Dive Brief:

• Georgia Power has launched a new electric vehicle charger rebate program for business customers, providing $500 for installing 240-volt Level 2 chargers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. 
• The two-year program is part of a larger electric transportation pilot initiative which includes promoting public education, supporting community charging stations for public use, and enhancing charging options at some Georgia Power facilities.
• Atlanta is currently ranked as the number two market for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles nationwide. Part of Georgia Power's EV push also offers rebates for residential customers who install EV chargers at their homes​.

Dive Insight:

"Electricity as a transportation fuel offers our customers a variety of benefits, notably the substantial savings on fuel and maintenance costs," Mike Hazelton, senior vice president of marketing for Georgia Power, told the Journal-Constitution.  "We've created this initiative to help build awareness of electric transportation, provide our customers with the latest information and further stimulate the already rapid adoption of this technology in Georgia ."

Interest in EVs has grown in part due to rising gas and diesel prices, the utility said, as well as education and outreach being done. Georgia Power hosted community events around Atlanta as part of September's National Drive Electric Week.

Georgia policy is generally friendly towards electric vehicles, due to the state's legislative and regulatory climate. Electric vehicle drivers in the state can also take advantage of state and federal tax incentives, register for free access to the state's HOV and HOT lanes with single occupancy and can utilize Georgia Power's Plug-in Electric Vehicle rate. Under that program, customers who install an EV meter at their homes and charge between 11 pm and 7 am pay the equivalent of $0.43 per gallon of gas, according to the Journal-Constitution.