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The three-year-old pilot will create a fast charging network for electric vehicles.
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The programs will be the first infrastructure implementations of electric utility vehicles regulated and approved by the commission in Carolinas.
GREENVILLE, SC – As new electric vehicles (EV) enter the market and strong sales growth continues across the country, the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSCSC) has approved two pilot electric transport programs (ET ) from Duke Energy that will allow South Carolina to join other states in implementing EV infrastructure to meet the needs of this growing market.
Originally proposed in 2018, Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress participated in extensive working group sessions with stakeholders for feedback on innovative plans. The approved programs – the first in the Carolinas – reflect the inclusion of much of that feedback, as well as agreements with the Office of Regulatory Staff and ChargePoint.
“Electric vehicles are arriving in South Carolina, but more investment is needed to increase the adoption of this evolving technology and the benefits it brings to the state,” said Mike Callahan, president of Duke Energy in South Carolina. listening to our customers to ensure we understand their electrification plans and needs. These pilot programs will help us prepare to meet the challenge of ensuring that we can keep up with the growing demand for electrification ”.
Program details
Fast loading program
- Duke Energy will install, own and operate 60 fast chargers in the territories of Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress in South Carolina to provide a basic level of infrastructure and facilitate the growth of the EV market. Rapid chargers installed under this program will feature next-generation power of 100 kilowatts (kW) or more, ensuring that South Carolina keeps pace with market developments.
Residential EV charging program
- This program will provide a total of $ 1,000 to 400 Duke Energy Carolinas residential customers who install a Level 2 charging station, provide access to their charging data and manage the EV charging charge to occur during off-peak periods.
Duke Energy Carolinas is the electricity utility that serves customers primarily in the northern region of the state of South Carolina, while Duke Energy Progress serves customers in Pee Dee.
The pilot programs were designed to support the growing market for electric vehicles in South Carolina, considering the significant economic benefits created by switching fuel from gasoline to electricity. Expanding access to fast charging infrastructure will allow customers across South Carolina who drive trams to enjoy significant fuel savings and help eliminate emissions from transportation. Duke Energy Carolinas ‘residential program will also gather current load data to better understand the effects of EVs on Duke Energy’s electrical system and determine customers’ ability to respond to load management programs.
The findings of these programs will be available to the public through an annual stakeholder engagement process, as well as a final report sent to PSCSC. The programs start on January 1, 2021. Duke Energy customers interested in participating can learn more at www.duke-energy.com/business/products/park-and-plug.
South Carolina’s programs join others that have been proposed or implemented in the states served by Duke Energy. The company is also leading by example, recently announcing that by 2030, Duke Energy will convert all of its light vehicles to electric and 50 percent of its medium, heavy and off-road vehicles to EV, plug-in hybrids or other zero carbon alternatives.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company based in Charlotte, NC, is one of the largest energy holding companies in the USA. It employs 29,000 people and has a power generation capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities and 2,300 megawatts through its unregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing the power grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding the natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. Electric Utilities and Infrastructure regulated utilities serve 7.8 million retail electricity consumers in six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to 1.6 million customers in five states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and micro-grid projects.
Duke Energy was nominated for Fortune’s 2020 list of the “Most Admired Companies in the World” and Forbes’ Best Employers in America ”list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains press releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy lighting features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media contact: Ryan Mosier
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