Section 5: Deploying a Beneficial Electrification Program

Considerations for Transportation Programs

Why It Matters

Main Info

Utility-led initiative to Track EV registrations in service territories

unsplash-image-sBtDQMmWQPI.jpg

  • Some state agencies may provide EV registration data

  • For more detailed information some utilities offer a reward (i.e. $100) for registering their EV on the utility’s website

  • Also possible to explore load disaggregation tools to locate EV loads on a utility system

 

Develop a managed charging program to maximize economic benefits for all

  • EV benefits climb dramatically with managed charging

  • Greatest opportunity for increased flexible load

  • Managed charging provides utilities tools to influence charging behavior to maximize benefits to

    • Consumers

    • Utility 

    • The grid

  • Goal of reducing charging during suboptimal periods (ie peak demand) while maintaining enough battery state of charge for customers to complete all vehicle trips

  • Two types of managed charging

    • Passive Managed Charging (behavioral load control) relies on customer behavior to affect charging patterns

      • EV varying TOU rates & hourly dynamic rates

      • Communication to customer to voluntarily reduce charging load (e.g. behavioral demand response event)

      • Incentive programs rewarding off-peak charging

    • Active managed charging

      • Direct load control via charging device

      • Direct load control via automaker telematics

      • Direct load control via AMI, a smart circuit breaker or panel

Utility-led initiative to Track EV registrations in service territories

  • Some state agencies may provide EV registration data

  • For more detailed information some utilities offer a reward (i.e. $100) for registering their EV on the utility’s website

  • Also possible to explore load disaggregation tools to locate EV loads on a utility system

 

Develop a managed charging program to maximize economic benefits for all

  • EV benefits climb dramatically with managed charging

  • Greatest opportunity for increased flexible load

  • Managed charging provides utilities tools to influence charging behavior to maximize benefits to

    • Consumers

    • Utility 

    • The grid

  • Goal of reducing charging during suboptimal periods (ie peak demand) while maintaining enough battery state of charge for customers to complete all vehicle trips

  • Two types of managed charging

    • Passive Managed Charging (behavioral load control) relies on customer behavior to affect charging patterns

      • EV varying TOU rates & hourly dynamic rates

      • Communication to customer to voluntarily reduce charging load (e.g. behavioral demand response event)

      • Incentive programs rewarding off-peak charging

    • Active managed charging

      • Direct load control via charging device

      • Direct load control via automaker telematics

      • Direct load control via AMI, a smart circuit breaker or panel

Utility Managed Charging Program Creation (Utility charge control)

Prepare

1.   Identify EVs in service territory using vehicle registration data or load disaggregation tools

2.   Consult with utilities and groups such as Forth, SEPA, APPA for help navigating challenges or risks. Collaborate with EV industry to develop industry-wide standards for the entire ecosystem of information exchange

3.   Work with these groups and utility peers to model projected EV adoption. Include aggressive cases to prepare for a potentially rapid transition to electric transportation

4.   Identify available distribution capacity and potential constraints (substations, transformers, etc.)

5.   Leverage data from the first step to determine where EVs are located on the distribution system to define cost-benefit of avoided distribution upgrades, which can vary significantly

6.   Identify utility’s goals from the program (e.g. reduce peak demand & capacity constraints, shifting load from heavy load hours to light load hours, build resiliency of distribution system, apply downward pressure on rates, prepare for future increased intermittent generation, etc.)

7.   Define business model for managed charging including costs & payback for both utility and EV drivers and establish standards to reduce costs, barriers, and complexity

Design & Implement

1.   Develop a program that offers customers maximum flexibility with opt-out and override capabilities and financial benefits to increase participation

2.   Identify least-cost and reliable communication systems

3.   Proactively engage customers providing information on EVSE & network service providers that are managed charging capable

4.   Identify resources available or needed to implement strategy (digital communications, smart meters, networked charging stations, vehicle telematics, etc.)

