Georgia Magazine - May 2020 - 24

Je

Hart

Jackson

Sawnee

Southern Rivers
Diverse

GEORGIA'S Energy Outlook

By Alan C.Carroll
SheddCobb

Walton

CowetaFayette

Diverse

Oconee
Flint

Central
Georgia

How EMCs in Georgia are
supporting electric vehicles
Southern Rivers

Tri-County

Washington

Upson

Rayle

Snapping
Shoals

GreyStone

Tri-County

Jefferson

Washington

Middle
Georgia

Sumter

Ocmulgee
Little
Ocmulgee

Diverse

Planters

Upson

Irwin
S

Oconee

Flint

I

Sumter

n previous articles, we've discussed
electric vehicles (EVs) and whether
they make sense for your driving
needs. A number of electric utilities,
including Georgia's electric membership cooperatives (EMCs), recognize the
importance of helping members make
informed decisions, save money and
protect the environment. Many of them
are innovating with EVs.
To encourage the growth of EV use,
EMCs in Georgia are providing
EV demonstrations, and many EMCs
have information on their websites. Here
are a few examples:
* Marietta-based Cobb EMC hosts EV
demonstration programs and Show and
Drive events. Cobb EMC members can
sign up to check out an EV for up to
24 hours. See bit.ly/cobvchk.
* Tri-County EMC, headquartered in
Gray, has hosted two demonstration
days at which attendees could testdrive several different EVs. As part of
last year's EV19 event, Tri-County EMC
conducted an EV workshop for first
responders. See bit.ly/tricevdd.
* Carrollton-based Carroll EMC's website
provides facts, a savings calculator,
information about current models
and a charger location finder. See
carrollemc.com/ev.
Fourteen of Georgia's 41 EMCs have
at least one EV in their company fleets,
and 14 EMCs have installed charging
stations at their headquarters. Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electric
power to 38 of the state's EMCs, has
installed charging stations at its Tucker
headquarters, where Georgia EMC and
Georgia Magazine offices also are located.
Ten EMCs have residential and
commercial rates or incentives to help
EV drivers save money and shift vehicle
charging to off-peak hours. Some EMCs
using EV rates and incentives include:
* Sawnee EMC, based in Cumming,
offers several rate options, including a

24

Georgia Magazine

Middle
Georgia

May 2020

Altamaha

Ocmulgee

Excelsior Mitchell
Three
Notch

Colquitt

EMC
Electric
Vehicle
Initiatives
EMC
ELECTRIC
VEHICLE
INITIATIVES
Little
Ocmulgee

Diverse

Irwin

Grady

Amicalola

Cobb

Carroll

Diverse

EV
EVininfleet
fleet
Installed
EV charger
Installed
EV charger

Walton
Provides EV
information (education, events, etc.)

Offers
Off
ersEV
EVrate
rates

Rayle

Snapping

GreyStone
CowetaFayette

Slash Pine

Hart

Jackson

Sawnee

Provides EV information
(education,
events, etc.)
Okefenoke

Provides EV information (education, events, etc.)

Colquitt

Notch
Habersham

EVShoals
in fleet

Member programs
Member
programs

Central
Georgia

Installed EV charger

Southern Rivers

Coastal

Satilla

Mitchell

Tri-State Blue Ridge
Mountain
Three

North Georgia

Grady
Canoochee

Tri-County

Jefferson
Washington

Planters

Upson
Oconee
Flint
Altamaha
Sumter

Middle
Georgia

Excelsior

Ocmulgee
Little
Ocmulgee

Diverse
Irwin

Canoochee
Coastal
Satilla

Mitchell
Three
Notch

Colquitt
Grady

Okefenoke
Slash Pine

Map data was collected through surveys, discussions and online research.

special plug-in EV rate that offers low-cost charging from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. year-round.
EV information (education, events, etc.)
Offers EV rate
SeeProvides
bit.ly/sawnpiv.
* Coweta-Fayette EMC in Palmetto has announced its Drive Free for a Year Plug-in
EV in Vehicle
fleet
Member
programs
Electric
Program, in which qualified members who
lease
or purchase an EV
can receive a monthly bill credit that covers the cost of charging. See utility.org/ev.
* Cobb
EMCEV
offers
a program called NiteFlex, which allows a member to charge his
Installed
charger
or her EV using up to 400 kilowatt-hours for free from 12 p.m. to 6 a.m. See
bit.ly/cobnfx.
Some EMCs are working with local businesses to install charging stations:
* LaGrange-based Diverse Power has partnered with a Chick-fil-A restaurant in
LaGrange to install a DC fast charger. Travelers along Interstate 85 can get a charge
while enjoying a chicken sandwich.
* Rayle EMC in Washington is working with a hotel under construction on Interstate
20 to provide a charging station for guests to use when the hotel opens.
As member interest in electric vehicles grows, Georgia's electric cooperatives will
be there in support and as trusted advisers.
Alan C. Shedd is the director of emerging technologies for Tucker-based Oglethorpe
Power Corp.

S
http://www.bit.ly/cobvchk http://www.bit.ly/tricevdd http://www.carrollemc.com/ev http://www.bit.ly/sawnpiv http://www.utility.org/ev http://www.bit.ly/cobnfx
Georgia Magazine - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2020
