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’s the right mixture of each and what needs to be true for successful scale and grid impact?

This panel features those leading the charge on leveraging rates. It includes real world case studies on TOU and real-time pricing, plus you’ll learn how they are shaping the next generation of EV load management practices which will be 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. EV charging poses a major challenge as well as a promising opportunity at the distribution level, and the difference between these two outcomes depends on when and how EVs 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. We’ll also hear firsthand from panelists about their 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.

Join us to explore the results of two timely studies. The first was completed by E Source and Oncor. The targeting phase of the study included a clustering analysis of Oncor’s customer charging loads to identify and characterize the EV charging patterns at 85 sites and understand variations in charging behavior across customer segments. Our presenters will share their results as well as 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 sessions collected across eight federal work sites. Key findings reveal the charging behavior of different user groups and will provide actionable insights into workplace charging as manageable load that can provide grid support for peaks and system stress, as well as enabling 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 is data pathways which affect a utility’s ability to control and communicate with devices.

Join our presenters to 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. We’ll dive into 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 session also serves as a preview to a White Paper in development by  SEPA, ChargeScape, and EnergyHub for August publication.