Declined for charger rebate in WA

[Harley]

Has anyone here applied for — and received — a utility company rebate after purchasing and installing a Level 2 charger? Especially through PUD in Snohomish County WA?

I applied for the $200 rebate from PUD after having my charger, which I purchased with some of the Tesla shop credit, installed in my home. PUD declined the application because “it was purchased with rewards points.”

What am I missing? Should it really have mattered how I purchased the charger?

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[Deleted member 17810]

These type of incentives are modelled to invigorate the local economy.

If you're not putting anything out of pocket (reward points/tesla voucher), they are just giving you $200 dollars.

If you were to go out of pocket, spend $1k, then that $200 regenerated $800 into the economy.

 

[RandyS]

Yes, it matters (I have a utility regulatory background). Ratepayers are funding the utility rebate program to make it easier for EV owners to buy Level 2 charging equipment. The whole purpose of these programs is to get people off of Level 1 charging that comes with most vehicles (which could then be in use during peak times since it takes so long to charge) and get them into a Level 2 charger that can charge after midnight or during off-peak times (or whenever the rates are lower to incentivize EV charging). It's a win-win for the utility and ratepayers to pay out these incentives so they don't have to spend funds upgrading the grid to handle a bunch of Level 1 charging that could take place during the power system peak.

Your "use case" doesn't fit this model. You didn't need the financial incentive to help you with the Level 2 charger purchase and wouldn't likely use Level 1 charging for the Cybertruck anyways. Why should ratepayers provide you with the rebate?

In the utility regulatory world, when these rebate programs are designed and rolled out, you are considered a "free rider" becaue you'll be charging at Level 2 with or without the incentive...

It makes no difference to me, but just thought I'd point out what the utility mindset is with these incentives. They are basically trying to help people get over the financial hump of buying a Level 2 charger when they might otherwise just stick with Level 1 charging at no additional cost because the equipment came with the vehicle....

 

[Woodrick]

Has anyone here applied for — and received — a utility company rebate after purchasing and installing a Level 2 charger? Especially through PUD in Snohomish County WA?

I applied for the $200 rebate from PUD after having my charger, which I purchased with some of the Tesla shop credit, installed in my home. PUD declined the application because “it was purchased with rewards points.”

What am I missing? Should it really have mattered how I purchased the charger?

Because you didn't seem to pay for it? You may want to retry with appropriate justification.

 

[Harley]

I simply asked a question. You don’t need to be an ass.

 

[Harley]

Appreciate the explanation. Thanks.

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