Central Hudson
Residential EV
ChargeSmart
Program Manual
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| Central Hudson Residential EV
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ChargeSmart Program Manual |
Contents
Definitions ......................................................................................................................... 2
Program Overview ............................................................................................................ 3
Peak Perks Charging Rewards ........................................................................................................ 3
General Program Requirements ........................................................................................................... 3
Eligible Devices .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Networked L2 Charger .................................................................................................................... 4
Vehicle Telematics ........................................................................................................................... 4
Incentives ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Example Incentive Calculation ....................................................................................................... 6
Enrolling ............................................................................................................................. 7
Participation ...................................................................................................................... 9
Tips for Scheduling Charging ................................................................................................................ 9
Participation in Peak Perks Charging Rewards .............................................................................. 10
Homeowner App ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Unenrolling ................................................................................................................................................ 11
Dispute Resolution .......................................................................................................... 11
Home Charger Installation ............................................................................................. 11
Program Support ............................................................................................................. 11
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Definitions
TERM DEFINITION
Conservation
Event
Conservation events balance the demand on power grids by encouraging
customers to shift electricity demand to times when electricity is more plentiful or
other demand is lower.
EV
Electric vehicle, a four-wheel light-duty vehicle capable of highway speeds that is
powered fully, a battery electric vehicle (BEV), or in part, a plug-in hybrid electric
vehicle (PHEV), by an electric motor and is rechargeable from an external connection
to an off-board electrical source.
EVSE Electric vehicle supply equipment, otherwise known as an EV charging station.
Off-Peak
Off-peak hours are during periods of lower electric demand and cover all hours
outside of the on-peak periods, weekends, and six major holidays per year (New Year’s
Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas).
On-Peak
On-peak hours are during periods of high electric demand
(2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday).
Participant An entity that is enrolled in the EV ChargeSmart program.
Savings Rate
The Savings Rate is the $/kWh rate that is used to calculate participation incentives.
The Savings Rate is calculated as follows:
(Standard Delivery Rate – Off-peak TOU Delivery Rate) + (Standard Supply Rate –
TOU Supply Rate)
Savings Rates are subject to change. The current Delivery and Supply rates can be
found here.
TOU Rate
The EV Time of Use Rate enables owners to purchase electricity at lower rates
during times when demand for electricity is lower—after 7 p.m. and prior to 2 p.m.
The TOU Rate program includes a Whole Home TOU Rate and a Separate Meter TOU
Rate option.
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ChargeSmart Program Manual |
Program Overview
Every day, more New Yorkers are switching to electric vehicles (EVs), and Central Hudson is here to help.
To make your charging habits more efficient, we’re offering the Residential EV ChargeSmart program
(“Program”), which offers incentives just for shifting when you charge your vehicle. It’s an easy way to
save money while improving grid reliability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Program aims to achieve cost savings and grid resilience by encouraging participants to adjust
their EV charging patterns voluntarily. While this can help reduce peak demand on the grid, it does
not involve active real-time control or direct communication between the utility and the participant’s
device. Just charge your vehicle during off-peak times and save money!
Peak Perks Charging Rewards
Some Central Hudson customers are also eligible to receive Peak Perks Charging Rewards. Peak Perks is
a managed charging program that involves real-time monitoring and control of electricity consumption
to optimize the performance and efficiency of the power grid. It requires active communication and
coordination between the utility and the participant’s device.
Participants who live in areas of increasing electric demand in Central Hudson’s service territory who
enroll in the Program will receive notifications from Central Hudson of conservation events throughout
the summer season (June–September). During a conservation event, Central Hudson will pause or
reduce the charging of a participant’s device to ease stress on the grid and benefit the community. But
don’t worry, participants will always have the option to opt out of an event if they need to charge.
General Program Requirements
Eligible Program participants must satisfy the criteria listed below:
1. Be a Central Hudson residential customer listed as the accountholder of record.
2. Own or lease an EV (BEV or PHEV).
3. Own an eligible device,
1
which are limited to qualified EVs and/or EVSE.
