Innovative EV Connect Program Makes EV
Charging More Accessible and Affordable for Customers
LIBERTY
LAKE, Wash. and SAN JOSE,
Calif., Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Itron, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ITRI) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are
collaborating to make electric vehicle (EV) charging more
accessible and affordable for PG&E's customers.
As part of exploring ways to modernize its electric meter
network, PG&E is working with Itron on a customer-focused pilot
to develop and test the management of EV charging loads in
real-time, with the goal of significantly lowering the barrier for
customers to charge their EV at home by avoiding the need for
costly customer electric panel and service upgrades.
"In collaboration with Itron and our EV solution providers,
PG&E is working to give more of our customers access to faster
charging at home through a safe and affordable alternative to panel
and service upgrades. This solution makes EV adoption easier
because customers can avoid out-of-pocket expenses and get faster
Level 2 EV charging immediately, while keeping vehicle charging
within safe grid limits," said Mike
Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnerships and
Innovation, PG&E.
Typically, a Level 2 EV charger requires a 200-amp service to
the customer's home. A Level 2 charger is up to 15 times faster
than plugging into a standard wall outlet and allows drivers to
fill an all-electric vehicle from empty overnight. If a customer
has 100-amp service, which is the case for about half of the
existing homes in PG&E's service area, upgrading to a 200-amp
panel and service can cost customers thousands of dollars and take
months to complete.
Unlike typical cloud-only software-based integrations that
exchange information only a few times a day, the EV Connect program
is unique in that it uses distributed intelligence (DI) edge
computing that operates on a customer's electric meter directly.
This on-meter application connects to, and coordinates with, the
customer's EV charger to keep charging within their panel and
utility grid limits. The combined solution enables a customer to
avoid the cost of panel and service upgrades while still being able
to install and operate faster Level 2 EV charging at home.
The innovative EV Connect program is the first of its kind and
combines elements of consumer engagement, advanced edge compute
capabilities and broad industry collaboration to provide a
cost-effective, consumer-friendly, secure end-to-end solution that
increases access to electric vehicle charging for PG&E's
customers.
"The EV Connect collaboration with our longtime customer,
PG&E, illustrates the possibilities of Itron's Grid Edge
Intelligence portfolio. The utility can deploy additional
capabilities to its existing Itron communications network to enable
intelligence at the grid edge and help end-use customers avoid the
financial burden and wait time associated with upgrading service
panels and residential service conductors," said Don Reeves, senior vice president of Outcomes at
Itron. "This is just one example of the possibilities for
distributed energy resource management enabled by Itron's
technology platform. By deploying grid edge intelligence, we can
help consumers and utilities avoid costly upgrades whatever the
source of the demand, such as thermostats, water heaters,
appliances, pool pumps, photovoltaic inverters and more."
The initial scope of the EV Connect pilot program will support
up to 1,000 residential customers who currently own or are
considering purchasing an EV and have panel or service limitations
that prevent them from installing a Level 2 EV charger at home.
PG&E will replace customers' existing electric SmartMeters™
with Itron Riva meters, enabling them to immediately install and
utilize Level 2 chargers available within the program. PG&E and
Itron plan to launch the new pilot offering in early 2025, with
larger availability in the second half of 2025.
Depending on learnings and the success of the pilot program,
PG&E will evaluate extending the program to be broadly
available on an ongoing basis.
Itron is demonstrating the EV Connect application at PG&E's
2024 Innovation Summit on Nov. 13,
2024 in San Jose.
Media can access videos, still photos and news releases
from the Innovation Summit here: 2024 PG&E Innovation Summit -
Multimedia Access Link
More details about the EV Connect program will be available on
the PG&E website in early 2025.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a
subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined
natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million
people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
About Itron
Itron is a proven global leader in
energy, water, smart city, IIoT and intelligent infrastructure
services. For utilities, cities and society, we build innovative
systems, create new efficiencies, connect communities, encourage
conservation and increase resourcefulness. By safeguarding our
invaluable natural resources today and tomorrow, we improve the
quality of life for people around the world. Join us:
www.itron.com.
Itron and the Itron Logo are registered trademarks of Itron, Inc
in the United States and other
countries and regions. All third-party trademarks are property of
their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or
imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless
expressly stated.
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company