diff --git a/src/lib/format/plan.test.ts b/src/lib/format/plan.test.ts
index 6568e94..436ccbb 100644
--- a/src/lib/format/plan.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/format/plan.test.ts
@@ -253,3 +253,35 @@ describe('formatPrice', () => {
     expect(formatPrice(NaN, 'SEK')).toBeNull()
   })
 })
+
+describe('the plan beside what happens now', () => {
+  const offPlan = {
+    status: 'off_plan', why: 'less_solar', battery_w: -1231, planned_battery_w: 2595,
+    pv_w: -1392, planned_pv_w: -3814, load_w: 1230, planned_load_w: 1219, ev_w: 0, planned_ev_w: 0,
+  }
+
+  it('says what the battery does and why, not the plan\'s sentence', () => {
+    const h = planHeadline(plan([slot(0, 2595)]), T0, offPlan)
+    expect(h.text).toBe('Discharging 1.2 kW. The plan said: charge 2.6 kW. The sun gives 1.4 kW; the forecast said 3.8 kW. The battery covers the home, so you buy less.')
+    expect(h.slotIndex).toBe(0)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the plan\'s words while it holds, and on an old box', () => {
+    const on = planHeadline(plan([slot(0, 2595)]), T0, { ...offPlan, status: 'as_planned' })
+    expect(on.text).toMatch(/^The battery is charging/)
+    expect(planHeadline(plan([slot(0, 2595)]), T0, null).text).toBe(on.text)
+  })
+
+  it('gives the box card the same lines', () => {
+    const b = planBrief(plan([slot(0, 2595)]), T0, { mode: 'planner_arbitrage', planNow: offPlan })
+    expect(b.state).toEqual({ label: 'Not as planned', tone: 'idle' })
+    expect(b.action).toBe('Now: discharging 1.2 kW')
+    expect(b.time).toBe('The plan said: charge 2.6 kW')
+    expect(b.reason).toBe('The sun gives 1.4 kW; the forecast said 3.8 kW. The battery covers the home, so you buy less')
+  })
+
+  it('does not hide a stale plan behind the comparison', () => {
+    const b = planBrief(plan([slot(0, 2595)], { stale: true }), T0, { mode: 'planner_arbitrage', planNow: offPlan })
+    expect(b.state.label).toBe('Fallback active')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/lib/format/plan.ts b/src/lib/format/plan.ts
index 86f8b77..af48a15 100644
--- a/src/lib/format/plan.ts
+++ b/src/lib/format/plan.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 import type { Plan, PlanSlot, PlanReason, SiteMode, ModeInfo } from '$lib/protocol/messages'
 import { toDisplay, unitFor } from '$vendor/ftw/price-units.js'
+import { planNowWords } from '$vendor/ftw/control-feedback.js'
 import { formatPower } from './power'
 
 /**
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ export interface PlanHeadline {
  * cannot see is what is about to happen, and that is the reason to look at a
  * plan at all.
  */
-export function planHeadline(plan: Plan | null, nowMs: number): PlanHeadline {
+export function planHeadline(plan: Plan | null, nowMs: number, planNow?: unknown): PlanHeadline {
   if (!plan) return { text: 'No plan yet.', slotIndex: null }
 
   if (plan.stale) {
@@ -94,6 +95,15 @@ export function planHeadline(plan: Plan | null, nowMs: number): PlanHeadline {
   )
   if (current === -1) return { text: 'No plan for right now.', slotIndex: null }
 
+  // The box says the batteries are not doing what this quarter planned. The
+  // plan's own sentence would read "The battery is charging" over a battery
+  // that is not.
+  const off = planNowWords(planNow)
+  if (off) {
+    const words = [`${off.now}.`, `${off.plan}.`, off.why, off.then].filter(Boolean).join(' ')
+    return { text: words, slotIndex: current }
+  }
+
   const now = plan.slots[current]!
   const nowAction = slotAction(now)
 
@@ -140,7 +150,7 @@ export interface PlanBrief {
 export function planBrief(
   plan: Plan | null,
   nowMs: number,
-  opts: { mode?: string | null; dispatchBlockedBy?: readonly string[] } = {}
+  opts: { mode?: string | null; dispatchBlockedBy?: readonly string[]; planNow?: unknown } = {}
 ): PlanBrief {
   const mode = opts.mode ?? null
   const blocked = opts.dispatchBlockedBy ?? []
@@ -179,6 +189,18 @@ export function planBrief(
     }
   }
 
