Charged for success: Four key insights shaping utility EV programs
Transportation electrification continues to accelerate and evolve. As utilities expand electric vehicle programs beyond early adopters and pilot phases, they are confronting more complex customer needs, tighter grid constraints, and higher expectations for measurable results.
In our recent webinar, Charged for Success: Insights Driving the Next Era of Utility EV Programs, our experts shared lessons drawn from years of real-world program evaluation, deployment support, and data analysis. These insights reflect what is working now and where utilities can focus to deliver long-term value. Below are four key takeaways that stood out.
Lesson 1: Load growth only delivers value when it is well-managed
A consistent pattern emerged across hundreds of evaluated fleet sites: a significant share of charging still takes place during the most expensive periods of the day, particularly in the early evening. Only a small portion of sites actively manage charging to avoid these peaks.
This gap represents opportunity. By helping fleets shift charging toward lower-cost periods, utilities can reduce strain on the grid while improving customer economics. When managed well, fleet electrification can be a powerful source of load growth, putting downward pressure on rates and supporting grid planning.
Lesson 2: School buses offer outsized grid value, but only with the right sequencing
Electric school buses are one of the most promising assets on the grid. Their large batteries, predictable schedules, and long idle periods create unique flexibility that benefits both utilities and communities.
However, that value is often overestimated when programs move too quickly. We see the strongest outcomes when fleets first master smart charging before advancing to more complex strategies like vehicle-to-grid.
Peak load reduction comes first. Emergency support follows. More advanced services can come later, once the fundamentals are proven. Skipping steps can actually increase costs and undermine confidence in the technology.
Lesson 3: Strong programs are built on strong charging data
Data quantity and quality are the backbone of effective transportation electrification programs. Without it, utilities struggle to track performance and evaluate outcomes.
Charging station data provides a critical starting point, offering visibility into energy use, charging times, and demand patterns. It also becomes a powerful validation tool when paired with utility meter data. Vehicle telematics can add valuable context but should complement, not replace, the core dataset.
Equally important is data quality. Interval data sets grow quickly and inconsistencies are common. Teams that start with raw data, document assumptions, and validate across sources gain insights they can stand behind with confidence.
For utilities, investing early in data strategy reduces uncertainty later and enables smarter decisions across planning, operations, and regulatory reporting.
Lesson 4: Utilities play a critical role in helping fleets succeed
Fleet operators want charging to work, but often face constraints that are easy to overlook. Staff may lack time or technical expertise to optimize charging behavior. Network providers may not deliver the level of support needed to fully enable managed charging.
This is where utilities can make the biggest difference.
Coaching, planning support, and clear rate signals give fleets the tools they need to improve outcomes. Utilities can identify fleets with high on-peak usage and offer targeted outreach, helping focus technical assistance where it will have the greatest impact.
Looking ahead
The message from our webinar was consistent: the next generation of utility EV programs will favor those that are intentional, data-informed, and designed for scale. Fleets and utilities all succeed when programs are built around real-world behavior.
From evaluation through implementation, whether you are planning new offerings or refining existing programs, our Energetics Sustainable Transportation team is ready to help you turn these insights into effective programs.