4. Participant must maintain a continuous and operational Wi-Fi connection between their
device and internet service.
5. Must not be enrolled in Central Hudson’s Whole Home or EV Only TOU Rate. If you are
currently enrolled in an EV TOU rate, you may still be eligible for the Peak Perks Charging
Rewards, see below.
Customers eligible for Peak Perks Charging Rewards must also:
1. Live within an eligible area of Central Hudson’s service territory (check the Program
webpage to see if you live in an area with increasing electric demand).
2. Own a networked home charger or have a vehicle that can provide charging activity
data, schedule charging activity, and respond to potential conservation events (see
Eligible Devices section).
1 The eligible device must be connected to your residential meter.
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Eligible Devices
Customers can choose to enroll with either a networked Level 2 (L2) charger or through their
vehicle’s telematics.
Networked L2 Charger
L2 chargers are commonly installed for home charging because they can generally charge an EV battery
overnight. L2 chargers require a 240 V outlet, which some homes may already have in their garage
(same outlet that a washer or dryer uses) or can easily be installed by an electrician. L2 EV chargers offer
approximately 10–20 miles per charging hour.
Vehicle Telematics
Most EVs on the market today come with built-in telematics features that allow the vehicle itself to
collect data and communicate. The vehicle telematics can be used to schedule when your EV charges or
respond to a conservation event by pausing charging.
Table A: Program-Eligible Devices
Bold devices are capable of active load management and therefore are eligible for Peak Perks
Charging Rewards.
EVSE EV
• Flo (Home X5)
• Emporia (EV
Charger White &
Black Options)
• Audi (2017+)
• BMW (2014+)
• Cadillac (2011+)
• Chevrolet (2011+)
• Chrysler (2015)
• Ford (2013+)
• Hyundai (2012+, 2017+)
• Jaguar (2016+)
• Jeep (2014+)
• Land Rover (2016+)
• Lincoln (2015+)
• MINI (2018+)
• Nissan (2011+)
• Rivian (2022+)
• Tesla (2012+)
• Toyota (2017+)
• Volkswagen (2014+)
• Volvo (2012+)
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ChargeSmart Program Manual |
Unsure if you are eligible to participate?
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Great! You may also be eligible for Peak Perks.
Do you have a Program-eligible device?
Am I eligible for ChargeSmart?
Am I eligible for Peak Perks Charging Rewards?
Do you live in an area with
increasing electric demand?*
Unfortunately you are
ineligible at this time.
Unfortunately you are
ineligible at this time.
Ineligible, but consider
Peak Perks.
You are eligible for ChargeSmart!
You are eligible for Peak Perks!
Are you enrolled in an EV TOU rate?
Do you have a Peak Perks–eligible device?
No
Yes
No
*Check if you live in an area with increasing electric demand.
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Incentives
All participants will receive a $25 enrollment incentive when approved for the Program and will earn
participation incentives based on their off-peak charging habits. Each month a participant’s total kWh of
off-peak charging will be multiplied by that month’s Savings Rate ($/kWh).
2
Those eligible for the Peak Perks Charging Rewards can receive additional participation incentives.
Participants will receive a $40 seasonal incentive for responding to conservation events.
3
Participants
who respond to every event in a season will receive a “Summer Streak” bonus of $20.
Table B: Program Incentives
Program ChargeSmart Incentives Peak Perks Charging Rewards
Incentive Type Amount Payment Timing Amount Payment Timing
Enrollment $25 One-time
Participation
Total kWh of
off-peak charging
X
Savings Rate
($/kWh)
Ongoing
Calculated monthly
and paid quarterly
$40/season
Bonus $20 if no
opt-outs for the
season
Annual
Example Incentive Calculation
Vehicle make and model: Tesla Model 3
Miles driven per week: 200
% of charging done at home: 90%
% of charging done off-peak: 100%
Savings Rate: $0.05/kWh
2 Central Hudson reserves the right to implement a cap on off-peak charging participation incentives for the Program as program
development proceeds.