+  const off = planNowWords(opts.planNow)
+  if (off) {
+    return {
+      state: { label: 'Not as planned', tone: 'idle' },
+      action: `Now: ${off.now.charAt(0).toLowerCase()}${off.now.slice(1)}`,
+      time: off.plan,
+      // The card adds its own full stop.
+      reason: [off.why, off.then].filter(Boolean).join(' ').replace(/\.$/, ''),
+      constraint: constraintLine(plan, blocked, plan.slots[current]!),
+    }
+  }
+
   const now = plan.slots[current]!
   const nowAction = slotAction(now)
   let runEnd = current
diff --git a/src/lib/sim/api.ts b/src/lib/sim/api.ts
index 35e0772..42147c7 100644
--- a/src/lib/sim/api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sim/api.ts
@@ -1204,6 +1204,7 @@ function controlFeedback(driver: string, kind: string, watts: number, now: numbe
     driver, kind, mode: 'planner_arbitrage', status: 'following', reason: 'power_observed', severity: 'info', evidence: 'measured',
     readings_fresh: true, requested_w: watts, sent_w: watts, readback_w: watts, actual_w: watts,
     command_at_ms: now - 4_000, observed_at_ms: now - 1_000, site_confirmation: 'device_response_unconfirmed',
+    ...(kind === 'battery' ? { on_plan: true } : {}),
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/state/flow.ts b/src/lib/state/flow.ts
index df8b565..20f6ca9 100644
--- a/src/lib/state/flow.ts
+++ b/src/lib/state/flow.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ export interface StatusEnergyToday {
 
 export interface SiteStatus {
   control_feedback?: unknown
+  plan_now?: unknown
   grid_w?: unknown
   pv_w?: unknown
   bat_w?: unknown
diff --git a/src/lib/state/now-status.ts b/src/lib/state/now-status.ts
index 2210a7f..ac428c9 100644
--- a/src/lib/state/now-status.ts
+++ b/src/lib/state/now-status.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function asStatus(wire: unknown): SiteStatus | null {
  * Poll /api/status while the session is live. Calls `onStatus` with each
  * snapshot that looks like one. Returns a stop function.
  */
-export function watchStatus(site: SiteStore, onStatus: (snapshot: StatusSnapshot) => void): () => void {
+export function watchStatus(site: SiteStore, onStatus: (snapshot: StatusSnapshot) => void, periodMs = PERIOD_MS): () => void {
   let stopped = false
   let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
   let expiry: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export function watchStatus(site: SiteStore, onStatus: (snapshot: StatusSnapshot
       }
     } else expire()
     if (stopped) return
-    timer = setTimeout(() => void tick(), PERIOD_MS)
+    timer = setTimeout(() => void tick(), periodMs)
   }
 
   void tick()
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/ControlFeedback.svelte.test.ts b/src/lib/ui/ControlFeedback.svelte.test.ts
index 7b7fca5..d371e05 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/ControlFeedback.svelte.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ui/ControlFeedback.svelte.test.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import ControlFeedback from './ControlFeedback.svelte'
 afterEach(cleanup)
 
