New Incentive could bring more car charging stations to Ohio

Words by Brandon Bounds, Data by Olivia Minnier, Video by Tianyu Yang

*Yuanhao Chen is the owner of the Import Auto Pro in Ravenna.

American Electric Power unveiled a proposal that could double the amount of electric charging stations in Ohio.

If the $10 million plan were to be approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, it would give incentives for apartment owners and businesses to build up to 375 charging stations in Ohio.

Here are the key points of the proposal:

• 300 medium-speed chargers and 75 Direct Current Speed chargers would be installed in various locations, including disadvantaged communities, multi-family housing and workplaces.
• AEP will be required to record and publish data and public record reports on the statistics of the stations, including the prices charged, use, the reliability of the stations, and other metrics.
• Site hosts will be provided with rebates to purchase, own and manage the charging equipment.

The recorded data will help show AEP areas in which they need to improve on in terms of equipment management and energy output.

Businesses and apartment owners could also become part of the rebate program that is offered through the proposal.

Here’s how the rebate program would work:

• AEP would pay up to 300 charging stations to be installed.
• The company would also offer rebates for up to 75 “DC Fast” charging stations, which would be open to the public.
• Rebates would range from 50 to100 percent of the costs involved in installing the stations. The higher rebates would be reserved for locations available to the public at government-owned properties

Scott Blake, senior communication consultant for AEP, said the expansion of the charging stations in Ohio will give people more of an incentive to buy electric charging vehicles.

“This initiative is great for Ohio, especially with Columbus being an attraction city,” Blake said. “This will help make the state become more green and encourage more states and cities to create initiatives as well.”

AEP Ohio published a press release on its website in August about the charging stations, which is a smaller part of an agreement which would allow customer rate stability through 2024.

According to the press release, the rebate amount would vary on the type of stating being built, the availability of it, and whether or not the owner of the place is a public or private entity.

As well as electric vehicle charging, the organization addressed renewable generation and distributing grid stability.

All of the parts in the agreement will be created in part of the Smart Columbus initiative, an effort to practice and foster sustainability in the city.

Julie Sloat, AEP Ohio president and chief operating officer, mentioned in the press release about how this agreement would benefit customers and the environment.

“Ohio needs reliable electricity from a diverse mix of resources to continue growing the economy and to meet the needs and expectations of customers,” Sloat said in the press release. “The ESP agreement will allow us to continue investing in the electric grid to provide reliable power and help advance the new technologies and cleaner energy that our customers want.”

The program will need the approval from several organizations, including the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

The press release also mentioned the settlement would provide support to PUCO’s PowerForward, an initiative to create plans and policies to use technologies and innovations to make better changes.

In order for the proposal to be approved, it must go through several steps from

Matthew Schilling, deputy director of public affairs and spokesman for  PUCO, explained the Commission’s role in deciding this proposal.

“It works similar to a court hearing,” Schilling said. “So far, there were multiple hearings and it seems like a lot of organizations are on board with the plan.”

The Ohio Environmental Council and Sierra Club are just a couple of the organizations that agreed with the proposal. The Ohio Consumer’s Council is the only group to not approve the proposal because the customer’s electricity bill is expected to increase due to the proposal.

PUCO will begin the hearing for the proposal on Nov. 1.

 

— Olivia Minnier (@minnier_olivia) October 14, 2017

AEP Ohio is proposing an incentive to double the amount of charging stations in Ohio. Check out my story here. https://t.co/SZIeI8O5qQ

— Brandon Boo-unds ? (@brandonbounds_) October 14, 2017