HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 10 23 Regular 502 - Park & Plug Program Through Duke Energy UpdateREGULAR AGENDA ITEM 502
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA | OCTOBER 23, 2023 REGULAR MEETING
TITLE
Park & Plug Program Through Duke Energy Update
SUMMARY
At the January 25, 2021 meeting of the The City Commission, the Commission
approved the Electric Vehicle Site Host Agreement with Duke Energy. The initial
agreement was through December 31,2022. This grant authorized Duke Energy
though its partner Park and Plug to install 6 electric vehicle charging stations in 3
locations of the City at no charge to the City. Ownership of the chargers remained
with Duke Energy. The City entered into this agreement to achieve conservation
elements in the Comprehensive Plan. Two charging stations are located in the town
center on North Tuskawilla road near Magnolia Fountain, 2 charging stations are
located in the Central Winds Park Trail Head parking lot on Hicks Road. These charging
stations are open to the public. The last 2 chargers are located behind City Hall to
accommodate the City's own electric vehicles.
Those wishing to use the charging stations down load an App through GreenLots on
their phone and they are charged $.1465/kwh. The City then receives on average
approximately $125/month for the public use of the charging stations.
Mr.Schoyer from Duke Energy provide the most recent report for usage at the 3
locations.
- City Hall (not open to the public) 729 kwh
- Magnolia Fountain 13,177 kwh
- Hicks Ave 1,680 kwh
This program did extend beyond December 31, 2022, however the City received notice
that Duke Energy is ending the program.
In summary, there are three options to consider:
- The City choose not to continue in the Program. Duke will remove the charging
stations and return the area back to its original condition.
- The City can take over the ownership of the chargers and remove the fees to charge
vehicles
- The City can take over the chargers and enter into a separate agreement where rate
may be set for the use of the chargers.
FUNDING SOURCE
N/A
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff seeks direction from the Commission as to the continuation of the program for
the EV chargers in the 2 public locations. Should the Commission wish to continue the
program, Staff will evaluate the options for the best option.
Staff does recommend however that we take ownership of the EV chargers at City Hall
for the City's own electric vehicles.
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From:ParkandPlug
To:Donna Bruno
Cc:Calo, Margarita
Subject:Park & Plug Florida Agreement Expiration - Response Requested by October 4th
Date:Friday, September 22, 2023 1:43:23 PM
Attachments:Transition Frequently Asked Questions.pdf
EXTERNAL EMAIL:
[Caution: Do not click on links or open any attachments unless you trust the sender and know
the content is safe.]
Your Park & Plug Agreement is Expiring.
Your participation as a site host in the Park & Plug pilot program is valued by Duke
Energy and important for EV drivers. We appreciate your partnership on this journey
and for hosting Level 2 charging stations at your location. The expiration of the Site
Host Agreement is coming up in December 2023. As set forth in your Site Host
Agreement, there are two options below for your consideration. Your response is
needed by October 4th:
1) Keep the equipment – Duke Energy will transition the ownership of the
equipment to you
2) Remove the equipment – Duke Energy will remove the charging equipment
and restore your site at no cost to you
The choice is yours! We’ve put together some information for you to consider. Note
that any electrical infrastructure that was installed by Duke Energy will remain, i.e.,
wiring, transformer. This is an added benefit to your site at no cost to you and this
“make ready infrastructure” may be used for other EV chargers of similar
voltage/amperage requirements.
Please read through and select the option which is best for you and your
stakeholders. Use the links below to indicate your preference for each location and we
will prepare the transition documents. We look forward to receiving your response by
October 4th.
City of Winter Springs - 1300 Tree Swallow - Magnolia Fountain
City of Winter Springs - 950 Hicks Ave - Central Winds Park
City of Winter Springs - City Hall – Workplace
Next Steps to Keep Equipment:
Read through the information provided here and click the links above to let us
know your preference for the equipment. In addition, we’ll ask your networking
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preferences. Information on network considerations is listed below.
Next, we’ll send you an agreement to sign for transition of ownership of the Level
2 charging stations.
An appointment will be scheduled for a Duke Energy technician to visit your site
to remove signage and decals. This visit will be coordinated with your site
representative.
After the transfer appointment, the ownership and maintenance of the equipment
will be your responsibility. You will continue to pay for the electricity used by the
stations under your Duke Energy electric account as you have done to date.
Please note on the day of the transfer appointment, our technician will
decommission the chargers from the Duke Energy network and commission the
chargers to your preferred network selection and/or place the chargers in auto
dispense mode (if selected). If select to network the chargers, there will be some
onboarding forms to complete and submit to your network provider.
