SCE Receives CPUC Approval for ‘Charge Ready’ Pilot Program; Will Install As Many As 1,500 Electric Vehicle Charging Stat...
January 14 2016 - 7:47PM
Business Wire
Program aims to help accelerate market for
electric vehicle charging, supports state policies
Southern California Edison received the green light today from
state regulators to begin a pilot project to support installation
of as many as 1,500 electric vehicle charging stations within its
service territory.
The California Public Utilities Commission’s approval clears the
way for SCE to begin implementing its $22 million “Charge Ready”
program to get more electric vehicle charging stations installed in
locations where people park their cars for extended periods of
time. For example, at workplaces, campuses, recreational areas and
apartment and condominium complexes.
“A major barrier to electric vehicle ownership is that there
aren’t enough charging stations where people normally park their
cars,” said Caroline Choi, SCE vice president for energy and
environmental policy. “We believe that by giving electric vehicle
owners more options to charge their vehicles, this program can
actually help to accelerate the market in Southern California.”
Choi described the Charge Ready program as a partnership in
which the utility will install and maintain the supporting
electrical infrastructure, the cost of which will be covered by the
program, while participants will own, operate and maintain
qualified charging stations.
As an incentive to participate in the program, SCE will also
offer rebates of between 25 and 100 percent of the base cost of the
charging stations and their installation, depending on location and
market segment. The program also calls for at least 10 percent of
the charging stations to be installed in disadvantaged
communities.
At the conclusion of the pilot, SCE will seek authority from the
CPUC to expand the program to bring the total number of charging
stations to about 30,000 for a total estimated cost of $355
million. The program also provides funding for education and
outreach to develop awareness about the benefits of electric
vehicles and charging from the power grid. SCE also received
approval to offer new advisory services to help its business
customers learn about transportation electrification
technologies.
Choi said the program will help move California closer to its
objective of putting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road
by 2025, which will in turn support the state’s goal to reduce
greenhouse gases and meet deadlines for federal clean air
standards.
“Electricity has a benefit that few other alternative fuels can
claim,” Choi said. “While electric vehicles currently cut carbon
emissions by 70 percent, they will only get cleaner and cleaner
because the grid is getting cleaner as the result of state clean
air policies.”
SCE expects to begin accepting applications from prospective
participants in March.
About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California
Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a
population of nearly 14 million via 5 million customer accounts in
a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and
Southern California.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160114006476/en/
Media Contact:Southern California EdisonPaul Griffo, (626)
302-2255
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