The former Houston Texans defensive star JJ Watt announced Monday that he has invested in Texas-based energy company Base after first signing up as one of its customers.
Watt said he initially wanted to understand the company’s claims about lowering electricity costs, providing backup power during outages, and helping strengthen the power grid before deciding to get involved.
In a post on X, Watt revealed that he is now a customer, investor, and endorser of Base. He said he toured the company’s factory, met its employees, visited a home installation, and researched the service before making his decision. “I couldn’t understand how that was possible or why everyone wouldn’t switch to Base, so I wanted to find out for myself,” Watt wrote.
According to Watt, he entered his home address on Base’s website and received an estimate that the company could reduce his electricity bill by about 35 percent. He added that he completed the switch through the public website without any special pricing because of his celebrity status.
Watt also said he has personally saved more than 20 percent on the electricity bill at his Houston home since becoming a customer. The announcement coincides with Base’s launch of Base Core, the company’s new home battery system that was designed by Base and built in Texas.
What is JJ Watt’s investment in ‘Base’ about?
Watt has become both an investor and a public ambassador for Base, meaning he now has a financial stake in the company’s future while also promoting its products. His announcement suggests the partnership goes beyond a traditional celebrity endorsement because he says he first became a paying customer before investing in the business.
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year said he repeatedly asked himself one question while evaluating the company. “The one question I kept coming back to was, ‘Save money, protect your home during outages, help support the power grid. Why wouldn’t everyone want to get Base?’ I still haven’t found an answer to that yet,” Watt added. But what really is the company about?
What is the ‘Base’ company that JJ Watt invested in?
Base is a Texas energy company that combines residential electricity service with home battery backup systems. In many parts of Texas, customers receive a fixed-rate electricity plan along with a home battery that automatically powers the house during outages.
The company says its newly launched Base Core battery has a capacity of 39.2 kWh, making it one of the largest residential battery systems on the market. Base claims the battery can provide up to 36 hours of backup power with reduced household consumption, and that it switches on automatically when the electrical grid fails.
Unlike traditional backup generators, Base’s system does not rely on gasoline or natural gas. Instead, the battery charges from the electrical grid and can also send stored energy back to the grid during periods of high demand.
Base says this grid support helps generate revenue for the company, allowing it to offer lower electricity rates and a significantly reduced installation cost for customers. According to the company, more than 30,000 homes across Texas and Illinois currently use its services.
Base also states that its battery systems are certified under multiple UL safety standards and that its retail electricity business is licensed by the Texas Public Utility Commission.
Watt’s involvement gives Base one of the most recognizable sports figures in Texas as both an investor and customer as the company expands its home energy and backup power business.