If you are currently charging a fee for use and receiving a reimbursement from
Shell Recharge, this will continue as normal until the units are transitioned.
Next Steps to Remove Equipment:
Read through the information provided here and click the links above to let us
know your preference for the equipment.
Next, we’ll send you an agreement to sign for removal of the Level 2 charging
stations. Details on the site restoration are in the removal agreement.
An appointment will be scheduled for a Duke Energy contractor to visit your site
to remove the charging units, signage and restore your site. We will begin setting
appointments as soon as possible and coordinate with your site representative.
Our contractor may need access to the breaker panel inside your business. We
will coordinate this with your site representative.
You will continue to receive a reimbursement from Shell Recharge until the units
are removed.
EV Charger Ownership Considerations:
We’ve put together some information in the attached FAQs to consider when making
your decision to keep or remove the chargers. If you decide to keep the chargers, it will
be up to you to decide if the chargers will be networked or not. The choice is
completely up to you. There are three options:
Place the chargers in auto-dispense mode so any driver that plugs in can charge
(not networked therefore no network fees)
Keep the chargers on the Shell Recharge network
Place the chargers on the ChargeUP network
If you need assistance as you are making your decisions, please let us know. We will
be happy to help. Again, we wish to thank you for your partnership on this important
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program over the past few years. We look forward to receiving your response by
October 4th using the links above.
James W.
Park & Plug Pilot Team
888.278.4837
parkandplug@duke-energy.com
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Transfer of Ownership FAQs
As a site host in the Duke Energy Park & Plug pilot program, Duke Energy Florida is
providing you the option to take possession of the Level 2 charging assets and the
electrical infrastructure improvements located on your site. Below are some FAQs that
you may find helpful if you decide to transfer ownership of the chargers.
Q: Do I have to put the charger(s) on a network?
A: No. These chargers can be set up in “auto-dispense” mode which will allow anyone
that plugs into them to use them, free of charge. However, you will not be able to
collect usage fees from the drivers or see utilization data if they are in auto-dispense
mode.
Q: What are the benefits of putting the charger(s) on a network?
A: The greatest benefit of networking a charger is the ability to facilitate payment for
use. If you want to charge drivers for their session, you will need to network your
charger(s). Networking also allows you to see usage analytics, provide remote
troubleshooting if there is an issue, and create user groups that are allowed access or a
discounted rate. For example, if a municipality wants to give their fleet vehicles free
charging but collect fees from the public, a network will allow for this.
Q: Which networks are my hardware certified for?
A: While the NovaCHARGE NC7000 is OCPP compliant, it is currently only certified on
two networks: Shell Recharge and ChargeUP. Contact information for these network
providers is below:
• Shell Recharge – James.J.Matthews12@shell.com
• ChargeUP – info@novacharge.net
If you wish to explore other networking options, please reach out to the network provider
that you want to use and ask if they can support the NovaCHARGE NC7000 charger.
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Q: What should I consider when researching networks?
A: The following questions may help you evaluate your options when having a
discussion with potential network providers:
1. What is the annual fee per port?
2. Do you offer longer terms at a discount?
3. What is the transaction fee? (typically, a % of total charging session cost
collected by the network before remitting payment to you)
4. Is there a commissioning fee? (If switching networks, the new network provider
may charge a fee to get the chargers onto their network)
5. Do you provide on-site commissioning?
6. Is your network operating center 24/7 to support remote troubleshooting?
7. Does the network allow for the charger to not be shown as available to the
public? (If you choose to use the charger only for private use such as a
townhome, business charging, etc.)
Q: Is there an option to purchase a warranty?
A: The initial warranty will expire upon transfer. Please reach out to NovaCHARGE to
discuss options for extended warranty coverage that you may be able to purchase
directly from them at info@novacharge.net.
Q: What should I do if the charger stops working after it is transitioned?
A: If you choose to network the charger, reach out to your network provider for remote
troubleshooting and next steps. If you elect to put the chargers into auto-dispense
mode or the network provider is not able to resolve the issue, you have a few options:
• Consider contacting NovaCHARGE, the equipment manufacturer. Note, there
may/will be a fee for support.
• Consider finding a local charger maintenance company.
• Consider reaching out to your electrician and see if they have charger support
experience.
• Consider replacing the charger and utilizing the existing electrical infrastructure.
Q: How do I determine an appropriate price to charge drivers for usage?
A: Setting the price to charge drivers is up to the station owner. You can see the price
of other stations in your area by visiting Plugshare for more information. You may also
want to refer to the state statute concerning electric vehicle charging stations or seek
legal counsel.
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