Over 21,000 EV drivers applied for the Electric Vehicle Climate Credit

San Diego County CA— More than 21,000 electric vehicle (EV) drivers in San Diego and southern Orange counties are receiving a $850 credit on their San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) bill, as a reward for adopting clean transportation to help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The number of EV drivers in the region has grown by 15,000 since 2017, and the number of applicants for the EV Climate Credit is up 40% in 2019 compared to 2018. SDG&E will be applying the credit to customers’ bills over the next few months, using up all the 2019 program funds.
The bill credit is funded by the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program implemented by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to fight climate change and encourage EV adoption. The bill credit amount has varied each year depending on the CARB regulations, number of EV drivers and the amount of revenues available to fund it. In 2018, SDG&E distributed $500 each to about 15,000 EV drivers who signed up for the program.
This is the third year that the EV Climate Credit is available to SDG&E customers. Although this is the last year the credit will be offered, future incentives are in the works for electric vehicle drivers; additional details will be shared once the program(s) are approved. SDG&E launched a multi-faceted campaign, including paid Facebook ads, Volta charging station ads, email, multiple press releases, and website postings, to encourage EV drivers to apply for the credit. About 40,000 electric vehicles are registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles in the region.
Plug-in vehicles, whether they are fully electric or hybrid, produce low or zero emissions, and therefore help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Funding for the EV Climate Credit came from the sale of low-carbon fuel credits SDG&E earned for providing clean electricity as a fuel for transportation.
When local EV drivers plug in their vehicles, they are charging with some of the cleanest energy in America because around 45 percent of the electricity SDG&E delivers to homes and businesses comes from renewable sources, such as solar and wind. That is more than four times higher than the national average of about 10 percent.
SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by providing its electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; supporting numerous non-profit partners; and, investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). For more information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.