Hydro-Québec is testing interest in a $50 annual reward for EV owners.
The scenario would encourage charging between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., without penalizing charging at other times.
Hydro-Québec says the amount being studied is not currently associated with any official program.
Hydro-Québec is evaluating a new way to encourage electric vehicle owners to shift their electricity consumption to periods when demand on the grid is lower.
The idea alone could raise concerns. Quebec has one of the most abundant sources of clean electricity in North America and ranks among the world’s leading hydroelectricity-producing regions. Are we being prepared for something to come?
The Crown corporation is currently surveying EV drivers and gauging their reaction to a scenario offering an annual reward of $50 per vehicle. In exchange, participants would be encouraged to charge their vehicles between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
However, the concept presented to respondents does not include any penalty for charging outside the proposed time window. The other charging sessions would simply not qualify for the incentive.
Hydro-Québec stresses the exploratory nature of the initiative. The amount presented in the survey is neither an official offer nor the announcement of a future program. In other words, it is only a test.
“The $50 amount mentioned in the survey is being used solely to measure customer interest in different approaches and does not reflect a decision or an existing program,” said Hydro-Québec spokesperson Louis-Olivier Batty.
The exercise allows the Crown corporation to evaluate the extent to which a financial reward could change home-charging habits. The question is becoming increasingly relevant as EV registrations in the province continues to rise.
Some drivers, however, have already adopted overnight charging without an additional incentive. Many EV owners, including the story author, charge their vehicles exclusively at night. In my case, charging takes place between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. I am now considering adjusting my schedule based on Hydro-Québec’s proposal.
For an EV owner who charges primarily at home, Hydro-Québec also estimates that avoiding winter peak-demand events could generate average annual savings of approximately $40.
Finally, the Crown corporation says it is examining approaches already used by other North American electricity providers to better distribute EV charging over time.
Source: Journal de Montreal
