EV Charger Rebates

Autumn 2020 marked the launch of Southwestern Electric Cooperative’s EV Program—an initiative to promote EV education in cooperative communities. As part of the program, Southwestern offers a $200 bill credit to members who install Level 2 EV chargers. 

All brands are eligible for the offer. Rebate forms are available here.

Southwestern Electric is working with its software system developer to program EV charging incentive rates. Rates will be structured to reward EV owners, with margin enough to fund infrastructure improvements. 

Until incentive rates are in place, EVs will charge at a member’s existing electric rate. “For example, if you’re on Southwestern’s Residential Rate, your vehicle will charge on that rate until our EV rates are in place,” explained Julie Lowe, EV program coordinator. 

The co-op’s immediate goal is to make electric vehicle ownership an attractive option, encouraging higher EV adoption rates among members. “More EVs mean more power sales,” Lowe said. “We can use that revenue to fund more infrastructure improvements. Those improvements ensure reliability. So we can invest in the system while keeping our rates in check.” 

While EV charging boosts energy sales, it also places new demands on a utility’s infrastructure and power supply. “We can provide power more economically and efficiently if members charge their cars at times of low demand on our system,” Lowe explained. “So EV owners who charge during off-peak hours will see the greatest savings.” 

Incentive rate structures and prime charging hours will become clear in 2021, says Lowe, as Southwestern reviews data from the EV Pilot Program. 

For more information about the EV Pilot Program, contact Julie Lowe, program coordinator, at (800) 637-8667 or julie.lowe@sweci.com.

To download a rebate form, click here.

Read our articles about EVs in the July and September 2020 issues of The Southwestern.