How PG&E is helping San Jose families and businesses shift to electric vehicles

Business Journals

19 hours ago

San Jose is at the forefront of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with more than 78,000 EVs on its roads.* To support and accelerate this transition, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is implementing several programs aimed at making EV ownership more accessible, especially for low-income families and small businesses.
'We have made great progress to improve access to EVs and charging infrastructure for all our customers, including those who may have thought EV ownership was out of reach because of the costs. EVs are critical to California meeting its climate goals, and they also provide a road to lower electric prices,' said Lydia Krefta, senior director, electrification and decarbonization for PG&E.
With over 700,000 EVs in PG&E's service area — accounting for 1 in 8 EVs nationwide — the company estimates that adding another million EVs to the grid could lower residential electric rates by 2% to 3%.* This reduction is due to the distribution of fixed operations and maintenance costs across a larger customer base.
Here's how PG&E is making EV ownership more affordable.
Rebate programs
PG&E's Pre-Owned EV Rebate Program offers up to $4,000 to income-qualified customers who purchase or lease a used EV. Since its inception in early 2023, the program has helped over 13,000 customers, distributing more than $29 million in rebates. An additional $50 million in funding remains available for those who meet the income qualifications.
In San Jose, more than 1,000 drivers have received PG&E rebates to help make used EVs more affordable.
692 San Jose customers received the standard rebate of $1000, totaling $692,000
390 income-qualified San Jose customers received the higher $4,000 rebate, totaling $1.56 million
To further ease the transition, PG&E's Residential Charging Solutions pilot provides a 50% rebate on approved Level 2 residential charging equipment. Income-eligible customers can receive a full 100% rebate on the equipment's purchase price, reducing the financial burden of installing home charging stations.
Charging programs
PG&E offers Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plans that incentivize charging during off-peak hours. On the EV2-A rate plan, income-qualified customers can charge their EVs between midnight and 3 p.m. at an equivalent cost of just $1.88 per gallon of gasoline.
The EV Charge Manager program, currently available in Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties, assists customers in optimizing their charging habits. It provides insights into battery usage, efficiency, and costs, and participants receive a $75 gift card after maintaining active participation for at least three months.
Small business support
PG&E's EV Fleet Program supports small businesses in electrifying their vehicle fleets. The program offers personalized assistance and incentives for installing charging infrastructure — helping businesses reduce both emissions and operating expenses.
New programs coming in 2025-2026
Residential charging solution launching in San Jose: Later this year, PG&E will introduce a new residential EV charging solution in San Jose, designed to make home charging easier, faster, and more affordable. This initiative aims to eliminate common barriers and encourage more customers to adopt electric vehicles.
Affordable public charging pilot: An upcoming program will provide prepaid debit cards to income-qualified drivers, assisting with the costs of charging at public stations and potentially offering up to two years of free public charging.
Panel and flexible electrification support pilot: This initiative will offer rebates for electrical panel upgrades and other necessary equipment for low-income customers to install EV chargers at home.