Fleet Partner Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Am I eligible for the PGE Fleet Partner program?
To qualify for the PGE Fleet Partner program, you must be a nonresidential customer who owns or operates a fleet of vehicles (more than one) and the charging sites must be within PGE’s service territory. In addition, charging sites must add a minimum of 70kW of new load (usually equivalent to 10 Level 2 ports or 1-2 DC fast chargers)
Q. How do I start?
First, gather the information you’ll need to fill out an application:
Consider the vehicles in your fleet that you want to replace with EVs over the next 5 years. This may include sedans, SUVs, pickups, delivery vans, box trucks, short-haul tractor trucks, school buses and transit buses.
Identify the sites where these vehicles could be charged (preferably overnight).
Gather fleet vehicle information like average daily mileage, operating hours and operating days
Once you have gathered this information, fill out an application and email it to fleetpartner@pgn.com. You can also email us at fleetpartner@pgn.com if you have any questions.
Q. How long is the process for planning and construction?
Planning phase takes 1-3 months, and construction typically takes 9-18 months.
Q. What is the make-ready incentive?
The make-ready incentive can cover some or all of the costs needed to install switchgear, electrical panels, trenching, conduit, concrete pads, and wiring — the infrastructure needed to make the charging site ready for you to install chargers.
Q. How do you determine the make-ready incentive?
The make-ready incentive is determined based on the forecasted annual energy use in the energy use commitment. The higher the energy use commitment, the higher the incentive could be. The incentive is capped at the make-ready costs, or $400,000, whichever is less.
Q. How does the energy use commitment work?
During enrollment, you must commit to the forecasted energy use of the chargers and meet that full commitment by the end of your 10-year term. In Fleet Partner Plan, PGE will estimate your expected energy use based on the EV plans provided in your application. This will help ensure your energy use commitment is achievable, but ultimately you can choose a higher or lower energy use commitment if you want to be more aggressive or conservative. At the end of the 10-year term, PGE will evaluate your actual energy use against your commitment, and if you fall short, you may be required to reimburse PGE a pro-rata share of the make-ready incentive. For more information, contact us at fleetpartner@pgn.com.
Q. What are Clean Fuels Credits?
The Oregon Clean Fuels Program allows fleets to generate Clean Fuels Credits (CFC) from charging their electric vehicles and sell those credits on the market to earn revenue every year. This is typically done through a broker that is registered with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). If the electricity used for charging is offset by onsite renewables or renewable energy credits, additional credits (and therefore revenue) can be generated.
Q. What construction work will PGE perform? What work will I have to do?
PGE will design, permit, and install the make-ready infrastructure up to the chargers. This includes transformers, electrical panels, trenching, conduit, concrete pads, and wiring. You’ll be responsible for installing at least one charger within 6 months of construction completion.
Q. Who maintains the make-ready infrastructure? Who maintains the chargers?
PGE will own and maintain the make-ready infrastructure installed through the PGE Fleet Partner program. To ensure PGE has access to this infrastructure for maintenance, you are required to sign an easement covering the area where the make-ready is installed.
You will own, operate and maintain the chargers during the 10-year term. You can work with the charger supplier or an electrician to plan for maintenance and repair costs for the selected chargers.
Q. What type of chargers can I install?
You’ll need to install PGE-approved, networked, Level 2 or DC fast chargers. If you have a preferred charging vendor in mind, please suggest that during the Plan phase of the program. Also, note that we a list of pre-qualified Level 2 chargers that are eligible for a rebate through PGE’s Business EV Charging Rebate program.
Q. I expect to purchase more EVs in the coming years. Can PGE include additional chargers in the design?
Yes, PGE will design the charging sites to include make-ready for the number of chargers needed to meet your 5-year EV plans. For example, if you expect to have 20 EVs in the next 5 years and commit to that amount of energy use, PGE will design the charging site for 20 chargers. At least one of the chargers must be installed within 6 months of construction completion, but you can install additional chargers as needed over the term of the agreement. If additional chargers are needed beyond what the design includes, PGE would consider that a separate charging site and will create a new design using existing make-ready infrastructure, where possible.
Q. What if I have other construction happening on-site during the EV make-ready construction?
The other construction on-site cannot impact the EV make-ready construction. If you think you’ll have construction nearby that could conflict with the EV make-ready, please contact fleetpartner@pgn.com.
Q. Does this program include charging for employees or the public?
No, the PGE Fleet Partner program is intended to support fleet charging and cannot include additional make-ready for employee or public chargers. However, if you want to allow your employees or the public to use your fleet chargers when they’re not being used by your fleet, then that is up to you.