Public Power-Up

Free EV chargers for public facilities!

Public Power-Up offers free electric vehicle (EV) charger installation for cities, school districts, and other public agencies serving disadvantaged communities. Participants receive all the technical expertise and project management support they need to install EV chargers, all at no cost. The program is offered in partnership with SoCalREN Public Agency Programs, which offers cash incentives and technical support for energy efficiency projects.

Through this limited-time program, Los Angeles County is helping public agencies provide clean mobility options for their communities. Don’t miss out!

Program Perks

  • Save money. Overcome the upfront costs to EV charger installation with no-cost support

  • Save time. Let us handle all the paperwork! A project manager will help you complete SCE Charge Ready (which covers any necessary infrastructure upgrades) or other support program applications

  • Be a leader. EV chargers demonstrate your environmental leadership to your community and help you prepare for future California transportation policies that may require EV infrastructure

  • Take it easy. Make it easier for your agency (and local residents) to convert to electric vehicles

To Be Eligible:

  • Enroll in SoCalREN’s Public Agency Programs

  • Commit to making energy efficiency upgrades at your facility

  • The facility must be served by SCE and be within 1⁄4 mile of multifamily housing, also served by SCE, in a disadvantaged community

Why Public Power-Up?

  • Support your community. Prioritize clean mobility and improved air quality for hard-to-reach residents in disadvantaged communities by installing EV chargers through our program

  • Grow your local economy. Help residents save on gas by switching to EVs, and give your local economy a boost

  • Access continued support. Get help putting your new EV chargers to good use with post-installation guidance

  • We’re not selling anything. We’re a grant-funded program with no financial stake in your EV decisions, so you can trust our third-party, unbiased support!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Multi-unit dwelling (MUD) residents in disadvantaged, low-income, and rural communities face many barriers to adopting zero-emission vehicles, including high costs and limited resources for property managers (are you a property manager? If so, check out Multifamily EV Connect!).

    Installing EV chargers at public facilities will help address California’s climate targets by making it easier for the public and public agencies alike to switch to EVs.

  • The program is funded by the California Energy Commission, administered by the County of Los Angeles, and implemented by a nonprofit organization called The Energy Coalition. We’re a grant-funded program with no financial stake in your EV decisions.

  • This program works alongside SCE Charge Ready. SCE Charge Ready installs infrastructure to prepare your site for EV chargers and provides rebates to cover a portion of the charging station cost. Then, our program installs EV charging stations free of charge. SoCalREN also provides project management and other assistance to help you complete energy efficiency upgrades. This program is focused on serving residents in disadvantaged communities, especially those residing in multi-unit dwellings, by prioritizing projects that most directly benefit these communities.

  • At this time, the program is available to public agencies in LA County that are enrolled in SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Your facility must be within a quarter-mile of a multi-unit dwelling located in a disadvantaged community (as determined by CalEnviroScreen 3.0 or CalEnviroScreen 4.0). Both your facility and the nearby multifamily housing must receive your electricity from SCE. Your agency must also complete energy efficiency upgrades (with no-cost support from SoCalREN). By completing energy efficiency upgrades and EV charger installation together, you can offset the electrical demand increase from new charging stations.

  • Program funds are limited, so we encourage you to get started as soon as possible! The program will install EVSE for eligible agencies on a first-come-first-serve basis. The program is currently expected to run through the end of 2024, or while funds last.

The program is funded by a California Energy Commission (CEC) grant, administered by the County of Los Angeles, and is implemented by The Energy Coalition (TEC).