Appalachian Power will soon offer owners of plug-in electric cars a lower rate when charging their personal vehicles at home at times when demand for power is lower – mainly at night. Apco says that would save the owner of a typically-used E-V about $86 a year. The utility expects this new option to be available by the end of the year.
NEWS RELEASE: Appalachian Power will offer residential owners of plug-in electric cars a special time-of-day rate with a discount for charging their vehicles when demand for power is lower. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved an experimental rate option for residential customers with electric cars in the company’s Virginia territory. A residential customer with a typical electric car consumption of 2,700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually will save about $86.50 for home-charging the vehicle during off-peak hours — generally, nighttime hours —under the new rate as compared to the current standard residential rate. The company expects the new option to be available to its Virginia customers before the end of 2019.
“This new time-of-day rate is another way we are responding to our customers’ changing needs and working toward an innovative future for our industry,” said Chris Beam, Appalachian’s president and chief operating officer. “It should appeal to the existing owners of plug-in electric cars and potential purchasers who are already our customers in Virginia, as well as encourage others to consider the purchase of an electric car over the traditional gasoline option when making their next buying decision.”
Recent data indicate that almost 700 plug-in electric cars are currently registered to owners in Virginia communities served by Appalachian Power. Eligible residential locations will have a second Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meter installed specifically for their plug-in electric car which enables off-peak charging with no
changes to the residential rates. AMI household meters are already in place at most Virginia residences and will be fully deployed by 2021. Customers who choose this
option will receive one bill that combines both their residential bill and the costs for car charging.
Appalachian will provide detailed information to its Virginia residential customers as soon as sign-up requirements, off-peak details and technical interfaces are finalized, allowing them to take part in the offering. The pilot program will last for at least four years as approved by the SCC.
