Georgia Power has launched its new electric vehicle (EV) charger rebate program for business customers. The two-year program, informed by feedback from Georgia businesses, offers business customers a $500 rebate for installing 240-volt Level 2 (L2) chargers. The business customer program is part of a larger electric transportation pilot initiative which includes promoting public education, supporting community charging stations for public use, enhancing charging options at select Georgia Power facilities and offering rebates for residential customers who install EV chargers at their homes.
"Electricity as a transportation fuel offers our customers a variety of benefits, notably the substantial savings on fuel and maintenance costs," said Mike Hazelton, senior vice president of marketing for Georgia Power. "We've created this initiative to help build awareness of electric transportation, provide our customers with the latest information and further stimulate the already rapid adoption of this technology in Georgia."
Due to Georgia's constructive legislative and regulatory environment, Georgia is an exceptionally EV-friendly state with Atlanta currently ranked as the number two market for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles nationwide. Interest in EVs has grown in large part due to rising gas and diesel prices, as well as continued educational and experiential events such as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Roadshow. During the fourth annual AFV Roadshow in April, clean fuel experts and vehicle manufacturers visited eight Georgia cities to engage with fleet managers, community leaders and elected officials about EVs. Most recently, Georgia Power hosted multiple community events around Atlanta as part of September's National Drive Electric Week celebration to share information about EV products and services with Georgia drivers.
In addition to the straightforward savings over gas- or diesel-fueled vehicles, Georgians who drive electric can also take advantage of state and federal tax incentives, register for free access to the state's HOV and HOT lanes with single occupancy and can save even more through Georgia Power's special Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) rate. In fact, customers who sign up for this rate and charge their cars between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. will currently see the cost equivalent of paying approximately 43 cents/gallon for gasoline.
