join ConnectDER’s amazing team at such a pivotal moment in the company’s growth,” said Derek Noble. “ConnectDER has a unique technology offering that is truly transformative, helping customers across the US quickly complete residential solar, EV and battery projects.”

Derek Noble’s appointment follows a series of key leadership hires at ConnectDER, which continues to scale its operations and expand its product offerings.

About ConnectDER
ConnectDER accelerates the electrification of North American homes by transforming the electricity meter socket into a cost-effective, time-efficient, and safe plug-in point for Solar power, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, and other distributed energy resources (DERs). By eliminating the need for complex and costly in-home electrical upgrades, our innovative solutions simplify interconnections, enhance safety, and drive widespread adoption of clean energy. Currently approved in over 15 states and covering more than 16 million households, ConnectDER continues to expand its impact, recently gaining approval to install its Solar Meter Socket Adapter (MSA) in PSE&G (New Jersey) and ComEd (Illinois) territories—serving over seven million households. As we scale, our mission remains clear: to accelerate home electrification, create new job opportunities, and deliver affordable, accessible energy solutions that benefit homeowners, the grid, and the environment.

For more information, visit www.ConnectDER.com.

Media Contact:
Megan Fleming
Director of Marketing and Communication
[email protected]

The post ConnectDER Taps Industry Veteran Derek Noble as Chief Revenue Officer appeared first on ConnectDER.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 4, 2025—ConnectDER, a leader in home resilience and electrification solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Marty Cissell as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In this role, Marty will oversee financial strategy, operations, and capital planning as the clean energy technology company scales its innovative Meter Socket Adapters (MSAs) and expands into new markets.

Marty has nearly two decades of financial leadership experience in high-growth software and manufacturing industries. He has a strong track record in venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) backed companies from Series A to pre-IPO. His expertise focuses on raising capital and scaling financial operations to drive business growth.

Before joining ConnectDER, Marty was the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis and Controller at Sense Labs, where he played a key role in securing $128M in Series C funding and developing comprehensive financial models to support the company’s expansion. Earlier in his career, he held finance leadership roles at Eze Software Group, where he helped prepare for the successful acquisition by SS&C Technologies (NASDAQ: SSNC) and had a registered broker license.

Marty’s passion for clean energy and finance began early in his career when he interned at the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) in London during college.  He later applied his financial expertise to the clean energy sector, helping companies develop sustainable growth strategies.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about driving financial strategy that fuels innovation and growth,” said Marty Cissell, CFO of ConnectDER. “With the demand for distributed energy resources surging, our innovations, including the forthcoming IslandDER, will empower homeowners with new levels of energy resilience, drive domestic job growth, and expand the clean energy industry by making electrification solutions more financially viable.”  

In his new role, Marty will be instrumental in leading ConnectDER’s financial strategy, optimizing operations, ensuring compliance, and securing the necessary capital to accelerate the deployment of the company’s Meter Socket Adapters (MSAs) for Solar, EV charging, Energy Storage, and beyond.

“Marty brings a wealth of financial expertise that will be critical as we enter our next phase of growth,” said Ivo Steklac, CEO of ConnectDER. “His proven track record in scaling financial operations, securing investment, and driving strategic growth aligns perfectly with our vision. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team as we expand our solutions and unlock new opportunities to accelerate the electrification of residential homes in North America.”

Marty holds a Master of Science in Finance, an MBA, and a Master of Arts in Economics from Northeastern University and Boston University.

About ConnectDER
ConnectDER accelerates the electrification of North American homes by transforming the electricity meter socket into a cost-effective, time-efficient, and safe plug-in point for Solar power, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, and other distributed energy resources (DERs). By eliminating the need for complex and costly in-home electrical upgrades, our innovative solutions simplify interconnections, enhance safety, and drive widespread adoption of clean energy. Currently approved in over 15 states and covering more than 16 million households, ConnectDER continues to expand its impact, recently gaining approval to install its Solar Meter Socket Adapter (MSA) in PSE&G (New Jersey) and ComEd (Illinois) territories—serving over seven million households. As we scale, our mission remains clear: to accelerate home electrification, create new job opportunities, and deliver affordable, accessible energy solutions that benefit homeowners, the grid, and the environment.

For more information, visit www.ConnectDER.com.

Media Contact:
Megan Fleming
Director of Marketing and Communication
[email protected]

The post ConnectDER Appoints Marty Cissell as Chief Financial Officer to Support Growth and Expansion appeared first on ConnectDER.

