EV Education and Outreach: Orange & Rockland
Description of the Partnership Opportunity
Orange & Rockland Utilities (ORU) seeks partners to support its electric vehicle (EV) education and outreach program, which targets an increase in awareness and adoption of EVs in the Company’s service territory.
ORU’s 2018 base rate case includes a proposal for an education and outreach program to educate and inform current and potential EV customers. The education and outreach program will expand ORU’s current offerings, and seeks to inform consumers about key EV topics – including ownership costs, environmental benefits, charging options, and available incentives – through various channels, such as bill inserts, social media, email, and a dedicated EV page on the Company’s website. The program will also include engagement with local and municipal governments, auto dealers, manufacturers, and drive-and-ride events.
The stakeholders that will benefit from this education and outreach include both prospective and current EV owners in residential, commercial, government and municipal sectors. While EV is not a new technology, many customers are not aware of the capabilities of the new models available today. Most consumers have misconceptions about EVs based on exposure to outdated technologies, and/or are unaware of current and/or planned EV infrastructure. A focused outreach and public education campaign can help erase these misconceptions. Educating and informing a broader set of consumers will lead to higher adoption of EVs.
Detailed information about the process ORU is following to animate the market for EVs in its service territory is available in the Company’s 2018 Distributed System Implementation Plan (DSIP).
Top Goals and Objectives of This Opportunity
ORU is seeking scalable solutions that satisfy the following:
- Inform consumers about key EV topics such as ownership cost, environmental benefits, and charging options,
- Increase customer engagement with utility EV programs,
- Adhere to existing laws and regulations,
- Promote the use of State and Federal incentives.
Target Customers and/or Applications
The Company is inviting solutions that align with the implementation plan outlined in the Company’s DSIP. Preference will be given to solutions and partnership models that can target residential and commercial customers, as well as those leveraging relationships with municipalities. Eligible customers must be located within ORU’s electric service territory.
Partnerships being Considered
ORU will consider proposals to partner with entities that have innovative solutions to increase customer awareness for EVs and engagement with EV programs. Preference will be given to partners that can demonstrate:
- Experience in successfully implementing EV outreach and education programs,
- A full range of project capabilities or partnerships to create a full suite of capabilities, and
- An established presence in New York.
Solutions Being Considered
ORU is open to a wide range of solutions from different partners. This could include, but not limited to:
- A collaboration with auto dealers,
- Working with advertising agencies,
- Working with electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) providers,
- Collaborating with drive-and-ride event facilitators, and
- Supporting community outreach events
Potential Replicability and Scalability
Proposed solutions and partnership models should be both replicable and scalable across the targeted customer segment. Respondents should identify the long-term value of the proposed solution to ORU customers, the third-party partner, and ORU.
Primary REV Objective
The primary REV objectives addressed by this opportunity are the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the enhancement of customer knowledge and capabilities, and the enablement of fuel and resource diversity.
Solutions Not Being Considered
The Company seeks a commercially viable and scalable solutions, and thus will not consider unproven solutions, or solutions using pre-commercial technologies.
Background / Related Information
O&R believes there is tremendous potential for growth of EVs in its service territory. Recent data indicates that there were already up to 1,000 EVs in the Company’s service territory as of 2016 and the Company estimates there will to be over 48,000 EVs in its territory by 2027. The Company supports New York State’s efforts to increase EV adoption and is committed to developing the appropriate tools, processes, and capabilities to further EV market growth. The Company’s programs are designed to act as a catalyst for EV adoption and address the unique nature of the Company’s service territory.
O&R proposed an initiative to own, operate and deploy charging infrastructure in its service territory in its 2018 base rate case. This program will provide a means for EVSE deployment until significant EV adoption allows a sustainable business model to exist for third party EVSE providers. The initiative will accelerate the adoption of EVs in the Company’s service territory and help bring the State closer to its goal of installing at least 10,000 EV charging stations by the end of 2021. The program is expected to help fulfill the charging infrastructure needs of the rapidly growing EV market are being adequately fulfilled, while also providing the Company an opportunity to explore the operation of EVSE as a DER. Additionally, the Company will continue its EV education and outreach efforts and has proposed new rate designs including expanded TOU rates and the PEV Quick Charging Station Program.
REV Connected Communities Innovation Sprint
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