 const row = (extra: Record<string, unknown> = {}) => ({
-  driver: 'Sungrow', kind: 'battery', mode: 'planner_arbitrage', status: 'following', reason: 'power_observed',
+  driver: 'Sungrow', kind: 'battery', mode: 'planner_arbitrage', on_plan: true, status: 'following', reason: 'power_observed',
   severity: 'info', evidence: 'measured', readings_fresh: true, sent_w: -2250, actual_w: -2249, readback_w: -2250,
   command_at_ms: 1, observed_at_ms: 2, site_confirmation: 'device_response_unconfirmed', ...extra,
 })
diff --git a/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.d.ts b/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.d.ts
index bb82bbb..c2579bd 100644
--- a/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.d.ts
+++ b/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.d.ts
@@ -73,5 +73,6 @@ export function controlReceipt(row: ControlFeedback, live?: boolean): { step: st
 export function controlNumbers(row: ControlFeedback, live?: boolean): [string, string][]
 export function controlCurve(row: ControlFeedback, live?: boolean): { device: string; site: string; label: string; scale: string; duration: string } | null
 export function controlForPlanet(value: unknown, planet?: ControlScope): ControlFeedback[]
+export function planNowWords(value: unknown): { now: string; plan: string; why: string; then: string } | null
 export function controlSummary(value: unknown, live?: boolean): { title: string; tone: ControlTone }
 export function withControlMarks<T>(planets: T[], value: unknown, live?: boolean): (T & { controlMark?: ControlMark; placeholder?: boolean; clickable?: boolean })[]
diff --git a/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.js b/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.js
index 34c3066..44fc235 100644
--- a/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.js
+++ b/src/vendor/ftw/control-feedback.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Vendored from srcfl/ftw web/control-feedback.js at 452ce6204962d08dbde75f6eef17f2dee3f361c6.
+// Vendored from srcfl/ftw web/control-feedback.js at 1206ee46627ea6dda2b0b83ec37641d6c52ef712.
 // Do not edit here; change the box source, then copy it here.
 //
 // Words for Core's answer to "Are we in control?". Core owns every verdict:
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ function target(row) {
 function source(row) {
   if (row.mode === 'manual') return 'as you asked';
   if (row.mode === 'solar') return 'from spare solar';
+  // A battery's row says "as planned" only when Core says it is.
+  if (row.kind === 'battery') return row.on_plan === true ? 'as planned' : 'as FTW asked';
   if (row.mode === 'plan' || String(row.mode || '').startsWith('planner')) return 'as planned';
   return 'as FTW asked';
 }
@@ -164,6 +166,43 @@ function proofLine(row) {
 
 // One answer per device function: a title, one sentence and, when the owner
 // can act, the next step. Tone follows Core's severity and status.
+function planBattery(watts, charge, discharge, rest) {
+  if (Math.abs(watts) < 100) return rest;
+  return `${watts > 0 ? charge : discharge} ${controlPower(watts)}`;
+}
+
+function planNowWhy(p) {
+  const pair = (subject, actual, planned, source) => num(actual) && num(planned) ? `${subject} ${controlPower(actual)}; ${source} said ${controlPower(planned)}.` : '';
+  switch (p.why) {
+    case 'less_solar': case 'more_solar': return pair('The sun gives', p.pv_w, p.planned_pv_w, 'the forecast');
+    case 'more_home': case 'less_home': return pair('The home uses', p.load_w, p.planned_load_w, 'the forecast');
+    case 'more_car': case 'less_car': return pair('The car takes', p.ev_w, p.planned_ev_w, 'the plan');
+    case 'manual': return 'You are holding the battery by hand.';
+    case 'device': return REASON_TITLES[p.device_reason] ? `${REASON_TITLES[p.device_reason]}.` : 'The battery cannot follow the plan right now.';
+    default: return 'FTW follows what the home and the sun do now, not the forecast.';
+  }
+}
+
+function planNowThen(p) {
+  if (!/^(less|more)_(solar|home|car)$/.test(p.why || '')) return '';
+  const now = p.battery_w, planned = p.planned_battery_w;
+  if (now <= -100) return planned > -100 || Math.abs(now) > Math.abs(planned) ? 'The battery covers the home, so you buy less.' : 'The battery gives only what the home needs.';
+  if (now >= 100) return 'The battery charges with what is left over.';
+  return planned > 0 ? 'Nothing is left over to charge with.' : 'The battery rests.';
+}
+
+// What the batteries do now beside what the plan meant, and why, when Core
+// says they differ. Null when they do not. Core decides; this only words it.
+export function planNowWords(value) {
+  if (!value || value.status !== 'off_plan' || !num(value.battery_w) || !num(value.planned_battery_w)) return null;
+  return {
+    now: capital(planBattery(value.battery_w, 'charging', 'discharging', 'idle')),
+    plan: `The plan said: ${planBattery(value.planned_battery_w, 'charge', 'discharge', 'rest')}`,
+    why: planNowWhy(value),
+    then: planNowThen(value),
+  };
+}
+
 export function controlStatus(row, live = true) {
   if (!live) return {title: 'Status not current', text: 'FTW has not reported for a while.', proof: '', next: 'Waiting for a fresh report.', tone: 'stale'};
   const title = REASON_TITLES[row.reason] || STATUS_TITLES[row.status] || 'Checking';
diff --git a/src/vendor/ftw/digests.json b/src/vendor/ftw/digests.json
index 0fc0f56..4b127fc 100644
--- a/src/vendor/ftw/digests.json
+++ b/src/vendor/ftw/digests.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "api-fetch.js": "ae8d2c3a8508d0b20c4afb599cf41f1cf5a5bba55deb6f496a530c233ea69934",
-  "control-feedback.js": "d238068237bc350f19b1e04eff4a06324475093602994d2cb169eb7d4c0eafde",
+  "control-feedback.js": "362107be294aaf357b7e494b2a9667102f04996ed8e326d52540e87aade42dec",
   "ftw-bar-chart.js": "08b61533ed52b0031a39e723278c812b2b27356c1d574b65dfd5603992065d82",
   "ftw-element.js": "7241b586582187cef2d76d3ee11bbc596c4f428cea3a5c8c84227e113aa3c1a0",
   "ftw-energy-flow.js": "ced3308f92e0d49b41e7af5038a85e0986a0d879febf3b1541385028af5aa693",
diff --git a/src/views/Now.control-proof.svelte.test.ts b/src/views/Now.control-proof.svelte.test.ts
index 18b4765..315c923 100644
--- a/src/views/Now.control-proof.svelte.test.ts
+++ b/src/views/Now.control-proof.svelte.test.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test('opens the device panel with the answer first and keeps an open receipt thr
     const status={grid_w:1000,load_w:500,drivers:{sungrow:{status:'ok',bat_w:1000}},control_feedback:[
       lost
         ? {driver:'sungrow',kind:'battery',mode:'planner_arbitrage',status:'no_contact',reason:'readings_lost',severity:'alarm',evidence:'accepted',readings_fresh:false,actual_w:null}
-        : {driver:'sungrow',kind:'battery',mode:'planner_arbitrage',status:'following',reason:'power_observed',severity:'info',evidence:'confirmed',readings_fresh:true,actual_w:1000,confirmed_at_ms:Date.now()},
+        : {driver:'sungrow',kind:'battery',mode:'planner_arbitrage',on_plan:true,status:'following',reason:'power_observed',severity:'info',evidence:'confirmed',readings_fresh:true,actual_w:1000,confirmed_at_ms:Date.now()},
       {driver:'easee',kind:'ev',status:'no_contact',reason:'readings_lost',severity:'alarm',evidence:'accepted',readings_fresh:false,actual_w:null},
     ]}
     return Promise.resolve({status:200,headers:{},body:new TextEncoder().encode(JSON.stringify(status))})
diff --git a/src/views/NowOutlook.svelte b/src/views/NowOutlook.svelte
index b61c523..95c8505 100644
--- a/src/views/NowOutlook.svelte
+++ b/src/views/NowOutlook.svelte
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
     planBrief(plan.plan, nowMs, {
       mode: plan.actualMode,
       dispatchBlockedBy: site.session.dispatchBlockedBy,
+      planNow: statusFresh ? status?.plan_now : null,
     })
   )
 