3 Participants must charge at least once per month at the enrolled address. Participation incentives are still issued in full even if no
conservation event is called in a month.
$
150
Potential earnings
in your first year*
Enrollment incentive: $25
Participation incentive: $125
*The above example is illustrative; actual incentives
will vary based on participant charging behavior and
monthly Savings Rates.
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ChargeSmart Program Manual |
Enrolling
Enrolling in the Program is as easy as completing the enrollment form and pairing your device to the
ChargeSmart platform. You can enroll using either your eligible Level 2 charger or eligible EV (see
Eligible Devices section for more information).
To enroll in the Program:
1. Check the list of Bonus Peak Perks Charging Rewards eligible ZIP codes to determine if you live in an
area with increasing electric demand.
a. If you are located in an area with increasing electric demand, use this enrollment form.
b. If you are not located in an area with increasing electric demand, use this enrollment form.
2. Fill out the enrollment form. Participants will be asked for the following information:
a. First and last name
b. Email address
c. Mobile phone number
d. Home address
• This should match the address on your Central Hudson utility bill.
e. Central Hudson account number
► Your account number can
be found at the top of
the first page of your
Central Hudson electric
bill. It is labeled “Account
Number” and in the format
of XXXX-XXXX-XX-X.
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f. If you are enrolled in Central Hudson’s EV Whole Home or EV Only TOU Rate.
g. Choose whether you want to enroll your EV or your EV charger.
• If both your EV and EV charger are eligible for the Program, you can enroll both.
4
However,
when completing the registration form, you only need to register either your EV
or charger. Once you complete your device’s registration, Central Hudson will send you
a request form to connect your other device (e.g., if you choose to register your charger,
Central Hudson will send you a request form to register your EV).
h. Review and sign the Terms & Conditions.
3. Add your device.
• To add your EV, choose the “Vehicle” device type. Then, select the automaker. You will then
be brought to your automaker account’s login. After logging in to your automaker account,
authenticate and enable data sharing and control between your automaker account and
ChargeSmart.
• To add your EV charger, choose the “EV Charger” device type. Choose your EV charger
manufacturer. Then, initiate pairing with the charger. You may be asked to authenticate by
entering a passcode from the enrollment form into the app for your charger.
4 Enrolling both your EV and charger is considered one device by the Program and will not result in additional incentives. The benefit of
enrolling both is to allow Central Hudson to collect backup data in case your EV or charger disconnects.
► To see if you are enrolled in a TOU
program, look on the second page
of your Central Hudson electric
bill, above the “Electricity Used”
section, next to your Meter #. If you
are enrolled in a TOU program, you
will find “Time-of-Use” written here
along with details on your on-peak
and off-peak hours and energy usage.
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ChargeSmart Program Manual |
Participation
Participants in the Program earn incentives by shifting their charging habits to off-peak hours (after
7 p.m. and prior to 2 p.m.). You can achieve this by either plugging your vehicle in during off-peak hours
or scheduling your charging. Scheduling your charging allows you to plug in when you get home and
not worry about missing out on potential savings.
Tips for Scheduling Charging
Tips for Scheduling Charging Using Eligible EV Chargers
Mobile apps for eligible EV chargers have the option to schedule charging activity in advance so that
you can ensure you are charging during off-peak times.
• The ChargePoint and Emporia apps offer the option to enter your utility information and will
recommend a time to schedule charging that has the lowest rates. You can also customize your own
start and end times according to your charging needs.
• In the Emporia app, charging scheduling can be accessed in the Management or Time of Use
Management tab. When setting a charging schedule, ensure your charger is in “Paused” mode, rather
than “Ready” mode, to ensure that your vehicle is only charging during the scheduled time, even if it
remains plugged in.
• Make sure to set both a start time and an end time for charging.
• See the charger manufacturer websites for more information:
Ű Time-of-Use Management, Schedules | Emporia Energy
Ű How to Schedule Charging with ChargePoint Home | ChargePoint
Ű FLO Home: Household EV Charging | FLO
12 a.m.
