Itron, Inc. is collaborating with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to make EV charging easier and more affordable for PG&E customers.
The utility is developing a customer-focused pilot with Itron, called the EV Connect pilot program, as a way to modernize its electric meter network and test the management of EV charging loads in real time. The goal is to significantly lower the barriers for customers to charge their EVs at home by removing the need for expensive customer electric panel and service upgrades.
The program uses distributed intelligence (DI) edge computing that operates on a customer’s electric meter directly. The on-meter application connects to, and coordinates with, the EV charger to keep charging within the customer’s panel and utility grid limits. This enables the customer to avoid having to pay for panel and service upgrades while being able to install and operate faster Level 2 chargers at home.
The EV Connect pilot program will support as many as 1,000 residential customers who currently own or plan on purchasing an EV and have panel or service limitations preventing them from installing a Level 2 charger at home.
The utility will replace customers’ existing electric SmartMeters™ with Itron Riva meters which will allow them to install and utilize the new chargers right away.
“This is just one example of the possibilities for distributed energy resource management enabled by Itron’s technology platform,” said Don Reeves, senior vice president of Outcomes at Itron, in a statement. “By deploying grid edge intelligence, we can help consumers and utilities avoid costly upgrades whatever the source of the demand, such as thermostats, water heaters, appliances, pool pumps, photovoltaic inverters and more.”
PG&E and Itron plan to launch the pilot in early 2025, with larger availability in the second half of 2025.
Learn more here.