A housing and/or installation frameworks for a modular multi-level energy system includes a set of similar cabinets configured for orthogonal (e.g., vertical and horizontal) alignment of the modules. The cabinets are configured so modules of a particular phase are oriented along an axis parallel to a reference plane. Modules of the same level of the multi-level arrangement but of different phases are mounted in each cabinet, arranged such that a module for each phase is a defined distance from the reference plane. The cabinets are arranged equidistant and orthogonal to the reference plane, minimizing distance for connections between modules of the same phase across multiple cabinets, and facilitating convenient addition or removal of levels. The framework also facilitates data and reference signal connections between local control devices of the modules, and between the local control devices and a master control device for the system.