In an era where sustainability and clean energy are at the forefront, Burbank’s BWP (Burbank Water and Power) is leading the charge with its Commercial EV Charging Station Rebate Program. This initiative offers rebates to BWP’s commercial customers to help offset the costs associated with purchasing and installing qualified EV charging stations. This includes Level 2 charging stations and fast DC chargers, making it easier for businesses to embrace electric vehicle infrastructure. Here’s everything you need to know about this eco-conscious program.
Two Paths to Rebates
The Commercial EV Charging Station Rebate Program provides two avenues for businesses to secure rebates: Rebate Reservation and Rebate Payment.
- Rebate Reservation: If you’re in the planning phase of deploying EV charging stations and have applied for permits, you can apply for a rebate reservation. This secures funding for your rebate, even if applications are waitlisted or enrollment is suspended. However, note that payment isn’t guaranteed until deployment aligns with the program’s terms and conditions.
- Rebate Payment: For those who’ve already completed the deployment and passed inspection, you can apply for a rebate by submitting the required documents that demonstrate compliance with the program’s requirements.
Planning Your Deployment
Before applying for a rebate reservation, careful planning is essential. This includes determining the charging level, number of stations, and their placement at your site.
To ensure your electrical infrastructure is up to the task, you’ll need an evaluation by a licensed electrical contractor or engineer. This assessment will determine if your current electrical panel has the capacity to support the load required by the new charging stations. If an upgrade or new panel is necessary, contact BWP’s Service Planning at (818) 238-3565 to assess the utility infrastructure’s capacity.
After these preparations, you should have all the necessary documents to apply for a rebate reservation.
For those opting for a rebate payment, full deployment of EV charging stations, including a successful inspection with Burbank’s Building & Safety Division, is necessary. Then, submit the required documents as outlined in the program’s terms and conditions.
Who’s Eligible?
All BWP commercial and industrial customers, including government agencies, can participate in the program. However, eligible sites (“premises”) must receive electric service from BWP on a non-residential rate schedule. This includes:
- Common areas of multi-family residences.
- Workplaces.
- Retail/public charging locations.
- Commercial fleet charging operations.
Please note that individual residents of multi-family residences or single-family residences are not eligible for this program but can explore the Residential EV Charging Station Rebate Program.
Qualifying Charging Stations
To be eligible for rebates, charging stations must meet specific criteria:
- Be new and unused.
- Be certified and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory like Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Have network/Wi-Fi capability and be addressable by an EV charging network participating in the program.
- Meet technical requirements depending on the type:
- Level 1 charging stations (for multi-family residences) must support the SAE International J1772 standard with a minimum output power of 1.4 kW.
- Level 2 charging stations must support the SAE International J1772 standard with a minimum output power of 3.3 kW.
- DC fast chargers (DCFCs) must have a minimum output power of 50 kW per connector and support at least two of the following three fast charging connector types: CHAdeMO, SAE CCS, and/or Tesla.
Eligible Installation Costs
Eligible installation costs include various hardware and labor expenses related to deploying charging stations and infrastructure. This encompasses panels, circuit breakers, meter sockets, electrical conduits, wiring, junction boxes, disconnects, switches, fuses, trenching, resurfacing, and connecting charging stations. It also covers costs billed by BWP for deploying electric utility infrastructure required to support charging stations. However, it’s important to note that costs associated with complying with the Burbank Building Code, as well as charging station operation and maintenance expenses, are not eligible.
Secure Your Spot
Applications for rebate reservations or rebate payments are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Since funds are limited and rebates are not guaranteed, it’s advisable to act promptly. In cases where funding is expected to fall short, applications may be waitlisted, or enrollment might be temporarily suspended until additional funding becomes available.
Burbank’s BWP is empowering businesses to electrify their fleets and infrastructure while contributing to a cleaner, greener future. By incentivizing the installation of EV charging stations, this program not only supports environmental sustainability but also drives the adoption of electric vehicles in the community. Take advantage of this opportunity to lead the charge towards a brighter, emission-free tomorrow.
