Georgia Power says it is studying how electric vehicles will impact the grid, as well as informing consumers about the new technology.
As part of these efforts, the utility is launching a new electric-vehicle (EV) website designed to help customers decide if an EV is right for them. The site offers information about the different types of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) entering the market, how to get ready at home, and the location of public charging stations around the state and country. Customers will also learn about Georgia Power's three residential rate options, including a new PEV rate, and the impact charging is likely to have on their electricity bill.
Georgia Power offers a whole-home PEV rate plan for residential customers who are willing to shift their energy usage and charge their EVs between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Customers who choose this plan and charge a vehicle overnight can save approximately 13% annually compared to Georgia Power's standard residential rate, the utility adds.
As Georgia consumers begin purchasing PEVs, Georgia Power will also be testing the new technology. The company is expected to receive its first Chevy Volt plug-in electric vehicle this month and will test the demo vehicle under a variety of conditions in order to evaluate its performance and better understand the impact PEVs will have on the electric grid and the company's peak generation.
Georgia college students will also have an opportunity to weigh in on the future of electric vehicles. Through a partnership with Emory University's Goizueta Business School, Georgia Power is sponsoring a competition in which students are challenged to provide the best strategy for Atlanta to build the demand for 50,000 electric vehicles in the next two years.
