For Immediate Release August 30, 2022
Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot Program
Contact: Ken Dragiewicz President and COO
At its July 27, 2022 meeting the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved Alpena Power Company’s (APC) application for a pilot program to allow broader installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers in its service territory (MPSC Case No. U-21234). The pilot program consists of two main aspects; first, allowing participants to take advantage of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) grants through which utilities, customers and EGLE share costs for new chargers. Second, allow for expanded application of APC’s General Service tariff to prospective EV charging stations through a demand waiver.
EGLE Grants
In 2018 the Michigan Energy Office evaluated the viability of a wide-spread Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) infrastructure network throughout the state of Michigan. A statewide DCFC network would allow EV owners to travel throughout the state with a lessened probability of finding an area with an insufficient amount of EV charging infrastructure in place. Following these study efforts, EGLE took the EV charging placement recommendations from the studies and created a grant program, which is intended to encourage the realization of the EV charging roadmap established by the studies. The EGLE grant program, entitled Charge Up Michigan, is structured such that expenses are one-third funded by EGLE, one-third funded by the owner of the EV charger, and one-third by the utility.
General Service Demand Waiver
An EV charging customer may take service under the General Service tariff through a demand charge waiver if the following criteria are met:
- The maximum demand must not exceed 150 kW
- The customer establishes a dedicated service for the EV charging system
- The dedicated service does not power other non-EV charging load
- The EV charging system must be located where the existing distribution system can support the additional load without material modifications
- The demand waiver will expire no later than May 1, 2027
Alpena Power is looking forward to working with our community partners to expand the availability of EV chargers. For further information on the Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot Program contact an Alpena Power Company Customer Service Representative at (989) 358-4900.