5.   Identify metrics to measure success. How many customers are needed to make a difference with load management?

6.   Identify available budget for staff management, infrastructure and marketing budget. According to SEPA, marketing budget is the number one attribute of customer enrollment.

7.   Launch a pilot or full-scale program

Full Menu of TE Program Implementation Activities

Learn (education for utility staff and municipalities the utility may serve)

  • Visit an Electric Vehicle Showcase or Learning Center

  • Utility Staff EV Education & Utility or Municipality Workplace Ride and Drives

  • Meet EV owners: they tend to be well-informed & passionate to talk about their EV experience

    • Harness the energy of these groups for targeted impacts

    • EV owner relationships can allow for Ride and Drives to take place in areas with little to no dealer inventory

  • Purchase EVs for the utility 

    • EV shopping experience is a valuable learning tool

    • Marketing potential of wrapped EVs positions the utility as prime source of information for customers: can showcase in newsletters, websites and at events

    • Utilities around the country are using EVs as loaner vehicles to customers

      • Personalized Ride & Drive where customers can more fully appreciate benefits and imagine an EV in their life

      • Great for places currently lacking dealer supply to test drive

      • Deepens relationship utilities have with customers

 

Educate (Utility-led  public facing campaigns & events, fleet managers)

  • Outreach campaign

  • Organize Ride & Drive events

    • General public

      • Can integrate with a popular community event

      • Public can test drive in neutral setting without sales pressure

      • Great way to energize local auto dealers after they see benefits of the utility as a partner

    • Governmental & Private fleet managers

 Manage (Utility led rate design)

  • Flexible approaches to demand charges for MHD & HD Fleets

    • Electric options for medium and heavy-duty vehicles have increased dramatically over the past few years. Demand charges can be a significant barrier. Some utilities are adjusting rate structures that will make investments in EVs more cost-effective for commercial and municipal operations.  Reduced demand charges can sometimes be justified by the increased revenue generated by electricity sales to these fleets; through higher per-kwh rates; by the benefits from battery storage for frequency and voltage control, or alleviating distribution constraints.

    • Southern California Edison has addressed this by adjusting rate structures. They have created TOU rate classes for 0-20kW, 20-500kW and above 500kW. Super off-peak rates at night allow a fleet user to charge without demand charges at a reduced rate. Using battery storage to buffer charge rates is also becoming more cost effective.

  • Flexibility around demand charges for DC fast charging stations

    • DCFC stations can have very high, but short term, peak loads.  Until there are larger numbers of electric vehicles on the road, these demand charges make up a disproportionate share of DCFC costs.

    • Pacific Power (PAC) found many DCFCs spending > 80% monthly costs on demand charges. Especially in rural areas, these costs are untenable. Pacific Power has responded by proposing a 10-year phase in for demand charges, with higher kWh costs that gradually decline over that period. Many other utilities and jurisdictions have completely waived demand charges for DCFC, recognizing that fast chargers are essential to serve an EV market that overall provides substantial ratepayer benefits.  Utilities may also consider piloting new types of rate structures which would seek to better reflect the growth and behavior or EV charging.

  • EV specific rate structures to incentivize off peak / optimally timed charging to grow benefits for all

 Utility-led Charging, Infrastructure: Build It and They Will Come (Residential, Workplace, Multi Family etc)

  • Direct investment in public charging infrastructure

  • Public highway and tourism charging infrastructure

  • Utility or municipal fleet charging

  • Residential charging support

  • Workplace charging support

  • Multi-Family charging support

 Utility-led EV Promotion (dealer engagement, car sharing, elderly shuttles etc)

  • Working with dealers to improve engagement around EVs

  • Promoting EV ride & car sharing and other solutions for elderly or low-Income residents

  • Promoting EVs along with clean energy

  • Rebates for new and used EVs and E-Bikes

  • The Utility as an influencer of Electric Vehicle policy

    • Nonprofits like Forth & EESI have a lot of expertise in this important area

Subsection

Text

  • Text

EM&V

 

Considerations for Buildings Programs