Sierra Club’s Work Launches Groundbreaking Electric Vehicle Pilot by Duke Energy Florida

As a result of Sierra Club’s participation in a negotiation with Duke Energy Florida (DEF) and other parties, DEF included  a pilot to provide over 500 EV charging stations across its Florida service area, in its now-approved settlement of a rate case before the Florida Public Service Commission (covering a broad range of matters).   The company committed to invest up to $8 million, plus associated operating costs, to implement the pilot in locations, including multi-unit dwellings, workplaces, “long dwell” public locations, as well as highways or depots, and is promoting this pilot program here.   This investment will contribute to the infrastructure needed to promote and support the benefits of clean electric transportation. 

Ten percent of the chargers are to be located low income communities. DEF will collect comprehensive data on the pilot, and include such information in an annual report to the Florida PSC.   Importantly, DEF is obliged within 4 years to either seek approval of a permanent EV charging program, or explain why that is not warranted, in a filing before the PSC.

Among its other provisions are a consumer education requirement, as well as authorization for DEF to recover pilot related expenses.  Sierra Club is proud to have joined forces with a Florida utility to promote electrifying the transportation in Florida, bringing Floridians' cleaner air, a safer climate, more money in citizens’ wallets otherwise spent on out-of-state oil, and good, solid paying jobs.  Moreover, we are hopeful that this pilot program will become one of multiple groundbreaking steps towards further electrification of transportation in our country.

In fact, Duke Energy Carolinas has embraced moving forward on an EV pilot program in North Carolina, entering into a proposed settlement with the Sierra Club and other parties, which would have created a $25 million EV Pilot program in North Carolina. Unfortunately, it was not approved by the North Carolina Utility Commission; however, Duke Energy Carolinas is continuing to have conversations with stakeholders, including Sierra Club, on how to modernize the grid, and incorporate an EV Pilot Program.