Atlantic City Electric Co. has proposed expanding electric vehicle transportation and charging programs in southern New Jersey as a strategy to address climate change.
The proposal, submitted in a filing to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, expands on existing efforts to meet the state's goals to put 330,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 2006 levels by 2050, according to a Dec. 17 news release.
Under the expanded proposal, Atlantic City plans to install, own and maintain 245 public electric vehicle chargers and provide incentives for additional third party-owned charging stations.
The utility noted that electric vehicle charging in New Jersey is projected to grow electricity consumption 30% by 2035, requiring more charging infrastructure and enhancements to the state's electric infrastructure.
Under the proposal, the utility plans to offer 50% rebates on electric vehicle charging equipment for homes, multifamily buildings, workplaces, and business vehicle fleets.
Atlantic City will also provide residential customers with special rates to encourage charging electric vehicles during off-peak hours.
Additionally, the Exelon Corp. subsidiary aims to provide $2 million in grants for electric vehicle efforts, launch a pilot project for electric school buses and work with New Jersey Transit Bus Operations Inc. to build infrastructure for supporting the electrification of one of a bus depot.
These new services will be paid for through delivery charges on customer bills, and are expected to cost approximately $42.1 million, or about 54 cents on the monthly bill for the typical Atlantic City Electric residential customer using 679 kWh per month, according to the news release.
"Simply stated, without utility involvement in developing charging infrastructure, we have no chance of meeting our greenhouse gas emissions and EV goals," CEO of ChargEVC Pamela Frank said.
Transportation accounts for more than 40% of New Jersey's greenhouse gas emissions footprint, according to Trina Mallik, the climate change and energy policy manager of the Nature Conservancy's New Jersey chapter.
If approved, the new programs and services are expected to become available in 2020.