The Role of Rates in EV Load management – Lessons from Real-World Deployments

TOU tariffs or dynamic “hourly flex” pilots – reflect diverse approaches to leveraging rates for EV load management. Even with different design goals, rate structures remain at the heart of utility-level EV charging load strategies.Both traditional and advanced rate designs are integral to effective EV load management, but what is the right mixture of each and what needs to be true for successful scale and grid impact.This panel will feature leaders in leveraging rates with real world case studies abstract – from TOU to real-time pricing – and show how, with programmatic aspects – they are shaping the next generation of EV load management practice, informed by emerging field experience and pilot deployments in California.

How Locational EV Charging Optimization Supports Affordability

As EV adoption accelerates alongside data center load, utilities face mounting pressure to integrate large new loads while maximizing grid reliability, affordability, and decarbonization objectives. EV charging poses a great challenge and a promising opportunity at the distribution level – the difference depends on when and how they are charged.Traditional solutions like time-of-use rates alone can create further issues. For example, Xcel Energy identified a ~45% increase in feeder peak charging load as EVs charged simultaneously during off-peak periods. Grid-aware managed charging offers a fundamentally different approach. In this panel, BGE and Xcel Energy will share localized grid-aware managed charging design and results from their scaled programs with WeaveGrid. Panelists will explain grid-aware distribution optimization, the customer experience, real grid benefits at scale, cost-effectiveness analysis, and implications for distribution planning. Attendees will also hear firsthand from panelists about the lessons learned from deployment, providing real-world insights and concrete takeaways.

Shaped by Demand: Exploring Commercial EV Load Management Feasibility & Insights for Planning

There is growing interest in developing utility offerings for commercial and fleet managed charging but first it is important to understand where, when, and how these customers charge, their willingness to participate, and how this varies by segment. This session will highlight the results of two timely studies. The first was completed by E Sourceone through a Managed EV Charging Study with Oncor. The targeting phase of the study included a clustering analysis of Oncor customers’ charging loads to identify and characterize the EV charging patterns at 85 sites and understand variations in charging behavior across customer segments. Results will be shared as will targeted load management strategies, providing a helpful framework for new commercial and fleet load management offerings. The second study, presents the findings of a decade-long dataset with over 200,000 charging session collected across eight federal work sites. Key findings reveal charging behavior of different user groups and will provide actionable insights into workplace charing as manageable load that can provide grid support for peaks, system stress, and enable flexibility.

Leveraging Software Integrations for Improving Managed Charging Program Access

Managed charging programs are poised to move from small-scale technology demonstrations to long-term programmatic and tariff offerings. A key challenge currently limiting scale are data pathways, affecting utility’s ability to control and communicate with devices. This panel will explore the distinctions of authorized integrations between utility or DERMS platforms and automaker (OEM) telematics systems as well as alternative approaches that rely on third-party APIs. Authorized integrations can be complex to enable at scale, including considerations related to cybersecurity, customer privacy, brand experience, and platform control. However, these integrations can expand the pool of eligible customers, streamline enrollment, and leverage trusted OEM-customer relationships to support education and participation.This panel will explore the current landscape of integrations, the role utilities play in defining data requirements, how OEMs are evolving integration strategies, and recommendations for the industry. This panel will be an early preview of SEPA, ChargeScape, and EnergyHub’s late August whitepaper.