SDG&E Opens Sign-Up Period for EV Climate Credit
SAN DIEGO, March 5, 2018 – Electric vehicle (EV) drivers not only enjoy the satisfaction of making a difference everyday by helping to reduce air pollution, they can reap financial rewards—in the form of a credit on their San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) bill—for driving clean.
The region’s 27,000 EV drivers, whether they drive an all-electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, can apply for SDG&E’s Electric Vehicle Climate Credit through May 31, 2018, as part of a statewide program administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to fight climate change.
“With each mile driven using electricity instead of gasoline, EV drivers are helping to cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Linda Brown, senior director of clean transportation at SDG&E. “In the San Diego region, it’s exciting to see the growing number of residents switching to either zero-emissions or near zero-emissions vehicles. Together, we are building a more sustainable future.”
When local EV drivers plug in their vehicles, they are charging with some of the cleanest energy in America—as 43 percent of the electricity delivered by SDG&E to homes and businesses comes from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, compared to the national average of about 8 percent.
The amount of the EV Climate Credit varies each year, depending on the number of applicants and amount of funding available. Last year, SDG&E distributed about $1.4 million in credit, or about $200 each, to about 7,000 EV drivers who signed up for the program. Over the past year, the number of EV drivers in the region has grown by about 4,000. Given the increasing number of EV drivers and growing awareness of the EV Climate Credit program, the amount that each applicant receives this year is expected to be between $50 and $200.
EV drivers can sign up for the credit at sdge.com/evcc through May 31, 2018. They will need their SDG&E account number and DMV registration card to sign up. A bill credit will be applied this summer, starting in June.
SDG&E’s Electric Vehicle Climate Credit is available to current EV drivers each year through 2020, when the funding for the program ends. This means that if an EV changes ownership or leasing status, the new owner will be able to sign up for the bill credit. The program is funded through the sale of low carbon fuel credits administered by CARB—not through utility rates. The credit is available to drivers of plug-in electric vehicles in SDG&E’s service area (San Diego and southern Orange counties) 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 6 a.m. through the SDG&E time-of-use program. For more information, visit sdge.com/evrates. Live in an apartment or condo and need charging? Visit sdge.com/poweryourdrive to learn how to get charging stations installed at your multi-family community.
SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by delivering 43 percent of its electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; supporting numerous non-profit partners; and, investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.