Agenda Item Wording:
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Southern California Edison Charge Ready Programs - Authorization to submit enrollment applications to both the Southern California Edison Charge Ready Business and Transport Programs to develop program participation agreements for the design, construction and installation of the necessary infrastructure for new charging infrastructure at the new Civic Center and Convention Center, other City facilities if deemed feasible,and to expand the charging equipment at the City’s Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility and new charging infrastructure at the City’s Public Works Corporation Yard and at the Tulare County Office of Education Doe Avenue Complex.
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Agenda Date: 05/04/2026
Prepared by:
Caleb Bowman, Transit Management Analyst, Caleb.Bowman@visalia.gov, (559)713-4594; Angelina Baker, Transit Manager, Angelina.Baker@visalia.gov, (559)713-4591; John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, John.Lollis@visalia.gov, (559)713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the submission of enrollment applications to the Southern California Edison (SCE) Charge Ready Business and Transport Programs to develop Program Participation Agreements for the design, construction and installation of the necessary infrastructure for new charging infrastructure at the new Civic Center and Convention Center, other City facilities if deemed feasible, and to expand the charging equipment at the City’s Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility and new charging infrastructure at the City’s Public Works Corporation Yard and at the Tulare County Office of Education Doe Avenue Complex to support electrification growth efforts for general City, Transit and Public Works vehicles.
Summary:
Authorize City staff to submit enrollment applications to the SCE Charge Ready Business and Transport Programs to develop program participation agreements as a low- or no-cost funding option for the design, construction and installation of electric vehicle charging equipment at the new Civic Center, Convention Center, the City’s Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility, the City’s Public Works Corporation Yard, the Tulare County Office of Education Doe Avenue Complex to support general City, Transit and Public Works electrification growth and other City facilities if deemed feasible.
Background Discussion:
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a decision adopted on September 2, 2020, approving SCE’s Charge Ready Program. The decision approved the 4-year program and $436 million in funding, comprised of approximately $417.5 million for charging infrastructure, $14.5 million for marketing, education, and outreach, and $4.3 million for an evaluation of the Charge Ready infrastructure and market education programs.
To be eligible for participation in the Charge Ready Program, qualifying non-residential entities must own, lease, manage, or be the customer of record for the site where the electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment is to be installed, and all project sites must be located within SCE’s service area. SCE is generally responsible for designing and installing the supporting infrastructure, and participants are generally responsible for the selection, purchase, and installation of the charging equipment.
The Charge Ready Business Program would facilitate the development of electric charging infrastructure at both the City’s new Civic Center and the Convention Center, and other City facilities if deemed feasible. Business Program requirements include:
1. Separate metering.
2. Minimum of four (4) Level 2 charging ports.
3. Own or lease the property where chargers are installed, and operate and maintain chargers for a minimum of ten (10) years.
4. Select, purchase and install SCE-approved charging equipment.
5. Participate in Time-Of-Use Rate and Demand Response Program.
6. Charging equipment network communications.
Specific to the Charge Ready Transport Program, in 2016 the Transit Division installed basic infrastructure to support seventeen (17) charging stations for Zero-Emission Buses (ZEB’s) through a California Air Resources Board (CARB) grant. Currently, ten (10) of those charging stations are operational with the remaining seven (7) needing additional improvements to become functional. Further, these additional improvements will require SCE circuit and transformer upgrades to support the increased electrical load. Transit is also exploring the potential of installing electrical infrastructure at the Tulare County Office of Education Doe Avenue Complex to support future transit operations in the Visalia Industrial Park corresponding with the Cross Valley Corridor project and Visalia Connect microtransit. These low- or no-cost funding possibilities will be explored in collaboration and partnership with representatives from the SCE Charge Ready Program in the coming months upon submission of the enrollment application.
The Transit Division will also partner with the Public Works Department to pursue the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the City’s Public Works Corporation Yard through the SCE Charge Ready Transport Program. Short-term planning would include one (1) or two (2) charging stations with the foundation for future expansion with underground infrastructure. This improvement is important with the recently Council-approved purchase of the battery-electric solid waste truck and future electric vehicle purchases in keeping with State fleet transition regulations. Collaboration with SCE for electrification planning will be subject to the Corporation Yard Master Plan.
Transport Program requirements include:
1. Lease, purchase, or convert at least two (2) medium- or heavy-duty battery-powered electric vehicles within eighteen (18) months of enrollment application.
2. Own or lease the property where chargers are installed, and operate and maintain chargers for a minimum of ten (10) years.
3. Separate metering.
4. Select, purchase and install SCE-approved charging equipment.
5. Provide data related to charging equipment usage for a minimum of five (5) years.
6. Provide a property easement for the SCE infrastructure.
SCE Charge Ready Business and Transport Program enrollment applications are due to SCE by June 30, 2026, and Program Participation Agreements between the City and SCE must be signed by December 31, 2026.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
Each SCE Charge Ready Program project is estimated to cost up to $1 million. Without the SCE funding program, the City would potentially be responsible for the infrastructure developments costs. The SCE Program requirements include that the City operate and maintain installed chargers for a minimum of ten (10) years.
Prior Council Action: None
Alternatives: To not authorize the submission of the enrollment application and/or add and/or remove project locations.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the submission of enrollment applications to the SCE Charge Ready Business and Transport Programs to develop program participation agreements for the design, construction and installation of the necessary infrastructure at the new Civic Center and Convention Center, other City facilities if deemed feasible and to expand the charging equipment at the City’s Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility and new charging infrastructure at the City’s Public Works Corporation Yard and the Tulare County Office of Education Doe Avenue Complex.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 06/30/2026
Attachments:
1. SCE Charge Ready Program Guidelines
2. SCE Charge Ready Transport Program Fact Sheet
3. SCE Charge Ready Transport Program Quick Reference Guide
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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