Southern California Edison today celebrated the installation of 1,000 electric vehicle chargers at more than 60 locations across the Southland, and also announced that it has begun a new pilot program to help customers install electric vehicle charging stations at home.
The 1,000th charger was installed at South El Monte High School through Charge Ready, SCE’s pilot program to add electric vehicle charging stations to locations where people leave their cars all day. These locations include workplaces, public parking lots, hospitals, destination centers, as well as apartment complexes and serviced apartments.
“Our customers want more clean energy options that benefit them and their communities. Electric transportation represents one of our biggest opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and clean the air.”
Katie Sloan
Now, with the Charge Ready home installation rebate program, customers will have more charging options. The program helps residential customers offset the cost of installing infrastructure that can cut average charging times to 5 1/2 hours or less depending on the vehicle model and make. Faster charging, or Level 2 charging, consists of a professionally installed charger plugged into a 240-volt AC outlet, the type typically used in washers and dryers.
“Our customers want more clean energy options that benefit them and their communities,” said Katie Sloan, SCE’s chief innovation, development and controls officer. “Electric transportation represents one of our biggest opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and clean the air.”
As more cars, models and driving ranges become available, more Americans are turning to electric vehicles. One in five Americans now say they are likely to buy an electric vehicle as their next car, according to AAA. And those electric car buyers need convenient charging, Sloan said.
The Home Installation Program offers two different ways to save. The Standard option, which offers a rebate of up to $500, is for eligible customers who want to use their existing meter to charge their electric vehicles using the time-of-use rate that applies to their entire home. The rebate covers costs such as permits, materials, and hiring a licensed electrician to install a 240-volt circuit and a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station.
The other option, which offers a rebate of up to $1,500 for eligible customers, requires the installation of a Level 2 charging station and a new dedicated meter that the customer must use to charge their EVs. This option may provide customers with the lowest cost to charge their EVs—SCE’s Time-of-Use Rates for Electric Vehicle Charging Only (TOU-EV-1). Similar to the $500 option, the rebate offsets the costs of required permits, infrastructure installation, and charging equipment.
Customers can benefit from the program by following a few simple steps:
Review eligibility requirements. Purchase or lease a qualifying electric vehicle within six months of applying for the rebate. Call 1-800-4EV-INFO to consult with SCE about an electric upgrade and enrollment in the qualifying usage rate. You can also change your plan online using the rate plan comparison tool. Hire a licensed electrician of your choice to perform the necessary electrical work. Apply for the rebate through the Charge Ready Home Installation Rebate website.
Once approved, a check will be mailed to the customer within a few weeks. To qualify for the rebate, customers must have an active SCE account, use a licensed electrician, own at least one designated parking space or garage, and participate in the qualifying TOU rate for two years.
“Electric driving is economical,” Sloan said. “Charging an electric car at home is the equivalent of paying just over $1 per gallon of gasoline. Plus, every mile driven using grid electricity reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.”
The Charge Ready and Charge Ready home installation rebates are just two of the ways SCE is making electric driving easier. The company has also partnered with BMW to offer customers and employees a $10,000 rebate when they purchase a new BMW i3 or i3s through July 31. The Clean Fuel Rewards program also offers a $450 rebate for customers who buy or lease a new or used electric vehicle.
