We’ve made some changes due to COVID-19, including suspending service disconnections for residential and small business customers for nonpayment, and only continuing critical work needed to protect public safety and reduce the risk of wildfires. Learn more here. If you have recently lost your job, even if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you may qualify for a reduced energy rate through our CARE or FERA programs. Learn more.
Charge Ready Support
View our detailed frequently asked questions below and learn more about the Charge Ready Program.
The Charge Ready Program is an initiative to support the deployment of qualified charging stations throughout our service territory, accelerate the electric vehicle (EV) charging market, and support California’s air quality and greenhouse gas reduction objectives.
No. Charge Ready requires a new circuit deployed by SCE, separately metered, and dedicated to qualified charging stations. Legacy installations would have to be operated discretely.
When you participate in Charge Ready, we’ll help alleviate some of the costs and complexities associated with the deployment of charging stations. Increasing the number of charging stations is not only a convenience to those who already drive EVs, but doing so also encourages greater EV adoption and improvement of public health through reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Qualify as a non-residential customer* (including bundled service, direct access, community aggregator, and community choice aggregator customers)
Meet the program's guidelines for existing and future EV adoption
Own, lease or operate a site that provides long-dwell time parking (including workplaces, fleet, multi-unit dwellings, and other destination centers, such as sports venues or hotels)
Provide an easement granted to SCE by the property owner
Please note that eligibility does not guarantee participation in the program. Participation is subject to all of the program’s terms and conditions, including availability of funding and timely delivery of all required documents within the required timeline.
*Although multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) are eligible to participate in the program, and residents may use the charging stations and may set up a separately-metered account for their EV charging, the Customer Participant must be the non-residential customer associated with the premises meter (such as a property management company or homeowners association).
Multi-Unit Dwelling (MUD) and Workplace Customer Participants will be asked to send a 2-3 minute survey to their residents or employees, to assess EV adoption at their sites.
After completing Step 1 - Notice of Intent, an Account Manager will contact you to review the program and the terms of your potential participation. After you confirm your interest, we will evaluate your site and propose a location and the number of charging stations that could be deployed under the program. If you accept our proposal, we will reserve funding for your site, including deployment of new electric infrastructure and charging station rebate. (Participation in the Charge Ready Program must be approved by the property owner, if different from Customer Participant.)
You’ll then have 30 days to procure the charging stations in accordance with the approved terms of your participation in the program.
Once this step is completed, we’ll apply for construction permits before we can start construction at the site.
If your facility is located in a disadvantaged community, special terms and conditions are available and can be discussed with your Account Manager. Customer Participants located in disadvantaged communities may request a minimum of 5 charging stations per site (instead of 10 in the rest of the service territory) and will receive a rebate covering 100% of the base cost of the charging stations, including their installation (subject to all other terms and conditions of the pilot).
A disadvantaged community is an area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental criteria in accordance to the Health and Safety Code § 39711.
Yes, you can deploy solar and storage in connection with the program, but will be responsible for associated costs. You will need to notify your Account Manager of any interest in solar/storage at the start of enrollment (Step 1 - Notice of Intent) as it will impact design on both sides of the meter.
Deploy a dedicated service meter, panel, and all conduits and wiring necessary to serve the approved number of charging stations. All related costs will be covered by the program.
Install a new transformer if we determine that the existing transformer does not have sufficient capacity. All related costs will be covered by the program.
Coordinate charging station installation work with the supplier selected by the Customer Participant. Charging station and related installation costs will be covered by the Customer Participant, but we may provide a rebate to offset some or all of these costs.
As a Customer Participant, you are responsible for procuring qualified charging stations through Charge Ready-approved vendors within 30 days after we confirm funding for your site. Participation in the program is required for 10 years and charging stations must be maintained in working order during the period. You must also subscribe to a data management plan with an approved EV charging network service provider and share non-personally identifiable information (PII) charging data at a transactional level with us.* Finally, you must also participate in future Demand Response (DR) programs.*
*This requirement does not apply to Level 1 charging stations.
For fleet applicants only, you may submit Step 1 - Notice of Intent prior to purchasing your EVs. Proof of ownership is required within 30 days following confirmation that you have been approved and funding for your site is reserved (after you sign Step 2 – Agreement). Non-fleet applicants are not required to provide proof of EV ownership.
The program follows requirements of the relevant Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to obtain permits and secure inspection. If the site is not subject to an AHJ (e.g., certain government sites), the program follows applicable rules and regulations for that site.
The easement secures SCE’s ownership of the electric infrastructure deployment through Charge Ready (in perpetuity). The terms of the easement are attached to the Participation Package.Please review with your legal counsel as soon as possible.
The demand response requirement applies only to Level 2 charging stations deployed through Charge Ready. Level 1 charging stations may not have communication capability and are therefore not required to be enrolled in a demand response program. The rest of your premises is not subject to this requirement either.
Yes. The installation may overlap across more than one address. The infrastructure deployed through Charge Ready will have its own dedicated service and meter.
