- Charger Solution program helps customers avoid
upfront EV charger costs while paying a low monthly
fee
-
The utility's comprehensive
North Carolina electric
vehicle customer programs help streamline EV
transition
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the pace of electric vehicle
(EV) adoption accelerates nationwide, Duke Energy has launched an
EV charger rental program in North
Carolina that enables residential and business customers to
lease an EV charger from the company at a low monthly cost, which
covers hardware, warranty and maintenance.
The Charger Solution program – approved by the North Carolina
Utilities Commission last August – offers customers a wide range of
charger options and guides customers through the selection process
when evaluating charging station options.
"Duke Energy continues to prepare for the electric vehicle
transition, as more customers consider and choose EVs," said
Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy North
Carolina president. "By offering a variety of charger solutions, we
hope our customers feel confident that they have a choice to fit
their needs, with the reassurance they can rely on our expertise
for maintenance."
Simplified charging options for home and
business
Designed for customers who may not want to pay the upfront cost
of purchasing a charger but still want the convenience of faster
charging, the program enables customers to select from a number of
chargers based on their individual preference, lifestyle or
business needs.
Residential options start at around $14 per month and include a three-year rental
term for a Level 2 charger, which can typically fully recharge an
all-electric vehicle within eight to ten hours. Non-residential
options vary based on the charger and include a four-year rental
term for a Level 2 charger or a seven-year rental term for a DC
Fast Charger.
For non-residential customers – which includes businesses and
multifamily dwellings – the program helps maximize reliability and
efficiency by eliminating the hassle that can come with maintaining
a charger. It also allows these customers to highlight chargers as
an amenity without the typical initial capital outlay.
Electrification in the Fastlane
Duke Energy's Charger Solution program supports the state's
clean energy goals, including 1.25 million EVs in North Carolina by 2030. Its launch comes on
the heels of a successful first year for the company's Charger Prep
Credit program, which has helped more than 6,000 North Carolinians
prepare for a Level 2 charger by providing a credit to help defray
the cost to upgrade their existing electrical infrastructure at
their home or business.
The complementary Charger Solution and Charger Prep Credit
programs are part of Duke Energy's 'EV Complete' suite of customer
program offerings in North
Carolina. Together, they can help streamline the transition
to an EV for customers by preparing the home for a charger and
simplifying the decision-making process.
As part of what will eventually be a managed charging suite of
offerings, Duke Energy also launched a 12-month EV charging
subscription pilot program last September in North Carolina – the Home Charging Plan. The
pilot allows enrolled residential customers in the state to charge
an EV at home for up to 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month for
a fixed monthly fee. Participating customers allow Duke Energy to
manage charging through their automaker app and participate in
periodic demand response events.
Periodic demand response events will help Duke Energy operate
the grid more effectively by shifting demand on the grid to hours
of the day where clean energy supply is more available or cost
effective for customers. The subscription pilot – which generated
high participation interest – is currently closed to new
enrollments in North Carolina.
North Carolina is the first
Duke Energy service territory where the company has implemented
three core EV customer programs designed to help customers make a
seamless transition to electric. Access to the complete ecosystem
of offerings, not only helps customers but also allows the company
to better manage electrical demand across the grid and drive
affordable, reliable and clean energy for all customers.
"We develop our EV programs the same way we do all of our
programs – with a customer-focused approach intended to serve their
individual and business needs and lifestyles by offering a menu of
options," said Lon Huber, senior
vice president of pricing and customer solutions. "A variety of
programs not only benefits our customers, but it helps Duke Energy
provide the reliability that our customers count on every
day."
Duke Energy has efforts underway to file for regulatory approval
of similar programs across all its service areas. In total, the
company has 17 active and approved EV programs and two pending
approval.
For more information on Duke Energy EV programs in North Carolina, visit EV Program Guide
(duke-energy.com)
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities
serve 8.2 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.6 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600
people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition
to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural
gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity
generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets
of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for
Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by
2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the
company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy
storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies
such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More
information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke
Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos
and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories
about people, innovations, community topics and environmental
issues. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media contact: Logan Kureczka
Media line: 800.559.3853
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-launches-ev-charger-rental-program-in-north-carolina-302047078.html
SOURCE Duke Energy