Nebraska Public Power District installs electric vehicle stations

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) officials said the utility has installed three electric vehicle (EV) charging stations within its service territory.

Charging units installed at NPPD’s Norfolk Operations Center and the Ogallala Operations Center are now fully operational while a third unit being installed at the Kearney Operations Center is expected to be operational by early November. NPPD installed a charging station at its Columbus general offices last year.

“Electrification in transportation is moving fast and so is NPPD,” Matt Gilliland, York director of Operations Support, said. “From 2019 to 2021, NPPD will increase ownership from one EV and one charging station to four EVs and eight stations.”

The devices used at all NPPD locations are Charge Point units, officials noted, adding the installation effort is partially funded by grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and Nebraska Community Energy Alliance, and the station can be activated by a smartphone or a Charge Point card.

Charge Point collects fees and data, which is then provided to NPPD. The charge set at $1 for a four-hour session and $1 per additional hour.

The Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Nebraska Community Energy Alliance have partnered with the NPPD to offer several incentives based on electric vehicles, with the largest incentive being for the purchase of an EV and a ChargePoint home charging station in the amount of $4,500, with $4,000 going towards the purchase of a vehicle.

An additional $500 would be available for the charging station installation at a single or multi-family residential location with internet wireless connectivity.