Overview

Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), Maryland's largest utility with over 1.3 million electric customers, is leading the charge in the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. BGE’s EVsmart portfolio of residential program offerings have included:

• a fully subscribed flat $300 rebate for 1,000 residential customers that purchase and install an eligible L2 EV charger after July 1, 2019;
• an EV Only Time of Use (“TOU”) rate;
• a $50 annual incentive for participation; and
• the Smart Charge Management (SCM) Demonstration.

Running from 2021 to 2024, the SCM Demonstration leverages WeaveGrid's advanced technology, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The pilot aims to identify managed charging techniques that can mitigate the impact of EV charging on the electric grid for residential, commercial, and public customers.

In August 2024, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved BGE’s proposal to expand the SCM program into a permanent offering, targeting 30,000 participants by 2027. The Commission emphasized that “extending and expanding BGE’s SCM program is in the public interest,” given the urgent need to expand EV charging with minimal impact on the distribution grid.

The Role of SCM

SCM aims to provide EV managed charging across various customer segments to reduce EV charging impacts on BGE’s distribution and transmission systems by delaying or minimizing capital investments required to serve EV charging demand as EV ownership grows. BGE’s residential SCM Demonstration achieves this goal by controlling when EVs charge and shifting charging to more optimal times to avoid peak periods and help minimize distribution system impacts while meeting customers’ daily driving needs. 

Program Success to Date

• Bulk Power and Distribution Benefits: The SCM Demonstration has successfully shifted load and significantly reduced electric system peaks, achieving notable non-coincident peak reductions for participating feeder groups.
• Cost-Effectiveness: BGE’s Residential SCM offerings have yielded substantial savings through load shifting. This includes reductions in wholesale energy costs, capacity costs, and marginal transmission and distribution (T&D) costs. The program demonstrated a cost-effectiveness ratio of 1.58 under the Maryland Jurisdiction Specific Test (MD-JST), the mandated cost-effectiveness assessment for EV programs.
• Customer Engagement: The demonstration achieved an impressive 92% charging schedule compliance rate. This means that 92% of the managed charging load adhered to the schedule established by BGE and WeaveGrid, maximizing benefits for both drivers and the grid.

Looking Ahead

With the Maryland adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II Rule, which mandates that 100% of new passenger car and light truck sales be EVs by 2035, alongside the Maryland Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 and the recently enacted DRIVE Act, it is critical to enhance the visibility and flexibility of EV charging. Programs like SCM are vital for managing the load EV charging adds to the electric grid, ensuring that Maryland can meet its ambitious climate goals while providing reliable service to its customers.