LOCAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVERS TO RECEIVE $200 EACH IN BILL CREDIT

Nearly 7,000 EV drivers applied for the credit

East County News Service

July 6, 2017 (San Diego) – Thousands of electric vehicle (EV) drivers in the San Diego region will get a pleasant surprise when they open their SDG&E residential bill over the next month, as they will be receiving $200 in credit for each EV they own or lease. EV drivers help clean the air and create healthier communities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and they save on fueling costs, as charging an electric vehicle costs less than putting gas in the tank.

Approximately 6,900 EV owners in the SDG&E service territory enrolled in the Electric Vehicle Climate Credit Program by the May 31 deadline and qualified for the bill credit. Customers will start seeing the credit on their bill within the next two months. The program is part of a statewide greenhouse gas reduction effort administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

“The transportation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution,” said John Sowers, SDG&E Senior Vice President of Asset Management who oversees clean transportation. “But our region is helping to change that as more people shift to electric vehicles and fuel them with renewable energy. When our customers plug in to charge their cars, they are using some of the cleanest energy available in the state because 43 percent of SDG&E’s electricity supply comes from renewables.”

The amount of credit given to EV drivers depended on the number of people who applied. There are more than 24,000 EV drivers in our region, and SDG&E mounted a campaign to enroll as many of them in the program as possible.

Those who missed the deadline to apply this year will have the opportunity to apply next year, as the Electric Vehicle Climate Credit is made available each year by CARB through 2020. Each year the credit will apply to current EV drivers. This means that if an EV changes ownership or leasing status, the new owner will be able sign up for the bill credit.  EV owners may sign up for the 2018 interest list at www.sdge.com/evcc.

This annual CARB program is funded through the sale of low carbon fuel credits and not through utility rates. It applies to all-electric vehicle or plug-in hybrids in SDG&E’s service territory that are registered to residents, and not commercial fleets.

Looking for more ways to save? EV drivers can save money by charging their EV at home between midnight and 5 a.m. through the SDG&E time-of-use rate program.  For more information on EV rates for your house visit www.sdge.com/evrates. Live in an apartment or condo and need charging?  SDG&E has a new EV charging station program just for you.  Visit www.sdge.com/poweryourdrive for more information.