Case Study: JCPenney achieves more than $1M in savings across 26 California stores with Stem’s PowerStore energy storage

J.C. Penney aims for $1 Million in savings across 26 stores with Stem

JCPenney, the century-old retail chain, needed to cut operating expenses—particularly timing-based electricity demand charges—across 26 California stores without disrupting customer comfort or adding staff burdens. To tackle this, JCPenney partnered with Stem and deployed Stem’s PowerStore energy storage service and management tools to control when stores draw power from the grid.

Stem implemented battery systems with self-learning software (PowerScope) under a no-upfront-cost service agreement, automating demand-charge reduction and real-time visibility. The rollout (nine stores live, 17 more added) is delivering immediate, cash-positive results: annual net savings of about $103,000, phase savings of ~$20,000 and $22,810, an estimated $60,500 from phase 3, demand-charge reductions of 5–10%, and projected savings of more than $1 million over ten years. Stem’s system operates transparently and is backed by a performance-oriented service model.

JCPenney

Jonathan Hooser

Energy Project Manager