That is exactly right! Put the batteries where the cost of strain is the highest.
My belief is that this is ideologically/politically motivated. If you put the batteries next to network equipment it will not have the same immediate saving effect/user experience as the battery at home.
Battery at home gets a response of someone being happy about getting apiece of hardware, saving money and being renewable!
Vermont gets occasional ice storms or heavy snow that brings down trees on the power lines, so having a battery in your house can be pretty useful.
I'm a bit nostalgic for the nights when we'd break out the kerosene lanterns. But I concede that this might be more practical and a bit safer (a lot of VT houses are tinder boxes and good luck getting a good fire response in an ice storm).
