JEA Drive Electric is designed to encourage EV adoption and incentivize drivers who charge their EVs during times of lower electric demand. The marketing program is built around Sagewell’s EV Expert service, a concierge service that will educate customers about EVs and connect them with local dealerships and home charger installers. JEA Drive Electric will work with dealers and manufacturers to secure and publish EV purchase and lease discounts. Sagewell and JEA are also working to increase the reach of EV drivership by coordinating with local organizations to reach new communities and lower barriers to EV ownership for all JEA customers.
The program will seek to enroll 1000 drivers in an EV Charging Rebate program, JEA’s version of Sagewell’s award-winning Bring Your Own Charger (BYOC) load management program. Participants will program their vehicles to charge during off-peak hours, and software algorithms developed by Sagewell will confirm off-peak charging compliance from regular household smart meters. The American Public Power Association awarded the BYOC program the Energy Innovator award in 2018, and BYOC was named the Electrification Power Player of 2021 by the Smart Electric Power Alliance.
Off-peak EV charging increases utility efficiency by shifting the EV charging load to traditionally lower-use periods. Communities that have adopted the BYOC program have seen participants move over 90% of their charging to off-peak hours, efficiently integrating EV load with the distribution system and reducing the need for costly utility upgrades.
“We are excited to offer a new way to expand adoption of electric vehicles and make good use of our investments in Advanced Metering Infrastructure,” said Vicki Nichols, director of customer solutions and market development, JEA. “By lowering the barriers to EV ownership, we hope to see more and more of Northeast Florida driving electric, making us a regional leader in carbon reductions and customer satisfaction.”
“JEA’s decision to launch a full-service EV program that combines education, marketing, and load management under one roof should be praised. Few utilities are taking proactive steps to not only increase EV adoption but also shift load overnight, but most importantly JEA is thinking boldly with its attempt to address inequalities in EV adoption.”, said Pasi Miettinen, CEO, Sagewell.
For more information about JEA Drive Electric, visit www.jeadriveelectric.com.