The Charge Ready-related permits and parties responsible are outlined in Table A below
There are several things you can do as each milestone approaches. We’ve outlined them in Table B below
Table B
Milestone
How to prepare
Step 1 - Notice of Intent
Download the Step 1 Notice of Intent from the “Related Links” tab in the Participation Package. Use it as a checklist to gather all required information prior to submitting your application in the enrollment portal
Step 2 - Agreement
Research and evaluate qualified charging station vendors and models ahead of time. You can find them on the Approved Package List
If you do not own the proposed premises, ensure as soon as possible that your property owner approves the terms and conditions of your participation in Charge Ready and agrees to sign the easement (the template is available in the Participation Package)
Step 3 - Certification
Procure the qualified charging stations as soon as you receive notification that funding for your site is reserved, and secure the appropriate proof of purchase
Secure the signed easement agreement from your property owner
If applying for fleet charging, complete purchase or lease agreements for EVs, and DMV registrations as soon as you receive notification that funding for your site is reserved; prepare the fleet spreadsheet
Step 4 – Walk Through
Ensure the qualified vendor you selected installs charging stations as soon as possible once SCE has completed construction of the electric infrastructure
Table B
Milestone
Step 1 - Notice of Intent
How to prepare
Download the Step 1 Notice of Intent from the “Related Links” tab in the Participation Package. Use it as a checklist to gather all required information prior to submitting your application in the enrollment portal
Milestone
Step 2 - Agreement
How to prepare
Research and evaluate qualified charging station vendors and models ahead of time. You can find them on the Approved Package List
If you do not own the proposed premises, ensure as soon as possible that your property owner approves the terms and conditions of your participation in Charge Ready and agrees to sign the easement (the template is available in the Participation Package)
Milestone
Step 3 - Certification
How to prepare
Procure the qualified charging stations as soon as you receive notification that funding for your site is reserved, and secure the appropriate proof of purchase
Secure the signed easement agreement from your property owner
If applying for fleet charging, complete purchase or lease agreements for EVs, and DMV registrations as soon as you receive notification that funding for your site is reserved; prepare the fleet spreadsheet
Milestone
Step 4 – Walk Through
How to prepare
Ensure the qualified vendor you selected installs charging stations as soon as possible once SCE has completed construction of the electric infrastructure
Once you have been approved, and have submitted a proof of purchase, we estimate that deployment will take about 6 months. This assumes that permitting, inspection, and installation of the charging stations are done in a timely manner.
You have 30 days to submit the proof of purchase after you receive confirmation that funding for your site has been reserved. If you need an extension, you may request a 15 day extension through the enrollment portal. You may request a second and final extension request, provided that you can confirm that procurement of qualified charging stations is still on-going.
We will deploy infrastructure for at least 10 stations per site and up to 4% of parking spaces on average. Sites located in disadvantaged communities and multi-unit dwelling sites may request a minimum of five charging stations. We will determine the actual number of charging stations based on a number of criteria, including EV adoption and near-term anticipated growth, charging market segment, and estimated deployment costs.
It's important to understand that installation of metering equipment and charging stations will require some civil work (digging, excavation, etc.). We will locate, design, and install the required infrastructure necessary for participation in the Charge Ready Program based on the following guidelines:
Charging stations should
Be as close as possible to existing transformer (if enough capacity) or to new transformer (if needed to serve the EV charging load)
Be grouped in a single location (e.g., the same floor of a parking garage)
Allow adequate space for the installation and operation, in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations
Charge Ready includes a broad range of qualified charging station models from multiple suppliers, including Level 1 (120 volts) and Level 2 (208-240 volts) stations. All Level 2 stations will include Demand Response capabilities to participate in future DR programs.
Customer Participants will own the charging stations and be responsible for any usage and maintenance costs. You will determine your own policy about the use of the charging stations (e.g., access, financial contribution from EV drivers). Customer Participants with Level 2 charging stations will also have to procure EV charging network services from qualified providers and participate in future Demand Response (DR) programs.
The Customer Participant in the Charge Ready Program is responsible for paying the utility bills for the service account associated with the charging stations. All rate plans available to participants are “time-of-use” with higher rates on-peak and lower rates off-peak or mid-peak. As participants own and operate the charging stations, they have discretion to determine their charging policies, but encouraging off-peak or mid-peak charging and discouraging on-peak charging will help lower monthly energy costs.
Demand Response (DR) programs encourage customers to reduce energy usage in return for lower energy costs. We utilize DR events that help you save money when energy demand is up and electricity prices rise. This makes it a win-win situation by keeping your energy costs down and helping to prevent power shortages.
Customers selecting Level 2 charging stations are required to participate in one or more of our DR programs, once available.