Off-peak
Off-peak
On-peak
2 p.m. 7 p.m. 12 a.m.
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| Central Hudson Residential EV
Tips for Scheduling Charging Using Eligible EVs
Many vehicle charger manufacturers recommend scheduling charging because it can maximize
battery range, but it also means that you can leave your vehicle plugged in and only charge it during
off-peak times.
• You may be able to schedule charging either from your vehicle’s control display or from the
automaker’s mobile app.
• Tesla vehicles have the option to schedule off-peak charging, and drivers can customize the times
according to the utility’s rates.
• See below for some automaker examples:
Ű How do I set up or change my electric vehicle charging schedule? | Ford
Ű Scheduled Charging and Scheduled Departure | Tesla
Ű In-Vehicle Energy App | Vehicle Support | Chevrolet Support
Participation in Peak Perks Charging Rewards
Participants in Peak Perks Charging Rewards will be notified in advance of conservation events. Events
will take place on weekdays between 12 p.m. and 10 p.m. during the summer season of June 1 to
September 30. There is no action required from participants during a conservation event. Central
Hudson will pause or reduce the charging of your enrolled device to ease stress on the grid during these
times of high demand. Once the event has ended (events will last a maximum of four hours), Central
Hudson will return your charging session to normal.
Sometimes, you may be unable to respond to a conservation event. That’s OK! Participants are allowed
to opt out of a maximum of two events per season without forfeiting their seasonal participation
incentive. Simply choose to opt out via the text and/or email notification you receive from Central
Hudson. However, if you are able to participate in every conservation event for a whole season, you will
receive a “Summer Streak” bonus of $20.
Homeowner App
The Homeowner App is a web-based application that you can access via a web browser on your
computer or smartphone (no download necessary). It serves as a resource for you to track your energy
usage, review event participation data, and view any messages you’ve received from Central Hudson
about the Program.
► The Homeowner App is not required for Program or event participation. If you have trouble accessing
the application, please try to reset your password or contact EVChargeSmartCH@icf.com for support.
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ChargeSmart Program Manual |
Unenrolling
To unenroll from the Program, please email us at EVChargeSmartCH@icf.com expressly asking to
withdraw. Participants must provide their name, home address, and Central Hudson account number in
the email to fulfill the request.
Participants may request to withdraw from the Program at any time but will not be eligible to earn
future enrollment incentives. If customers withdraw from the Program prior to participating in seasonal
events, they will not be eligible for any participation incentives. One of our team members will process
and grant a withdrawal request as soon as possible, with the goal of five business days after an email
is received.
If you would like to reenroll in the future, you may do so; however you will not be eligible for another
enrollment incentive. You will be eligible to earn participation incentives upon reenrolling.
Dispute Resolution
Customers can file a dispute by emailing EVChargeSmartCH@icf.com and including any relevant
information and data to support their claim. If the dispute is related to a customer’s incentive
calculations based on data collected by Central Hudson, ICF will work with the customer to manually
calculate and process the incentive. However, Central Hudson and ICF are not responsible for
interruptions in charger connectivity and can only use data captured through a direct connection with
a customer’s charger. Customers are encouraged to work with their charger manufacturer to resolve any
issues with maintaining connectivity.
Home Charger Installation
If you are interested in installing a charger at your home, the Joint Utilities offer a Contractor List. This is
a self-verified list of contractors that are eligible to install EV charging stations in New York state. The list
is available to customers to use as a tool to help find contractors to install your residential EV charging
station for the Program, but you are not required to use a listed contractor to participate in the Program.
► If you are interested in becoming an approved contractor, visit the Joint Utilities website.
Program Support
Central Hudson has partnered with ICF and Virtual Peaker to implement the Program. Participants can
expect to receive emails from all three companies (@cenhud.com, @icf.com, @virtual-peaker.com).
► All questions related to the Program should be directed to the Program team
at EVChargeSmartCH@icf.com.
