Addressing Energy Control and the Modern Home

With increasing energy costs, homeowners are actively exploring options like solar power to gain greater control over their energy consumption. Span, a company founded by former Tesla engineer Arch Rao, aims to tackle this challenge.

Span questions why access to grid energy information hasn't evolved alongside the proliferation of smart home devices.

Span's Recent Growth and Funding

Established approximately three years ago, Span has experienced rapid growth. The company secured $10.1 million in Series A funding last year.

By the end of that year, Span began distributing its products to residences throughout the United States. Further investment followed in January, with a $20 million raise.

Market Share and Target Audience

While specific figures remain undisclosed, Arch Rao indicates that Span is “starting to capture a meaningful share of the storage market in the U.S.”

The company is particularly focused on providing solutions for solar energy users, offering a battery capture system to maximize energy independence.

Introducing the Span Smart Panel

Today, Span announced its second product: the Span Smart Panel. This new unit is designed to be more compact and adaptable than its predecessor.

Importantly, the Span Smart Panel is also more affordable, with a reduced MSRP of $3,500 compared to the original $5,000. Pricing can vary depending on bundled offers from power companies.

Industry Perspective and Vision

Matt Rogers, Nest co-founder and Span investor, shared his insights with TechCrunch. He stated that there's significant potential to manage energy within the home.

Rogers believes Span can serve as a central hub for energy control, especially as energy costs rise and solar and storage solutions become more common.

Technical Specifications and Connectivity

The Span system is compatible with most standard home electrical breakers. It provides precise, circuit-level control.

Connectivity options include Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth. Users can manage their energy usage through a user-friendly mobile application.

Reinventing the Electrical Panel

“What we’ve done is fundamentally reinvent the home electrical panel,” explains Rao to TechCrunch.

Span’s approach is not limited to specific applications; it aims to be a foundational component of the modern home. While not all homes have thermostats or solar panels, nearly all have an electrical panel utilizing outdated technology.

Span is positioning itself to modernize this critical home infrastructure.