Any place where moisture, fumes, or dust may interfere with operation or cause damage. The metering equipment may be enclosed to prevent any such result. Contact your Account Manager for specific details
Any elevator shaft or hatchway
Any room containing elevator equipment
Any substation or transformer vault, unless such metering equipment is in an enclosure that is effectively barriered from the high-voltage compartment and contains no bare or exposed live parts
Behind any switchboard having bare or exposed live parts, unless such meter is located at least 5 feet from such parts and is effectively barriered therefrom
Any projection room
Any hazardous location or locations where employees would need to pass through a hazardous area to gain access to metering or service equipment
The minimum number of charge ports is ten (5 in disadvantaged communities, as defined by CalEnviroScreen 2.0). Any combination of Level 1 and Level 2, single- or multiple-port charging stations may meet the requirement.
The infrastructure construction involves deploying all electrical components from a dedicated service to the stub up (concrete pad for mounting charging stations with a weather-resistant cover that allows for testing of circuits), including meter, panel, conduit, and conductors (wires). As needed, we will also install a new transformer to serve the new EV charging load. We handle design, permitting, construction, and inspection of the foregoing and return the site in a “ready-to-use” state. The Charge Ready-approved vendor you select is responsible for installing qualified charging stations.
As customer participants own and operate the charging stations, they have discretion to determine the access and pricing policies for the charging stations. We recommend developing policies that encourage off-peak or mid-peak charging and discourage on-peak charging. This will help lower your monthly energy costs and maximize benefits from electric vehicles. We also recommend that Customer Participants understand the legal, regulatory, and other requirements that may be involved in operating charging stations. Unfortunately, we cannot advise customers on pricing or other aspects of providing EV charging services.
Customer Participants may develop the access policy to their charging stations at their own discretion. We also recommend that Customer Participants understand the legal, regulatory, and other requirements that may be involved in operating charging stations. Unfortunately, we cannot advise customers on pricing or other aspects of providing EV charging services.
The rebate is based on our evaluation of charging stations (and their installations) that meet the program requirements. The Approved Charging Station Listshows the full rebate amount available for each model in the column titled "Total Base Cost per Charging Station Package". Depending on the primary utilization for the charging stations and your location, you will receive a full or partial rebate as indicated in the table below. Use the Charge Ready Rebate Calculator to determine your potential eligibility and rebate amount.
Charging stations may have one or several charge ports (individual SAE J1772 connectors, typically one to four per charging station). View the Charge Port drawing below for details.
Three types of charge ports are authorized under the Charge Ready Program:
Level 1
120 volts,without network capability
Level 2 "A"
240 volts, with network capability integrated into the station
Level 2 "B"
240 volts, with network capability provided by an external device (such as a kiosk or gateway) shared among multiple stations
Level 1
120 volts,without network capability
Level 2 "A"
240 volts, with network capability integrated into the station
Level 2 "B"
240 volts, with network capability provided by an external device (such as a kiosk or gateway) shared among multiple stations
The Base Cost is determined by SCE based on our pricing analysis of charging stations (and their installation) within each Charge Port type (Level 1, Level 2 "A", and Level 2 "B"). It is used to determine the rebate payable under the Charge Ready Program in connection with a deployment at a site. The total rebate amount is calculated using the following formula: Number of Charge Ports X Base Cost X Rebate %.
Customers that place higher demands on the grid are more costly to serve, as utilities must size transmission and distribution systems accordingly to serve the customer’s highest demand. Under the current tariffs approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, these costs are passed to customers through demand charges.
Demand charges reflect a measure of power calculated in kilowatts (kW). They are different from energy consumption charges, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
For example, if you turn on 10, 100-watt light bulbs, they immediately place a demand on the power system for 1,000 watts of electricity (or 1 kW). If you leave these bulbs on for 1 hour, they will consume 1,000 watt-hours (or 1 kWh) of energy on your meter.
Level 1 Charging Stations
1.4 kW
Level 2 Charging Stations
Typically 3.3 or 6.6 kW, though some charging stations may have a higher demand
Level 1 Charging Stations
1.4 kW
Level 2 Charging Stations
Typically 3.3 or 6.6 kW, though some charging stations may have a higher demand
Consider the following options to help reduce the impact of monthly demand charges, including:
Load Management: Limit the amount and/or time of charging:
Use tools to charge sequentially rather than simultaneously
Deploy lower-level or level-adjustable charging stations
Encourage lower-level charging and off-peak charging by end-users
Rates: If the Charge Ready Customer Participant is the customer of record, and has a general service account located at the same premises, then the Customer Participant may consider selecting an applicable EV rate with a Facilities Related Demand (FRD) charge offset option. For more information, view the Electric Car Rate Options.
About Schedules TOU-EV-3-B and TOU-EV-4 and TOU-EV-6: FRD charges for these rates are determined using the FRD in excess of the primary account located at the same premises (the customer of record must be the same for both accounts). If the FRD from EV charging is less than the FRD of the primary service account (within any given monthly billing period), no separate FRD charge is due for the qualifying EV account. .
Solar and Energy Storage Solutions: Deploy energy storage solutions with a low demand for long periods of time. The storage solution can be used on peak or when demand is greater than usual to recharge electric vehicles. With photovoltaic solutions, self-generated energy can be used for electric vehicles; energy surplus can be stored or sent back to the grid in exchange for a billing credit.
