StepWise

Stepwise (also referred to as Stepwise Electric) develops smart load management hardware and software for residential electrification. Its flagship product, the Stepwise Tap, is installed between the electrical panel and high-power appliances and automates load calculations on a continuous basis to keep panel usage below the 80% threshold, allowing homes to add loads within their existing amperage rather than paying for a service or panel upgrade. The device is listed to UL916 (Energy Management System) and described as compliant with the National Electric Code, and the company states it is manufactured in the USA.

The Tap is marketed as compatible with all 240V appliances and appliance brands, including EV supply equipment (hardwired or outlet-connected, supporting up to 44 miles of range per hour), resistive HVAC and electric heating, hot tubs, pool pumps, and electric water heaters. Hardware features include a NEMA 3R rating for indoor or outdoor installation, dip switches for single-SKU configuration, flexible current-transformer sensors for space-constrained panels, and internet connectivity for optional data tracking and dynamic modulation. The company emphasizes that the system uses dedicated hardware rather than software-only control, so it fails safe during power or Wi-Fi outages, and it provides real-time panel usage monitoring. Stepwise also offers a free panel assessment in which homeowners upload a photo of their panel for a read on available space and capacity, and can refer homeowners to certified electricians.

Alongside the hardware, Stepwise positions home energy data as a way to unlock additional capacity over time and to support demand response and energy orchestration that can generate savings for both homeowners and utilities.

Founding story

Stepwise was founded to address a primary barrier to home electrification: the assumption that adding EV chargers, heat pumps, hot tubs and other high-power appliances requires a costly electrical panel upgrade. The company's stated founding goal was to make home electrification easier and more affordable by optimizing the capacity of the panel a home already has.

Business model

Stepwise sells hardware directly and through a channel of electricians and installers. Products are available through an online store, with the Stepwise Tap priced at $780 and an additional current transformer set for sub-panel monitoring at $100; installer pricing is available by application, and the company recruits installers through a "Become an Installer" program. Installation is performed by licensed electricians, and the company offers a free panel assessment as a lead-generation step and refers homeowners to certified pros. The device includes optional internet connectivity for data tracking, and the company describes combining load management with home energy data for demand response.

Hardware sales of the Stepwise Tap ($780) and accessories such as an additional current transformer set ($100), sold to homeowners directly and to installers at trade pricing.

Traction

Stepwise launched the Tap commercially in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in April 2024 and describes partnering with installers across the country, with expansion across the U.S. underway. Its store shows a 5.00-star average from 24 verified customer reviews, and the company publishes homeowner and electrician testimonials from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California and Virginia, including a case in which a derated 25%-speed charger on a 200A Virginia home was restored to full-speed charging. The company reports an average homeowner saving of roughly $4,000 by avoiding a panel upgrade. It received a $341K InnovateMass grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in March 2024 and an earlier MassCEC Catalyst grant (winter 2022 cohort), participated in the Techstars Los Angeles Accelerator Spring 2023 class and 43North in Buffalo, and was featured on Bloomberg's The Close in December 2023. Stepwise is hiring across embedded, backend software and electrical engineering.

Latest developments

In February 2025 Stepwise announced a strategic manufacturing partnership in Buffalo with SoPark, which is investing in the company. A September 2025 spotlight featured Landers Electric installing a Tesla Universal Wall Connector on a 125A all-electric California home with stated homeowner savings of $5,000-$10,000+. The company is promoting a program under which Connecticut homeowners can receive a free Stepwise Tap load manager for Level 2 EV charging, and a collaboration with the Greenhome Institute on residential electric panels and load management dated 2/11/26.