Philadelphia, PA– (December 3, 2024) – ConnectDER, a leading innovator in resilient home energy technology, has secured $35 million in Series D funding to accelerate its market expansion and product innovation. The round was led by Decarbonization Partners, a partnership between BlackRock and Temasek, with participation from MassMutual Ventures, both new investors. Existing investors Avista Development, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Innovation Capital, Evergy Ventures, LG Technology Ventures, and Zoma Capital also participated.

This funding marks a pivotal milestone as ConnectDER unveils its next-generation Meter Socket Adapter (MSA), the ‘IslandDER^TM’, designed to seamlessly integrate with the utility grid, and enable islanding of solar, battery storage, electric vehicles (EVs), and other distributed energy resources, providing whole-home backup and resiliency.

“We are excited to partner with ConnectDER, which has built an elegant solution that solves a major adoption pain point for customers, enabling and accelerating affordable home electrification in North America,” said Dr. Meghan Sharp, Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of Decarbonization Partners. “We look forward to supporting the ConnectDER team as they continue executing on their growth journey.”

“With this latest Series D funding we’re poised to not only expand our existing markets but also our offerings by bringing a transformative solution for energy storage systems to the market,” said Ivo Steklac, CEO of ConnectDER. “Our forthcoming IslandDER enables homes to disconnect and reconnect from the grid enabling customers to harness stored energy from solar plus battery systems or EVs providing innovative backup power and resilience to market at an incredibly competitive cost point.”

This transformative approach is endorsed by Blue Raven Solar, a company committed to simplifying the path to renewable energy for homeowners. “At Blue Raven Solar, we prioritize operational excellence and an outstanding customer journey,” said Chris Lundell, interim Chief Executive Officer. “Leveraging innovative technologies and solar equipment like ConnectDER adapters allows us to streamline installation timelines, reduce complexity, and deliver reliable, affordable renewable energy solutions that enhance the homeowner experience from start to finish.”

In the U.S., 60 million homes lack the capacity for solar, EV-charging, or resilient energy solutions without costly equipment upgrades[1]. ConnectDER’s products are installed in minutes and cost 10%, or less, of the cost of upgrading a home’s service panel and/or utility interconnect, thus removing a critical barrier to adoption and creating jobs through accelerated deployment and customer benefit realization.

By simplifying interconnections, ConnectDER’s products reduce training complexity and installation errors, and create opportunities for entry-level positions, driving domestic job growth. The corresponding accelerated deployment and cost reductions also expand the pool of financially viable projects thereby growing the industry.

ConnectDER plans to use this investment for market expansion, scaling manufacturing, and continued product innovation – areas that will reduce consumers’ energy costs, unlock domestic career paths, and enhance U.S. competitiveness. With over 25,000 adapters in operation and approved for use in many states ConnectDER expects to be selling nationwide in the next few years and invites stakeholders to join its mission of delivering affordable and resilient energy solutions.

About ConnectDER

ConnectDER unlocks the massive potential of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) by turning an electricity meter socket into an all-in-one interconnection point for solar, battery storage, electric vehicle charging, and beyond, directly benefiting the user, the grid, and the environment. Our solutions accelerate interconnection, enhance safety, and eliminate typical installation costs such as in-home wiring and service panel replacements. The Company is currently approved to sell its solution in over 20 states currently covering over 16 million households. For more information, visit www.ConnectDER.com.

About Decarbonization Partners

Decarbonization Partners is a joint venture between Temasek and BlackRock focused on late-stage venture capital and early growth private equity investing in next-generation companies that provide solutions and technologies to help accelerate global efforts to achieve a net zero global economy by 2050. Decarbonization Partners combines Temasek and BlackRock’s complementary platforms and expertise in sourcing and underwriting private investments, portfolio and risk management, and sustainable technology and analytics. Decarbonization Partners invests in a wide range of companies that have proven technology and need capital to scale. The partnership attracted $1.40 billion in capital from a diverse set of over 30 institutional investors across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more, visit www.decarbpartners.com

About MassMutual Ventures

MassMutual Ventures (MMV) is a multistage global venture capital firm investing in financial technology, enterprise SaaS, healthtech, climate technology and cybersecurity companies. With teams based in Boston, London, and Singapore, MMV manages over $1 billion in investment capital across the globe. We help accelerate the growth of the companies we partner with by providing capital, connections and advice. With our deep expertise and extensive network, MMV helps entrepreneurs build compelling and scalable companies of value. For more information, visit www.massmutualventures.com.

Media Contact: 
Megan Fleming
Director of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]
215-266-3572

[1] Source: Rewiring America

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