AVANGRID announces enhanced commitment to electric vehicles

AVANGRID, Inc., to mark World Environment Day, announced plans to enhance its commitment to electric vehicle deployment through expanded discounts on electric vehicles and increasing its own EV fleet.

The company plans to expand its partnership with Nissan North America to provide 3.2 million customers and employees in New York, New England, and Oregon with a $5,000 discount on the purchase of a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV). The company also plans to increase its own EV fleet by 75 percent and reiterated its $34 million investment in the expansion of EV charging infrastructure across Maine and New York.

“As one of the cleanest U.S. energy companies, we are committed to investing in innovative and sustainable energy solutions for our customers,” AVANGRID CEO James P. Torgerson said. “Demand for clean energy goes beyond powering our homes and businesses. Enabling customers to invest in electrified transportation by expanding our incentives and charging infrastructure is yet another component to ensuring a secure energy future.”

AVANGRID subsidiaries Rochester Electric & Gas (RG&E) in New York and United Illuminating (UI) in Connecticut initially launched the Nissan LEAF program in October 2018 and offered the discount program to customers and employees. The program will now also be available to Central Maine Power (CMP) and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) customers as well as all AVANGRID and subsidiary employees.

In Maine, CMP has committed $5 million to the development of EV infrastructure through rebates and support for EV purchases as well as charging station development. In New York, NYSEG and RG&E have launched three EV pilot projects and proposed a $29 million EV program to expand charging infrastructure in the companies’ service areas.

In addition to investing in its own EV fleet, AVANGRID has expanded on-site chargers for employees’ personal use.