diff --git a/src/views/Plan.svelte b/src/views/Plan.svelte
index 24d8706..d1e30a4 100644
--- a/src/views/Plan.svelte
+++ b/src/views/Plan.svelte
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
     type BatteryExport,
   } from '$lib/format/plan-prefs'
   import { formatPower } from '$lib/format/power'
+  import { CAP_API_PASSTHROUGH } from '$lib/protocol/contract'
+
+  const PLAN_NOW_EVERY_MS = 10_000
 
   interface Props {
     site: SiteStore
@@ -77,7 +80,32 @@
 
   onDestroy(() => plan.destroy())
 
-  const headline = $derived(planHeadline(plan.plan, nowMs))
+  // Whether the batteries do what this quarter planned, and why not. The plan
+  // alone cannot say, so this screen asks the box too, gently.
+  let planNow = $state<unknown>(null)
+  const askPlanNow = $derived(site.documentVisible &&
+    site.session.phase === 'streaming' && site.session.caps.has(CAP_API_PASSTHROUGH))
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (!askPlanNow) {
+      planNow = null
+      return
+    }
+    const s = untrack(() => site)
+    let stop: (() => void) | undefined
+    let cancelled = false
+    void import('$lib/state/now-status').then((m) => {
+      if (cancelled) return
+      stop = m.watchStatus(s, (next) => {
+        planNow = next.fresh ? next.status?.plan_now ?? null : null
+      }, PLAN_NOW_EVERY_MS)
+    })
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+      stop?.()
+    }
+  })
+
+  const headline = $derived(planHeadline(plan.plan, nowMs, planNow))
 
   /** The next twelve hours. Beyond that a plan is a guess about a guess. */
   const slots = $derived(