Appalachian Power to offer Virginia electric car owners time-of-day charging rate
Appalachian Power announced recently that it would offer a special time-of-day rate for Virginia residential owners of plug-in electric cars that provides a discount for charging vehicles when demand for power is lower.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved the experimental rate option. The pilot program will last for at least four years as approved by the SCC.
A residential customer with a typical electric car consumption of 2,700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually will save approximately $86.50 if they home-charge their vehicle during off-peak hours under the new rate as compared to the current standard residential rate.
“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,” Chris Beam, Appalachian’s president and chief operating officer, said. “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.”
Eligible residential locations will have a second Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meter installed for their plug-in electric car, which enables off-peak charging with no changes to the residential rates. Customers who choose this option will receive one bill that combines their residential bill and the costs for car charging.
Appalachian Power noted that it would provide more information to its Virginia residential customers once sign-up requirements, off-peak details, and technical interfaces are finalized. The company expects that the option will be available before the end of 2019.
Recent data shows that nearly 700 plug-in electric cars are currently registered to owners in Virginia communities served by Appalachian Power.
