Army Of Meter Socket Adapters Is Coming For Your Fossil Fuels

The article discusses how ConnectDER, a US startup founded in 2011, is innovating the energy transition by retrofitting electricity meters with meter socket adapters (or meter collars) to make rooftop solar, home energy storage, and EV charging more affordable—especially for older homes that would otherwise require costly electrical system upgrades. These adapters allow clean energy devices to plug directly into the meter socket, bypassing the need for expensive main panel upgrades that can cost thousands of dollars and delay installations. This approach supports distributed energy resources (DERs), which include both energy-producing and energy-consuming devices that help balance grid demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure. A significant recent development is that Illinois’ two largest utilities, ComEd and Ameren, have approved ConnectDER’s products for use in homes, potentially impacting over 50 million households nationwide. This approval streamlines the installation process, lowering costs and timelines for DER adoption in a state where many homes are 40-50 years old and still have outdated