Consumers Energy plans to power thousands of new EV charging locations across Michigan

Michigan energy provider Consumers Energy expects to power 1,500 new fast charging locations for electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030, according to its recently filed Transportation Electrification Plan .

The investor-owned utility, which provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents, filed its 2024 plan on June 25 with state regulators.

“Despite some of the naysayers in the news lately, the trends in EV growth are unmistakable,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “EV numbers in Michigan have tripled since the end of 2020, and we’re seeing strong signs growth will continue.”

To support that growth, Snyder said the company will start offering rebates next year for the next generation of fast chargers, which are powered by on-site batteries that will allow chargers to be installed more quickly. They will draw power from the electric grid overnight during the lowest-cost time and charge vehicles during the day when people are on the road.

“We know electric vehicles are good for the planet, and they’re a good experience for drivers,” Snyder said. “We also know we’re taking the right steps to speed up Michigan’s EV transformation in a way that helps the grid and lowers costs for everyone. Whether you drive an EV or not, you come out ahead.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the State of Michigan have set a goal of two million EVs in Michigan by 2030, and Consumers Energy’s 2024 Transportation Electrification Plan (TEP) details how the company will achieve being able to serve one million EVs and more beyond 2030.

For instance, the company’s TEP is focused on three primary strategies: Setting up load growth at the right time to benefit reliability and cost for all customers; preparing for EV adoption at scale; and paying for EV load management programs with the additional margin from EV load growth, while also creating downward rate pressure for all customers, according to the document.

“Using the three strategic principles above, Consumers Energy’s TEP is focused on scaling with programming and planning for key market segments in support of Michigan’s 2030 goals,” the TEP states.

To date, even with efforts that do not include direct control, Consumers Energy says that off-peak load management has achieved “breakthrough results” benefitting all customers and that its EV load management programs have achieved greater than 90 percent off-peak charging between March 2023 and March 2024, which is best in class for utilities and well beyond the original pilot goal of 70 percent off-peak charging, according to the TEP.

“We want you to think about Consumers Energy when you’re buying an EV. We should be your next call to make your EV experience convenient and affordable,” said Snyder. “We are a one-stop shop for EV drivers while we work more and more with Michigan businesses to build out charging locations and support more EVs taking to the road.”

To date, Consumers Energy has provided more than 135 rebates for locations with public fast chargers that can fully power an EV’s battery in less than half an hour. The company expects to build over 1,500 locations, each with four or more fast chargers, over the rest of this decade.

Among its many solutions that support Michigan’s EV transformation, including rebates for home and public charging, Consumers Energy most recently developed programs for multifamily and community charging. The company also is supporting Michigan school districts, which are adding more than 100 electric school buses.

Snyder pointed out that over 90 percent of Consumers Energy customers’ EV charging takes place outside of peak afternoon times, reducing costs for everyone even if they don’t drive an EV.

The post Consumers Energy plans to power thousands of new EV charging locations across Michigan appeared first on Daily Energy Insider .